As many of you know, in the coming months I will be transitioning out of my role and Enroot will welcome a fantastic new leader. Periods of transition are challenging but bring the promise of fresh perspectives, new opportunities, and growth. Enroot’s transition also provides an exciting opportunity for the organization to be led by a person who shares lived experiences and core aspects of their identity with our students. During my time at Enroot, I have had the privilege of witnessing incredible growth take place in the lives of our students. I have watched individuals I met as teenagers move on from high school to college, from college to careers, from adolescence to adulthood. Each of them have persevered through countless roadblocks and found a way to make important contributions to their community. These victories are 100% their own. And yet they often humbly reflect on the important role that their Enroot family played in positioning them for success. They reference their mentors, their tutors, their internship hosts, their fellow Enroot students and alumni, Enroot staff, their teachers, and guidance counselors. This is the power of Enroot. This is the power of a collective commitment to equity for immigrant students and of a shared journey.
I am incredibly proud of all that our Enroot community of students, staff, Board members, volunteers, partners, and funders have accomplished together in recent years and of the strong foundation we have built for future success.
Thank you for being a part of our family and of the shared success we celebrate together.
With deep gratitude,
Ben Clark
Executive Director
End of Year Celebrations
This summer marked our second Virtual End of the Year Celebration for students! Our Leadership and Emerge Cohorts came together to celebrate all that they have accomplished over the past academic year. Mentors shared all the reasons why they were proud of their students while students took the opportunity to reflect on all the strength they exhibited over this difficult year. It’s moments like these where Enroot is so thankful for the close community we’ve fostered.
We also use this time of year to gather student and mentor feedback on our program. The following are some quotes students and mentors anonymously shared with each other:
“I didn’t know there was a program that was dedicated for immigrant students and for their growth. I remember my friend talking to me about this program and it sounded really cool to be part of it and try it out. At that time I didn’t have the knowledge I knew and didn’t know the language that well, so it helped me a lot for my personal growth.”
“Enroot has supported mostly for learning new skills, opening my mind a little more and gaining more knowledge. It has helped me get me volunteer opportunities for my professional growth and give a lot of resources to my future education.”
“It’s a really good program and I feel it has helped me a lot to socialize with other students that share something in common.”
Celebrating Our Graduates!
Enroot is thrilled that several students who joined our College Success program as college sophomores during its pilot year in 2018 have recently graduated from college!
A HUGE congratulations to Alessandra, Asif, Emma, and Giovanna on graduating this Spring in 2021! We can’t wait to see all that you go on to accomplish and cannot be more sure of all the amazing work you will do.
Asif, who graduated from Boston University and is now going on to work at Constant Contact, wrote to us:
“I would also like to thank the rest of the Enroot staff who are continuously working hard to help the immigrant students who are new to this country. I will forever be grateful to Enroot and the way in which Enroot was a strong pillar of support for me during my most difficult time in high school. Without a doubt I can say the resources and mentors I got helped me to get where I am today. And, yes I will definitely reach out if I need help with something.” - Asif
Enroot is Hiring!
Enroot is expanding our small but mighty team with passionate individuals devoted to helping immigrant students realize their full potential.
We are looking for a Development Manager – a motivated fundraising professional to join a team that’s passionate about helping immigrant students realize their full potential. Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, the Development Manager is a full-time position that will execute all grant activities required to secure and steward institutional funders, manage Enroot’s fundraising database, manage donor communications, and provide additional support in development operations. Check out the job description here.
Featuring Our Remnant Brewery Event
Last month Enroot collaborated with Remnant Brewery to host a recruitment information event for community members who may be interested in volunteering as mentors and tutors. During the event, folx had the opportunity to learn more about what being a volunteer entails, discuss Enroot’s programming structure, learn how to get involved in supporting and empowering local immigrant youth, and get a chance to meet Enroot staff and current volunteers - all while enjoying delicious food and drink provided by Remnant!
Big thank you to Remnant for helping us put on this event. Passionate community members like you make it possible for Enroot to keep expanding our volunteer base.
Volunteer Recruitment - Spread the Word!
Our two amazing summer interns, Sophia and Johnny, worked hard on volunteer recruitment all summer. Here they are at the Medford Farmers Market spreading the word!
Enroot is still recruiting volunteers for the fall! We are looking for people in the community who are invested in empowering immigrant youth to reach their full potential. Read more about what it is like to be a mentor here. Our volunteers commit to 1.5 hrs of meeting time with their students weekly, create a safe and trusting environment, and provide guidance as students pursue their goals. Apply now!
Join Our Volunteer Committee!
We're so excited to welcome all Enroot volunteers, returning and new, for another academic year, and we 're thrilled to announce that Enroot's Volunteer Committee is currently looking for new members. The Volunteer Committee is a group of active Enroot volunteers working together to create a stronger, more engaged and connected volunteer community. From fostering wellness through events like volunteer yoga with the amazing organization You Good Sis, to showcasing the impressive talents of our fellow volunteers in the "Enroot's Got Talent" contest, the Committee is dedicated to improving the volunteer experience at Enroot.
If you are interested in joining the Volunteer Committee, please apply here. We have 6 spots available, and we will welcome new members on a rolling basis.
Thank You to Our Students!
As we approach the new school year and all the potential it brings with returning to hybrid mentoring, we want to thank our students again for being so considerate, patient, and empathetic this past year. Amid the many changes that COVID-19 has brought, we are also saying goodbye to some members of our incredible team and welcoming brand new members to our Enroot family. While transitions can be difficult, we want to reiterate that the Enroot family is forever. The relationships we have fostered are real, and the connections we’ve made are permanent. We are always here to support you, now just a Zoom call away.
