Spread some spring time cheer: A note from Our Clinical Director, Lisa G. Cohen, LICSW

A Note From Our Clinical Director, Lisa G. Cohen, LICSW

Spread some spring time cheer.   It has truly been a long cold lonely winter (remember the Beatle’s song?) – However, despite some of the cool temperatures spring has indeed arrived.  Let’s say good-bye to the winter blues and get a jump start into spring and new beginnings.  Here are a few activity ideas for you and your Little to try.    Plan a scavenger hunt in your neighborhood, the local park, or the Arnold arboretum.  Make it simple.  Have your Little find a Robin Red Breast, a budding daffodil, an earthworm, a new leaf sprouting, have them pick up a piece of litter, or share your favorite spring time memory.             Plant something and watch it grow.  If you want to plant indoors – get a small pot, potting soil, and either a bulb, a potato that’s sprouted roots in your kitchen cupboard, or buy a small herb for the kitchen that your Little can take home, prune and add to their salad.     Go for a hike!  There are some wonderful local areas where you can enjoy a leisurely stroll and time with your Little that are unstructured and nature oriented.  You can even pack a picnic (peanut butter and jelly never tastes better than out in the woods).  Check out the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton or the Habitat in Belmont.  It’s great exercise, full of wonder, fun, and it’s free!   Get active!  Take some chalk onto the black top and draw or play hopscotch (you’re never too old for this), jump rope, throw a Frisbee, play some hoop, or hang out with the friendly dogs in the park.    Whatever you choose to do – welcome spring in someway and enjoy the sunshine!    Wishing you a Happy Passover and Happy Spring full of warm weather activities!

Big Spotlight: Meet Adam and Erik.

 

Like so many of our matches, when you first meet Big Brother Adam and his Little Brother Erik, you can immediately feel the energy and connection that the two share. But it is the understood sense of trust that truly unites this JBBBS match.

 

Adam and Erik learned very quickly that they have a LOT in common. Besides their mutual love of all things sports, they also share a favorite food: chicken fingers. During most of their outings together, you can find the two at a local restaurant munching on the fried snacks and chatting about Kevin Youkilis’ game winning homerun, or how the Celtics will do in the playoffs without KG. 

 

Though the two enjoy joking around and sharing new experiences together (it was Little Brother Erik that taught Big Brother Adam how to swing a golf club), it is the authenticity of their relationship that is what they value the most. Erik knows that Adam is someone he can trust; they chat about school, friends and Erik’s life as a teenager.

 

“I am lucky to have two great women in my life, my mom and my older sister. But having Adam has just been so great. He knows what I am going through, because he was a kid once too. And he is great and doesn’t pry for more details. We have a good time together and I know I can talk to him about what is going on,” Erik explained recently when he and Adam spoke at a Combined Jewish Philanthropies’ special event. “I am just so lucky to have him.” 

 

This is the first installment of “Big Spotlight.” Do you and your Little want to share your story? Email Robin for more information. 

Fore! Mini-Golf and Ice Cream a Master Success!

 

Not even 90 degree weather could deter the more than sixty JBBBS matches that attended the agency’s annual mini-golf outing. “Bigs” and “Littles” enjoyed an afternoon of fun, putting and ice cream.

 

Many “Littles” taught their “Bigs” a thing or two about mini-golf: more than 10 “Littles” hit holes in one! After “hitting the links”, “Bigs” and “Littles” enjoyed everyone’s favorite warm weather dessert: ice cream!

 

 JBBBS was lucky enough to be golfing at McGolf in Dedham that rewarded all holes in one with a free game for a future visit. With our results, it looks like McGolf should be seeing many JBBBS matches back for more this summer!

Friend 2 Friend Holds Annual Community Seder

Friendship, music and a traditional seder meal were just some of the highlights of the 14th annual Friend 2 Friend Community Seder. The event was held in conjunction with the Jewish Community Centers’ Special Needs Services Department and had over 100 people in attendance.

Seder attendees were treated to guitar music to begin the seder. Friends were invited to singalong as Rabbi Jay Perlman of Temple Beth Shalom in Needham led the traditional seder. In addition to Dayenu, one participant led the crowd in a wonderful rendition of “Lo Yisa Goy.”

Friend 2 Friend Director Jan Klein, commented that this was by far the largest and most spirited crowd to attend the annual event, “I am always so impressed by the spirit and joy that our matches share as they celebrate this special holiday together. The comraderie that our Friends share was particularly special at this year’s seder.”

The event was generously funded by a consortium of Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) member organizations.

Fourth Annual Chocolate Seder a “Yummy” Success

 When was the last time you were at a Passover Seder where instead  of dipping parsley in salt water, you dipped strawberries and pineapple into a chocolate fountain? Unless you were one of the 150 “Bigs”, “Littles”, friends and family, probably never.
 
Where a traditional Seder would speak of the ten plagues, attendees at the JBBBS Seder ate them. For slaying of the first born, “Bigs” and “Littles” indulged on Baby Ruth candy bars, and when it was time for blood, there was a cry of joy as matches ate Gushers fruit snacks (because like blood, they gush).
 
But what would a Seder be without matzah ball soup? After being led in the blessings and traditional Seder Hagaddah by “Littles” as young as six, “Bigs”, “Littles” and their families and guests were treated to a delicious afternoon lunch  followed by a spirited search for the Afikomen (hidden matzah).
 
The event was generously sponsored by Irving and Charlotte Backman, who were able to join the festivities. One Little Brother told his JBBBS Social Worker that “today was the best day of my life.” Next year in Jerusalem.

Click here for pictures from this great event!

JBBBS Hosts 2nd Annual “Promoting Resilience in Children” Conference

Over 150 social workers, teachers, parents and guests were charged with becoming “charismatic adults” to children in their lives at Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters Second Annual, “Promoting Resilience in Children” conference on Friday, March 20th. Dr. Robert Brooks, a leading speaker on the themes of resilience, self-esteem, motivation and family relationships, and Sarah Ward, M.S., an expert on executive functioning skills were the event’s keynote speakers.

Dr. Brooks shared stories from his work at McLean Hospital with youth that were labeled as destined to fail. When Dr. Brooks spoke with those that had defied the odds, each one cited an adult that believed in them unconditionally. He urged those in attendance to be the “charismatic adult” that makes the difference for children on the brink. After hearing various strategies from Dr. Brooks, one social worker in attendance said “Robert Brooks was excellent- engaging, funny, and had great stories to illustrate his points. I received ideas and solutions that will change my life as a professional and a parent.” Following his talk, Dr. Brooks met with members in attendance and signed copies of his books, including ”Raising Resilient Children : Fostering Strength, Hope, and Optimism in Your Child”.

Sarah Ward, M.S. is considered one of the foremost experts on executive function skills in children. Ward is dedicated to developing innovatitve treatment strategies and educating the community to understand, care for, and celebrate learning and behavior-based differences. She spoke to the audience about strategies that they could use in their professional work with children as well as their own children. Many attendees found Ward to be “inspiring, motivating and extremely helpful.”

After two successful conferences, JBBBS’ Vice President of Programs and Services Lisa G. Cohen, LICSW hopes that this will become not only an annual event, but a means for practioners to share ideas, “After receiving such positive feedback, we hope that participants will remain in touch with our agency and together we can work to best facilitate and promote resilience in children.”

The conference was subsidized by the Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters Judge Lewis Goldberg Endowment for Educational Programs.

Click here for more pictures from this great event.

A Look at Activity: JBBBS Activity Program Enjoy Arts, Eats and Treats!

Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Activity Based Matches met  at the JCC in February for a day of “Arts, Eats and Treats”. Matches had the opportunity to build houses out of candy and icing and play drama games like paper bag dramatics in a fun filled day.

Big Brother H and Little Brother M make sure there is PLENTY of icing on their candy house!

Activity Based Matches hard at work making delicious "eats and treats"

A team of "Bigs" and "Littles" gets ready for a drama game!

Check out pictures from this great event!

Sisters “See What You Can Be” with Acclaimed Tween-Author Liz Suneby

Nationally recognized “tween” author Liz Suneby joined Big Sisters and Little Sisters in a two part workshop hosted by Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters and funded by a grant from the Boston Jewish Community Women’s Fund. Suneby is the author of the acclaimed book published by American Girl, “See What You Can Be” a book aimed at girls exploring careers and goals.

Big Sisters were invited to the first workshop exclusively tailored to them in early January. Suneby explained how to use her book, with girls ages eight to twelve, which included determining what “type” of girl they were “hands on girl,” “big thinker,”  or “shaker-upper.” Many Big Sisters commented how fun the event was and that it would have been helpful to them earlier in their own lives.

In late February, Big Sisters were invited to bring their Little Sisters to a second workshop aimed at helping the girls discover careers that could be of interest to them. The workshop began with a panel of women who shared with the group how their interests and experience led to their current jobs.

Big Sister Jen, a high school guidance counselor in East Boston spoke about her education and career path that lead to her current position.  Linda, a Big Sister in the community program shared how she transitioned from paralegal to her dream of being a lawyer. Dog Trainer Martha shared her experiences as a Dog Trainer and shared how she was able to follow her love of animals into a career that she loved.  

Following the panel, “Bigs” and “Littles” enjoyed working through the activities in “See What You Can Be” including using an old fashioned paper fortune teller to help them discover new interests and possible careers. The event ended with a pizza party and many Little Sisters asking how they could enroll in dog obedience school!

Check out more pictures from this great event!

MAGIC Moment: Friend 2 Friend participants enjoy Pizza Making!

Friend 2 Friend program participants enjoyed a night of food, friendship and fun at Pizzeria Uno’s in Allston at February’s MAGIC event. Each group met with friends and fellow group members to create their own customized pizza and share good company and conversation. A fantastic time was had by all.

 

Bigs and Littles “Strike” Fun at Annual Bowling Event!

Over 60 Big Brothers and Big Sisters shared a day of spares, strikes and fun at the annual JBBBS bowling event held at Sacco Lanes in February. Below find photos from this great event!

Smile for the Camera!

Big Sister and Little Sister take a break from the lanes

A long time JBBBS match takes a break to pose for the camera

Brothers with the same name smile between games!

A smiling Big Sister and Little Sister enjoy bowling at Sacco Lanes

Little Brother L shows Big Brother E how to candle pin bowl

Ready Set Bowl! Each year this Big Sister and Little Sister maked themed shirts for the event!

Bowling Brings Out the Best in JBBBS Matches

Big Sister F and Little Sister H take a snack break to refuel before hitting the lanes again