MLK Summer Scholars Workshops

Hi everyone,

This summer for once again, I was a MLK Summer Scholars. This time the workshops were a little different. It was 4 workshops in total and the two middle ones were back to back. The workshops had the same instructor and the modules this time was about managing and saving your money. For some reason, I liked these workshops better then last year. We had really powerful speakers and everything this year seemed to be more smooth even though I hated the workshops. 

The first workshop was a welcoming workshop and they focused on fitness. This was a day that all of the 600 MLK scholars were out on the field doing some fitness and yoga. It was tiring but fun. The second and third workshops focused more on real life situations such as us building a 2030 Boston and our futures and also included games on how to spend money on your needs vs your wants. I was more interested in this workshop. The last workshop was a talent show which was held this past Friday at the Shubert Theater. A lot of the scholars had a lot of courage to go up on a stage to show their talents. It was a great ending of the program with all of the different young talented teens. Even though I hated going to the workshops, I found that they were all helpful.

Until next time,

Andrea Lopes

Proud To Be An MLK Summer Scholar

 Friday we had our first John Hancock Summer Scholars workshop. I was pretty amazed by how many people were there. It seemed to be over 400 at least . Being a part of this program really means a lot to me . I was born and raised in the city of Boston. I always felt like there needed to be more employment  opportunities for the youth in our community's . To me, education will always be one of the major keys to success . At MLK I think they focus a lot on education. Even though its summer I feel like some of the subjects they teach will prepare me for the next steps in life.

MLK Summer Scholars teach our youth about leadership and how to use and share that leadership with the rest of the youth generation today . Speaking for myself, I am honestly honored to have the opportunity. Growing up I never had anybody to teach me about life skills, or how to set employment goals for myself . I am grateful for having MLK help guide me through this process and step in life. I am grateful to have John Hancock and the MLK Summer Scholars program behind me and helping better my future and also all the youth around the city of Boston .



Mark Rose

Busy First Week!

Happy Friday! As the first full week of programming comes to a close, I feel more optimistic and excited than ever for the weeks still to come. Our team is working together well, embracing new learning opportunities, and experiencing new things! 

This week's Menino Leadership Forum guest speaker, Paul Burton,
 told Scholars to "dream big, and act now".

I spent this morning at the first John Hancock MLK Summer Scholars Friday workshop of the summer. The workshops, now called Mayor Menino Leadership Forums, take place every other Friday during July and August, and provide an opportunity for all 650 Summer Scholars to get together. This summer’s Forums are paired with Everfi’s Commons curriculum, which centers on civics and civic engagement. To complete the Everfi course, Scholars will write an Op-Ed piece on an issue affecting their community—and one Scholar’s piece will be chosen and published in the Boston Globe! This is just one way in which the Hancock MLK Summer Scholars program provides amazing opportunities for the teens taking part in the program.

Andrea spends time with Woburn YMCA campers.

I also spent this Tuesday on Spectacle Island for the first day of the All Access Boston Harbor program. We brought 358 youth and teens from six different organizations in Braintree, Dorchester, East Boston, Jamaica Plain, and Chinatown out with us on the Provincetown II for an afternoon of fishing, kickball, beach combing, and swimming. I look forward to greeting groups from many more neighborhoods as the summer continues—seven more weeks of All Access to go!

-Amy Gaylord

MLK Scholars Are Making Change

Hello guys and girls,

My dreams and aspirations to become an Olympic Swimmer

Have you ever sat down and thought about every stereotype that you've seen, heard and made? It's a little daunting isn't it, how we easily categorize people based on such small assumptions about ethnicity, sexual preference, religion, class and gender. There is the average stereotype: that people in lower classes try less than higher class, that people from the East (Asia, India and neighboring islands) are naturally good at math etc. But there are others that we make unconsciously that hinder any change from happening. Have you ever looked at a homeless person and assumed that they were homeless because they spent all they're money on drugs and alcohol? Or that they were simply faking being homeless for some easy cash? The first meeting of the scholars was today and our first topic was changing the world by stopping the ideologies and stereotypes that stop change. I've made a deal with myself that when I see someone, anyone, I will neither assume or think anything negative about them. I challenge you all to do the same. When you are on the train and you see someone with clothes outside the norm, or someone with a disability don't assume anything. Smile and move on because life is to short to assume the worst in the people around you. Even in my first trip I opened my eyes to the injustices that I created with my assumptions. We need improvement but we stop ourselves with our own thoughts.

Martin Luther King Jr.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. 
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
~Martin Luther King Jr.

Stay positive,

Ruth Scott