Kendra during a field trip to the Bronx Zoo last summer
When Kendra enrolled in The Child Center’s Oceanside Cornerstone Community Center afterschool program as a second grader, she was struggling with behavioral challenges. She was also curious, bright, outgoing, good at math, and bursting with potential. That’s what the afterschool program team saw in Kendra, and they were determined to work with Kendra’s mom to ensure Kendra had the tools, support, and confidence to reach and believe in her own potential.
Like a lot of second graders, Kendra could sometimes get overwhelmed by the changes in her life. The uncertainty about new routines, expectations, and her environment sometimes became emotionally challenging. The transitions in her life could sometimes feel like too much, and she found it all difficult to manage. The afterschool team offered to partner with Kendra’s mom to help Kendra learn to process her emotions and develop coping skills that could help her now and in the future.
The first step was establishing an environment of trust between the center and Kendra’s mother. This environment included communication between the center and home on Kendra’s progress, patience in helping Kendra navigate her challenges, consistency regarding the consequences when trust was broken, and a feasible plan for repair and moving forward. Program Coordinator Danielle Douglas, who played a crucial role on the team, says that the most important part of keeping this union strong was the buy-in from Kendra’s mother.
Together, with consistency, they began to see Kendra’s behavior improve. Being able to manage and understand her emotions helped Kendra make friends, focus on her schoolwork, and experience more joy in her daily life. As Program Director Nelson Sarweh says, “This is a prime example of ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’”
Danielle is so grateful to have had an opportunity to watch Kendra soar. “The experience reminded me of why I chose youth development as a profession, and why I returned to the field after a couple of years away,” Danielle says. “The opportunity to make a difference in a young person’s life is very fulfilling.”
Here is Kendra harvesting kale in Oceanside’s garden.
That’s our perspective. Here is Kendra’s perspective, in her own words:
My name is Kendra. I am in sixth grade, and I have been a participant in the Oceanside Cornerstone afterschool program since second grade. With the help of my mother and the center, a safe space was created which allows me to express myself when I’m upset. That has helped me a lot.
I like attending afterschool at Oceanside. I like the different activities we have and how the group leaders treat us. They allow us to express ourselves without judgment and provide help when needed.
I also like having the opportunity to try new things. At the end of fifth grade, I auditioned for the storyteller role in the center’s Juneteenth skit—and I got it. I was nervous at first but proud of myself and the other students who performed.
There are other things I want to do and try. I have a goal to play volleyball at a competitive level, and I’m working hard to do better in some school subjects. My best subject is math. I think I’m doing good so far, and the Cornerstone group leaders are always there to help.
Now that I’ve had this experience, I know that I can work through whatever problems I’m going through. The advice I would give to young people who may be going through similar challenges is to talk their problems out, take a deep breath, or sometimes you just have to walk away from the situation that is upsetting you. There is always something positive to focus on.
