We Are Prometheans: Illuminate Scholar Potential
By Philip Ferrari
The YMCA imbues scholars with values that will help them succeed and thrive in the 21st Century. Of the many skills we teach, five are identified as the most integral to ensuring a bright future: Collaboration, Courage, Excellence, Respect, and Learning. Our scholars require role models to exemplify these attributes, teach by example, and show scholars where hard work and resilience can take you.
We call our students scholars because they are curious explorers seeking truth. They will maintain that curiosity for the rest of their lives if we foster a love of learning. As teachers, role models, and mentors, we have the potential to empower our scholars to be change they want to see in the world.
Youth development starts with a caring, engaged, and informed staff. We can all be Prometheans. Prometheus, a fabled Titan in Greek history, gifted the coveted technology of fire to humans despite dire consequences. He revealed darkness with light. He illuminated the lives and dreams of all humans, helping us discover and conquer the unknown. In youth development, we strive to light fires to illuminate the vast expanse of potential our scholars possess. We make accessible the paths to achieving stability, happiness, and a fulfilled life.
In August the YMCA, with help from the United Way, Montgomery County, East End Community Services, Omega Community Church, Building Educated Leaders for Life, Brooks Publishing (Ages and Stages) provided inspiring and illuminating training for our youth development “Prometheans”.
Building Educated Leaders for Life provided training for more than 12 professionals to achieve results through social-emotional learning, behavior management, academic assessment, community engagement, and a myriad of equally important activities for After-school programs. The BELL trainers came from as far as San Francisco to educate our staff in the best and most effective strategies to connect and positively impact students in need.
Additionally, Brooks Publishing provided training for two YMCA staff overseeing program enhancements for 5 urban childcare centers. A team of dedicated intellectuals and grand thinkers provided structured assessments to help measure and indicate if scholars ages 0-5 are meeting developmental milestones. Catching deficits quickly makes an exponential impact on development. This is an exciting tool that will be implemented in all sites starting in September.
As the school year begins, our teachers and leadership continued to hone their skills through additional training and coursework. We provided our “Prometheans” with the strategies to make the largest fires possible to illuminate all the potential of our scholars. Our team of dedicated and engaged Prometheans are excited to dump more and more fuel on our fires.
