Advocating for the Space Teens Deserve

The Power of Purpose in Youth Work

Karen Pittman [http://kpcatalysts.com/meet-our-team/#KP] is back in the interviewer’s chair for the final episode of season 2.  Karen sits down with co-host Margarida Celestino to reflect on the powerful messages from this season’s guests 一 Erin Giwer from the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maine [https://www.bgcmaine.org/portland], Kelly Blue from Portland Public Library [https://www.portlandlibrary.com/]'s Teen Library [https://www.portlandlibrary.com/for-you/teens/], and Becky Bell and Stephanie Doyle from Casco Bay High School [https://cbhs.portlandschools.org/].  Karen and Margarida each share what stood out to them as big ideas and new learnings. Margarida gives  updates on her personal journey,shares  how as she continues to receive support in the Portland community, and explains how she is also giving back to other young people whose lived experience mirrors her own.  Visit our website [http://changingtheoddsremix.com/] to learn more about the guests and organizations highlighted throughout the season.

Inspiring & Guiding Teens to Create Their Own Future

Co-host Margarida Celestino graduated from Casco Bay with a full-ride Questbridge Scholarship [https://www.questbridge.org/about/our-staff]. She credits her guidance counselor, Stephanie Doyle, with connecting her to this prestigious opportunity. In this episode, Stephanie, Margarida, and Katherine Plog Martinez explore Stephanie’s role at Casco Bay [https://cbhs.portlandschools.org/] as a member of the Student Support Team, crew advisor, and counselor. Their discussion continues to emphasize the importance of relationships - with students and between adults - and explores how Stephanie meets students where they are  (both during and after their time at Casco Bay) to support them in shaping their own goals and future direction. Host Karen Pittman [http://kpcatalysts.com/meet-our-team/#KP] will join us at the end of the episode to reflect and challenge us on how to leverage today’s message in our own work.  Visit our website [http://changingtheoddsremix.com/] to learn more about Casco Bay High School and EL Education’s focus on crew.

Building Relationships Through Visibility

All adults play an important role in a school building. Becky Bell, the nurse at Casco Bay High School, knows all about this. In this episode, we return to Margarida Celestino’s high school in Portland, ME. Together, Nurse Bell, Margarida, and Katherine Plog Martinez [http://kpcatalysts.com/meet-our-team] explore how the Casco Bay Student Support Team identifies  student needs, meets them, and further builds relationships. We’ll also explore how Nurse Bell connects with the broader Portland community.  Host Karen Pittman [http://kpcatalysts.com/meet-our-team/#KP] will join us at the end of the episode to reflect and challenge us on how to leverage today’s message in our own work.  Visit our website [http://changingtheoddsremix.com/] to learn more about Casco Bay High School and the School Based Health Centers in Portland.

Advocating for the Space Teens Deserve

Let’s continue our journey through Portland, ME with co-host Margarida Celestino. In this episode’s conversation, Teen Librarian Kelley Blue, Margarida and our Executive Producer Katherine Plog Martinez [http://kpcatalysts.com/meet-our-team] explore the role of the Portland Public Library [https://www.portlandlibrary.com/]'s Teen Library [https://www.portlandlibrary.com/for-you/teens/] in helping local teens to thrive.    The Portland Teen Library is about much more than just connecting teens with books. Margarida, Katherine, and Kelly explore how the Teen Library staff builds positive relationships, makes connections, and advocates with and for teens. We’ll learn how Margarida’s connection to the library is illustrative of the role the Teen Library plays in Portland’s learning ecosystem and how Kelley’s values and approach help change the odds so that all Portland teens can thrive. Host Karen Pittman [http://kpcatalysts.com/meet-our-team/#KP] will join us at the end of the episode to reflect and challenge us on how to leverage today’s message in our own work.  Visit our website [http://changingtheoddsremix.com/] to learn more about the Portland Teen Library and Connect Ed, the Out of School Time Intermediary mentioned both this week and last.

Understanding, Reflecting, & Building Community at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine

We’re taking a walk in co-host Margarida Celestino’s shoes as we begin to meet the adults from her community that helped and left an impact on her. In this episode, Margarida and our Executive Producer Katherine Plog Martinez talk to Erin Giwer [https://www.bgcmaine.org/team-memberd324/erin_giwer], Senior Program Director at the Portland Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maine [https://www.bgcmaine.org/portland].   Through their discussion, Erin paints a more complete picture of the work the Boys & Girls Clubs do to help young people realize their full potential. Katherine, Erin, and Margarida explore how the Boys & Girls Club has worked to deeply connect with Portland’s unique population of young people through partnerships with families, schools, and other organizations, and how Erin and her team prioritize and foster relationships with each club member. Erin’s joyful attitude and outlook about working at the Boys & Girls Club and helping shape the lives of all the young people that come through their doors make it easy to see why she was so impactful for Margarida and many others in the Portland community.   Visit our website [http://changingtheoddsremix.com/] to learn more about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine and the Guiding Principles for Whole Child Design.