Somerville Education Foundation

THE MISSION OF THE SOMERVILLE EDUCATION FOUNDATION (SEF) IS TO PROMOTE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL SOMERVILLE RESIDENTS.

THE MISSION OF THE SOMERVILLE EDUCATION FOUNDATION (SEF) IS TO PROMOTE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL SOMERVILLE RESIDENTS WITH THE FOLLOWING FOCUS AREAS: 1. BASIC NEEDS. PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO FIRST ENSURE THAT ALL CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SECURE IN BASIC NEEDS FOR FOOD, SHELTER, CLOTHING, SUPPORT FOR RESIDENT STATUS, HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, AND ARE READY TO LEARN.2. YEAR-ROUND LEARNING. PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT WILL ENABLE ALL OF SOMERVILLE'S CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE TO BENEFIT FROM ENHANCED LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL BY - ENCOURAGING THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS, THE ACQUISITION AND USE OF ENRICHED TEACHING MATERIALS, AND THE PILOTING OF NEW TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS IN THE CLASSROOM.- EXPANDING ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS FOR ALL OF SOMERVILLE'S CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE.3. APPLIED LEARNING. ENSURE ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS INTERNSHIPS, SUMMER JOBS, COOPS, AND PROJECT-BASED APPLIED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. FY 2021 ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:IN SUMMER 2020, WITH THE SUPPORT OF MGH BRIGHAM, SEF FUNDED $25,000 IN REMOTE SOCIAL ENRICHMENT SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAMS THROUGH SOMERVILLE MEDIA CENTER ("SMC"). IN THE FALL 2020, SEF SERVED AS FISCAL AGENT TO TWO LARGE GRANTS WITH EASTERN BANK AND BIOGEN THAT SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES IN SOMERVILLE. IN ADDITION, SEF WORKED WITH THE CITY TO FUND THE CONTINUATION OF SMC SOMERCAMP INTO SOMERSOCIAL.IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2021, SEF ATTENDED SOMERVILLE'S CHILDREN'S CABINET AND SUCCESSFULLY ELEVATED THE CRISIS OF OUT OF SCHOOL TIME IN THE PANDEMIC AS A PRIORITY THAT DEMANDS CITY COVID FUNDING. IN FEBRUARY 2021, SEF STEPPED IN AND FUNDED MUCH NEEDED, INNOVATIVE FEBRUARY VACATION PROGRAMMING WITH SMC AND YOUTH STREAM. IN APRIL 2021, SEF FUNDED FARRINGTON NATURE LINC ENABLING STUDENTS AT THE Y AND MYSTIC LEARNING CENTER TO ENJOY A FEW HOURS REVIEWING NATURE IN THE CITY.AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF SEF, THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE CREATED A DIRECTOR OF OST (OUT-OF-SCHOOL-TIME PROGRAMS) POSITION FOR SOMERVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT WAS HIRED IN MAY 2021. THIS NEW ROLE WILL COORDINATE WITH LOCAL PARTNERS TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS FOR SOMERVILLE YOUTH.