student Spotlight
Celida
playworks wisconsin
Playworks believes in the power of play to bring out the best in every kid. Playworks creates a place for every kid on the playground. It doesn't matter if children have never learned or played games before. They ensure they have a place that is safe and welcoming – where they can play, thrive and contribute. Their goal is that every child takes this positive experience back to the classroom and back to their communities.
Playworks Wisconsin serves 5,400 students in 12 low-income schools throughout the Milwaukee area. They work on the playground and in classrooms to enhance and transform recess and play into a positive experience that helps kids and teachers get the most out of every learning opportunity. Their rock-star coaches strive to know every child by name, orchestrating play and physical activity through the five components of the Playworks program every day.
Playworks direct service model has been proven to decrease bullying behavior, increase physical activity and support learning.
The Burke Foundation is putting the spotlight on Celida, a 10-year-old Playworks Junior Coach from Allen-Field Elementary. We interviewed Celida to learn more about her experience with Playworks and to see what advice she had for other kids.
Favorite Subject: Art “...because there is no right or wrong answer. It just has to be beautiful.”
Favorite Recess game: “You can almost always find me in the tag zone. My favorite tag games are freeze tag and blob tag.”
Hobbies: Reading and listening to techno music
Future Goals: “When I grow up I would like to be a jeweler and learn how to cut and polish gems.”
What motivated you to become a Junior Coach?
I saw Junior Coaches at recess when I was younger and thought, “Wow, I want to be like them because they were having so much fun leading the games and smiling a lot.”
From your perspective, how have you seen Playworks Junior Coaches change the playground?
Before Playworks, recess was out of control. We had all the equipment like hula hoops and balls, but they were scattered everywhere and tag was outlawed. Now, with Playworks, I am more excited about recess because we can play tag and lots of other games and I get to help make that possible as a Junior Coach.
Has becoming a Junior Coach helped you overcome any challenges at school?
Being a Junior Coach has helped me overcome my performance anxiety. I used to be really shy, but when I work the tag zone, I have to speak up and use attention-getters, “match me’s”, and call-and-responses to get the little kids’ attention. Now, I feel more confident to speak out loud in class and also at home on the telephone.
What have you learned about yourself since becoming a Junior Coach?
I have learned that if I can overcome performance anxiety at school, I can overcome it anywhere. I still get nervous to speak in front of people, but now I know I can do it!
What advice would you give to a younger student who wants to become a Junior Coach?
I would tell them to keep trying, don’t give up, you’ll get there someday. It might not be today or tomorrow or next week but you’ll get there. It’s important to be a good student, learn how to talk to small crowds, and know how to make up fun games.
Why do you think Playworks is important?
Playworks motivates kids to try new things and it makes everything more fun.
What is your favorite thing about being a Junior Coach?
My job is to play and I get to make sure more kids are having fun because without Junior Coaches it would be complete chaos for Coach Jena and everyone else at school.
What do you like most about your Coach?
I like Coach Jena’s positivity. She shows me how to be more positive everyday!
Playworks Wisconsin serves 5,400 students in 12 low-income schools throughout the Milwaukee area. They work on the playground and in classrooms to enhance and transform recess and play into a positive experience that helps kids and teachers get the most out of every learning opportunity. Their rock-star coaches strive to know every child by name, orchestrating play and physical activity through the five components of the Playworks program every day.
Playworks direct service model has been proven to decrease bullying behavior, increase physical activity and support learning.
The Burke Foundation is putting the spotlight on Celida, a 10-year-old Playworks Junior Coach from Allen-Field Elementary. We interviewed Celida to learn more about her experience with Playworks and to see what advice she had for other kids.
Favorite Subject: Art “...because there is no right or wrong answer. It just has to be beautiful.”
Favorite Recess game: “You can almost always find me in the tag zone. My favorite tag games are freeze tag and blob tag.”
Hobbies: Reading and listening to techno music
Future Goals: “When I grow up I would like to be a jeweler and learn how to cut and polish gems.”
What motivated you to become a Junior Coach?
I saw Junior Coaches at recess when I was younger and thought, “Wow, I want to be like them because they were having so much fun leading the games and smiling a lot.”
From your perspective, how have you seen Playworks Junior Coaches change the playground?
Before Playworks, recess was out of control. We had all the equipment like hula hoops and balls, but they were scattered everywhere and tag was outlawed. Now, with Playworks, I am more excited about recess because we can play tag and lots of other games and I get to help make that possible as a Junior Coach.
Has becoming a Junior Coach helped you overcome any challenges at school?
Being a Junior Coach has helped me overcome my performance anxiety. I used to be really shy, but when I work the tag zone, I have to speak up and use attention-getters, “match me’s”, and call-and-responses to get the little kids’ attention. Now, I feel more confident to speak out loud in class and also at home on the telephone.
What have you learned about yourself since becoming a Junior Coach?
I have learned that if I can overcome performance anxiety at school, I can overcome it anywhere. I still get nervous to speak in front of people, but now I know I can do it!
What advice would you give to a younger student who wants to become a Junior Coach?
I would tell them to keep trying, don’t give up, you’ll get there someday. It might not be today or tomorrow or next week but you’ll get there. It’s important to be a good student, learn how to talk to small crowds, and know how to make up fun games.
Why do you think Playworks is important?
Playworks motivates kids to try new things and it makes everything more fun.
What is your favorite thing about being a Junior Coach?
My job is to play and I get to make sure more kids are having fun because without Junior Coaches it would be complete chaos for Coach Jena and everyone else at school.
What do you like most about your Coach?
I like Coach Jena’s positivity. She shows me how to be more positive everyday!
Aziz
First Stage Children's Theater
First Stage touches hearts, engages minds, and transforms lives by creating extraordinary theater experiences for young people and families through:
The three components of First Stage programming work toward the same end – the education and personal development of our community’s youth. The Community Partnership Program (CPP) is First Stage’s investment in the education and leadership development of economically disadvantaged young people in our community. CPP makes First Stage’s three programming pillars (Theater Productions, Theater Academy, and Theater in Education) available and easily accessible to families experiencing financial difficulties, City of Milwaukee schools, and community organizations. With a goal of furthering the social, academic, and emotional growth of young people from low-income families, the Community Partnership Program serves approximately 7,000 young people each year.
The Burke Foundation is putting the spotlight on Aziz, a home schooled 15-year-old involved in First Stage’s Community Partnership Program. We interviewed Aziz to learn more about his experience with First Stage and to see what advice he had for other teens.
Tell us about yourself.
“I have been in acting for four years, being at First Stage for four or five years. I like to act and sing a lot. I am 15, have a big family, and am homeschooled. I am also fun, kind, outgoing, always encouraging.”
How are you connected to First Stage and what motivated you to get involved?
“When I was younger, like four years back, I had troubles reading, and was very shy. My mom found out about First Stage, and put me in a couple classes. I found out that I loved it and a lot of people said I was good at it, so I kept taking classes and my reading skills really improved as well as my confidence level, which spiked.”
What role models/individuals inspired you, and why?
“Well, every time that I saw a play at First Stage I always wished that I could do what they did. I thought to myself that I could never go on stage in front of hundreds or thousands of people. So I really took from all of the people around me at First Stage and tried to put them as role models.”
How has joining the program changed your outlook on your future?
“Right now I have a role in (First Stage’s 2014/2015 production of) THREE LITTLE PIGS! Over the years my acting has improved and people from commercials have come up to me and asked if I wanted to take part in one, and have asked me some general questions. Like I said before it’s made me who I am now, Aziz, and I am way more confident.”
What are your future aspirations?
“I love to sing and love to act so I would love to be in some musicals and plays. I also like to take risks so I’d like to be in a play or a movie later on that really allows me to be myself and to be the character, and show that to a whole bunch of people. What First Stage does is help kids change their lives and it helped change my life, and I want to return that favor by teaching what I’ve learned, by being a teacher at First Stage one day.”
What challenges have you faced and do you feel like you have overcome them?
“I feel as if I have overcome the challenge of being shy and struggling with reading. It’s amazing how the level that I had three years ago has spiked since being at First Stage. Everyone at First Stage was kind and happy to take me. They are friends and family, and they embraced me and helped me overcome my fears. No one pushed me to do anything that I would be uncomfortable with, no one forced me to read something or yell at me if I didn’t read something right, and that was something very encouraging. For me, that is something that I hold on to, and it has helped me to where I am right now.”
What have you learned about yourself since joining this program?
“I noticed that I’m very happy. I’ve become a very happy and talkative guy. I was always very talkative with my family, but I could never walk up to that one person and say ‘Hi my name’s Aziz, do you want to be my friend?’ I could never do that, and instead I always sat back in the crowd and waited for them to come to me. I only had one selection of friends. I didn’t have a whole variety of friends that I have now.”
Why do you think programs like First Stage are important?
“I think it’s important for kids, especially in the community that we are in today. As the First Stage motto goes, they can learn life skills through stage skills. A big aspect of the world is confidence and speaking, so if you don’t have any confidence and you cannot speak well you’re not likely to get a job. You’re going to freeze up or you have to give a talk or being interviewed. You always have to have something to go back to, in order to help you. Also I love how it’s such a friendly and kind organization- everyone’s smiling, no frowning. There’s always somebody that you can talk to and not one person that you cannot talk to.”
What advice would you give to a young person looking to join First Stage or a similar program?
“I would say go for it, right on, just do it! The improvements in your life are so great. Your confidence, reading abilities, and so much more in your life are greatly impacted. I highly recommend it to anybody who would love to join us.”
Any other comments?
“All the people are kind and you’ll always have a friend at First Stage.”
- Professional Theater Productions that inspire, enlighten, and entertain
- Unparalleled Theater Academy training that fosters life skills through stage skills
- Dynamic Theater in Education programs that promote active learning in our schools and community
The three components of First Stage programming work toward the same end – the education and personal development of our community’s youth. The Community Partnership Program (CPP) is First Stage’s investment in the education and leadership development of economically disadvantaged young people in our community. CPP makes First Stage’s three programming pillars (Theater Productions, Theater Academy, and Theater in Education) available and easily accessible to families experiencing financial difficulties, City of Milwaukee schools, and community organizations. With a goal of furthering the social, academic, and emotional growth of young people from low-income families, the Community Partnership Program serves approximately 7,000 young people each year.
The Burke Foundation is putting the spotlight on Aziz, a home schooled 15-year-old involved in First Stage’s Community Partnership Program. We interviewed Aziz to learn more about his experience with First Stage and to see what advice he had for other teens.
Tell us about yourself.
“I have been in acting for four years, being at First Stage for four or five years. I like to act and sing a lot. I am 15, have a big family, and am homeschooled. I am also fun, kind, outgoing, always encouraging.”
How are you connected to First Stage and what motivated you to get involved?
“When I was younger, like four years back, I had troubles reading, and was very shy. My mom found out about First Stage, and put me in a couple classes. I found out that I loved it and a lot of people said I was good at it, so I kept taking classes and my reading skills really improved as well as my confidence level, which spiked.”
What role models/individuals inspired you, and why?
“Well, every time that I saw a play at First Stage I always wished that I could do what they did. I thought to myself that I could never go on stage in front of hundreds or thousands of people. So I really took from all of the people around me at First Stage and tried to put them as role models.”
How has joining the program changed your outlook on your future?
“Right now I have a role in (First Stage’s 2014/2015 production of) THREE LITTLE PIGS! Over the years my acting has improved and people from commercials have come up to me and asked if I wanted to take part in one, and have asked me some general questions. Like I said before it’s made me who I am now, Aziz, and I am way more confident.”
What are your future aspirations?
“I love to sing and love to act so I would love to be in some musicals and plays. I also like to take risks so I’d like to be in a play or a movie later on that really allows me to be myself and to be the character, and show that to a whole bunch of people. What First Stage does is help kids change their lives and it helped change my life, and I want to return that favor by teaching what I’ve learned, by being a teacher at First Stage one day.”
What challenges have you faced and do you feel like you have overcome them?
“I feel as if I have overcome the challenge of being shy and struggling with reading. It’s amazing how the level that I had three years ago has spiked since being at First Stage. Everyone at First Stage was kind and happy to take me. They are friends and family, and they embraced me and helped me overcome my fears. No one pushed me to do anything that I would be uncomfortable with, no one forced me to read something or yell at me if I didn’t read something right, and that was something very encouraging. For me, that is something that I hold on to, and it has helped me to where I am right now.”
What have you learned about yourself since joining this program?
“I noticed that I’m very happy. I’ve become a very happy and talkative guy. I was always very talkative with my family, but I could never walk up to that one person and say ‘Hi my name’s Aziz, do you want to be my friend?’ I could never do that, and instead I always sat back in the crowd and waited for them to come to me. I only had one selection of friends. I didn’t have a whole variety of friends that I have now.”
Why do you think programs like First Stage are important?
“I think it’s important for kids, especially in the community that we are in today. As the First Stage motto goes, they can learn life skills through stage skills. A big aspect of the world is confidence and speaking, so if you don’t have any confidence and you cannot speak well you’re not likely to get a job. You’re going to freeze up or you have to give a talk or being interviewed. You always have to have something to go back to, in order to help you. Also I love how it’s such a friendly and kind organization- everyone’s smiling, no frowning. There’s always somebody that you can talk to and not one person that you cannot talk to.”
What advice would you give to a young person looking to join First Stage or a similar program?
“I would say go for it, right on, just do it! The improvements in your life are so great. Your confidence, reading abilities, and so much more in your life are greatly impacted. I highly recommend it to anybody who would love to join us.”
Any other comments?
“All the people are kind and you’ll always have a friend at First Stage.”
Justice
avid/tops
The AVID/TOPS program is modeled on two successful initiatives that produce college enrollment rates of over 95 percent. The AVID/TOPS program includes two components:
The Burke Foundation is putting the spotlight on Justice Johnson, a 17 year old senior at James Madison Memorial High School. We interviewed Justice to learn more about her experience with the AVID/TOPS program and to see what advice she had for other teens.
Tell us about yourself…
My name is Justice Johnson and I am a senior at James Madison Memorial High School. I am 17 years old and I live in a single parent household. I am the second oldest of 6 siblings and help provide for my family by working part-time at JC Penny’s. I am passionate about mentoring at-risk youth and giving back to the community. I also enjoy watching non-stop YouTube videos with my friends.
What motivated you to join AVID/TOPS? Any role models/individuals that inspired you?
I joined AVID/TOPS during the second quarter of my freshmen year. My English teacher Mrs. Hornung offered me a chance to be a part of her AVID/TOPS class. I was extremely flattered to be recognized for something good, even if it I was only being invited to what I thought was a “glorified study hall”. Before AVID/TOPS, my grades and attitude about school was horrible. I had a “nothing matters to me attitude” and didn’t want to be known as someone who kept their head in books. Mrs. Hornung taught me that high school goes by with the snap of a finger and encouraged me to advantage of opportunities that AVID/TOPS and high school offers.
How have your views on education changed since joining AVID/TOPS?
Before joining AVID/TOPS I was basically failing every class. I lacked in managing my time between school and friends. I didn’t have a clue on how to study for upcoming test and struggled taking any notes during class. Once I joined AVID/TOPS, I became aware of the importance of time management. I used my planner routinely to track due dates for assignments, upcoming test, and also used it for personal activities. AVID/TOPS required me to take Cornell notes in class and this forced me to be more attentive. The Cornell notes also taught me better study skills and before I knew it, I was slowly improving in all of my academic classes .
AVID/TOPS gave me the skills to succeed in high school and prepared me for my journey to college. By being a part of AVID/TOPS I was given the opportunities to visit almost every UW-system school and got a feel for what college life is really about. The exposure to these colleges made me realize that a four year college is in my future.
How has joining the program changed your outlook on for your future? What are your future aspirations?
From joining the AVID/TOPS program I now know that I can be successful in life. AVID/TOPS has opened doors for me and exposed me to a whole new world of opportunities. Through the Boys & Girls Club and the TOPS program, this past summer, I was able to have a paid internship at the Goodman Community Center where I worked with young girls who were going through the same struggles that I went through when I was younger. This internship made me realize that I want to be a teacher and give back to the community. I would love to work with elementary school students and work to eliminate the achievement gap in the school system.
What academic challenges did you face before joining the program? Do you feel like you have overcome them?
Before joining the program, I did not know how to study for tests, take notes in class, manage my time, or the importance of a high school education. I strongly feel that I have overcome the majority of obstacles that were put in my way throughout my high school career. My AVID/TOPS class is like my second family, they are always there to support you, they have your back, and the push you to be all you can be. Without AVID/TOPS and my AVID family, I don’t know if I would have made it this far.
What have you learned about yourself since joining the program?
I learned that with hard work and dedication I am able to do whatever I desire. I also learned that I control my own destiny, I refuse to be another statistic in America.
Why do you think programs like AVID/TOPS are important?
I think they are important because they give students like me a chance to succeed in life and also give them the support they might not receive at home or in their community.
What advice would you give to a young person looking to join AVID/TOPS or a similar program?
Keep pushing through it!! It might be hard at first, but in the long run it will benefit you! AVID/TOPS provides you with so many opportunities that only students would dream of having!
- AVID, the inside-the classroom component used in over 3,000 schools nationwide, is a four-year elective class with rigorous standards and strong academic support.
- TOPS, the outside-the-classroom component, emphasizes college preparatory activities and real-world experiences.
The Burke Foundation is putting the spotlight on Justice Johnson, a 17 year old senior at James Madison Memorial High School. We interviewed Justice to learn more about her experience with the AVID/TOPS program and to see what advice she had for other teens.
Tell us about yourself…
My name is Justice Johnson and I am a senior at James Madison Memorial High School. I am 17 years old and I live in a single parent household. I am the second oldest of 6 siblings and help provide for my family by working part-time at JC Penny’s. I am passionate about mentoring at-risk youth and giving back to the community. I also enjoy watching non-stop YouTube videos with my friends.
What motivated you to join AVID/TOPS? Any role models/individuals that inspired you?
I joined AVID/TOPS during the second quarter of my freshmen year. My English teacher Mrs. Hornung offered me a chance to be a part of her AVID/TOPS class. I was extremely flattered to be recognized for something good, even if it I was only being invited to what I thought was a “glorified study hall”. Before AVID/TOPS, my grades and attitude about school was horrible. I had a “nothing matters to me attitude” and didn’t want to be known as someone who kept their head in books. Mrs. Hornung taught me that high school goes by with the snap of a finger and encouraged me to advantage of opportunities that AVID/TOPS and high school offers.
How have your views on education changed since joining AVID/TOPS?
Before joining AVID/TOPS I was basically failing every class. I lacked in managing my time between school and friends. I didn’t have a clue on how to study for upcoming test and struggled taking any notes during class. Once I joined AVID/TOPS, I became aware of the importance of time management. I used my planner routinely to track due dates for assignments, upcoming test, and also used it for personal activities. AVID/TOPS required me to take Cornell notes in class and this forced me to be more attentive. The Cornell notes also taught me better study skills and before I knew it, I was slowly improving in all of my academic classes .
AVID/TOPS gave me the skills to succeed in high school and prepared me for my journey to college. By being a part of AVID/TOPS I was given the opportunities to visit almost every UW-system school and got a feel for what college life is really about. The exposure to these colleges made me realize that a four year college is in my future.
How has joining the program changed your outlook on for your future? What are your future aspirations?
From joining the AVID/TOPS program I now know that I can be successful in life. AVID/TOPS has opened doors for me and exposed me to a whole new world of opportunities. Through the Boys & Girls Club and the TOPS program, this past summer, I was able to have a paid internship at the Goodman Community Center where I worked with young girls who were going through the same struggles that I went through when I was younger. This internship made me realize that I want to be a teacher and give back to the community. I would love to work with elementary school students and work to eliminate the achievement gap in the school system.
What academic challenges did you face before joining the program? Do you feel like you have overcome them?
Before joining the program, I did not know how to study for tests, take notes in class, manage my time, or the importance of a high school education. I strongly feel that I have overcome the majority of obstacles that were put in my way throughout my high school career. My AVID/TOPS class is like my second family, they are always there to support you, they have your back, and the push you to be all you can be. Without AVID/TOPS and my AVID family, I don’t know if I would have made it this far.
What have you learned about yourself since joining the program?
I learned that with hard work and dedication I am able to do whatever I desire. I also learned that I control my own destiny, I refuse to be another statistic in America.
Why do you think programs like AVID/TOPS are important?
I think they are important because they give students like me a chance to succeed in life and also give them the support they might not receive at home or in their community.
What advice would you give to a young person looking to join AVID/TOPS or a similar program?
Keep pushing through it!! It might be hard at first, but in the long run it will benefit you! AVID/TOPS provides you with so many opportunities that only students would dream of having!