MANDEL CENTER FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
TREU-MART FELLOW FEATURES
The following are interviews with fellows of the Treu-Mart Youth Development Fellowship Program. The fellowship is a cooperative venture of the Treu-Mart Fund (a supporting organization of the Cleveland Foundation and the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland) and the Mandel Center. The Fellowship Program is a nine-month experience for youth-serving professionals that both teaches and embodies the resiliency model of youth development - an asset-based paradigm for working with middle-school-age youth. This experience includes coaching, education, and peer support and reinforcement.
Annemarie Grassi, Cohort 1 Fellow and CNM Candidate
Q: What did you gain from the fellowship experience?
A: The fellowship was a confirmation of the importance of seeing youth as an asset and strength in our society rather than a hindrance. The fellowship helped strengthen my skills and understanding of working with youth and provided me with tools to incorporate these skills in the various aspects of our organization. In addition, the fellowship provided me with opportunities to develop relationships with other organizations that service youth and provided for future collaborative relationships.
Atunyese Herron, Cohort 3 Fellow
Q: What education and career path led you to the Treu-Mart Fellowship?
A: I have been working with children for the past seven years as a home-school instructor and certified tutor. For the past three years, I have worked as the Youth Development Director for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program. This has allowed me to focus on State and Federal academic and programmatic guidelines to meet the needs of children for the 21st Century. It was an honor to have been nominated for the Fellowship by the Executive Director of my agency and accepted by my peers. I hope to continue on this path and work to change legislation in the fight to protect our children.