Hanna is a junior and an honors student at Greenwich Academy who volunteered over the summer capturing the stories of carver campers (see her Carver summer blog here). Hanna created this video a few days ago of Carver kids celebrating Carver Day. Hanna is continuing to volunteer her time after school at the Carver Community Center this school year, so we can all look forward to the much joy that Hanna will continue to create and share at Carver!
New York Hall of Science Invites Carver Families to Enjoy Maker Faire!
On September 22, Sixty-nine Carver after school students and their parents from Tracey and Brookside Elementary Schools and from West Rocks Middle School just attended Maker Faire at the New York Hall of Science in NYC! It’s the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth—a family-friendly festival of invention, creativity and resourcefulness, and a celebration of the Maker movement!
Thanks to a donation of tickets by the New York Hall of Science, Carver families participated in the East Coast's largest celebration of invention, creativity, and curiosity, the very best of the global Maker Movement. The event featured more than 600 projects and 8 stages focused on making for social good, health, technology, electronics, 3D printing & fabrication, food, robotics, art and more!
Part science fair, part county fair, and part something entirely new, Maker Faire is an all-ages gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors. All of these “makers” come to Maker Faire to show what they have made and to share what they have learne
The launch of Maker Faire in the Bay Area in 2006 demonstrated the popularity of making and interest among legions of aspiring makers to participate in hands-on activities and learn new skills at the event. 200,000 people annually attend the two flagship Maker Faires in the Bay Area and New York, with an average of 44% of attendees first timers at the Bay Area event, and 61% in New York. A family-friendly event, 50% attend the event with children. In 2017, over 190 independently-produced “Mini Maker Faires” plus over 30 larger-scale Featured Maker Faires will have taken place around the world, including Tokyo, Rome, Shenzhen, Taipei, Seoul, Paris, Berlin, Barcelona, Detroit, San Diego, Milwaukee, and Kansas City.
Maker Faire is primarily designed to be forward-looking, showcasing makers who are exploring new forms and new technologies. But it’s not just for the novel in technical fields; Maker Faire features innovation and experimentation across the spectrum of science, engineering, art, performance and craft.
Maker Faire is a gathering of fascinating, curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. It’s a venue for makers to show examples of their work and interact with others about it. Many makers say they have no other place to share what they do. DIY (Do-It-Yourself) is often invisible in our communities, taking place in shops, garages and on kitchen tables. It’s typically out of the spotlight of traditional art or science or craft events. Maker Faire makes visible these projects and ideas that we don’t encounter every day.
Maker Faire is brought to you by Maker Media. Maker Media publishes Make: magazine, produces Maker Faire, and offers DIY electronics, tools, kits, and books through its online and pop-up Maker Shed stores.
Join us for our annual Halloween Party!
Support Carver kids at Wayback Burgers Norwalk!
The importance of Carver's student growth and performance research
Carver Day Celebration!
(L-R) Norwalk Common Council member, Greg Burnett; CT Senate Majority Leader, Bob Duff; CT Representative Terrie Wood; CT Representative and Carver board member Fred Wilms; Novelette Peterkin, Carver Executive Director; and CT Representative Gail Lavielle.
See all the photos here in Carver’s photo album!
On Thursday, September 20th, the Carver community celebrated its 80th anniversary by gathering some 400 of Carver’s daily after school students at the Carver Community Center for a few hours of fun, food, games, music and dancing, and even a magician!
We are grateful to the many elected officials, education leaders, Craver board members, parents, volunteers who joined us.
Norwalk Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Steven Adamowski and Novelette Peterkin
Mayor Rilling’s presence was felt in the reading of the City of Norwalk’s Carver Day proclamation by Senator Bob Duff and Norwalk Common Council member, Greg Burnett.
Also joining us were Representatives Gail Lavielle, Fred Wilms and Terrie Woods who greeted our students and guests with their personal remarks and the reading of a proclamation from the Connecticut General Assembly that honored Novelette Peterkin’s (Carver’s Executive Director) 15 years of outstanding service to the Norwalk community. Congressman Jim Himes was represented by a member of his staff, Veronica Tertullien.
Prudential was the Presenting Sponsor of the day’s event, and DJ Albert Richards provided the music and fun for the students. Steve Dane held our students spellbound with his magic tricks.
Volunteers from New Canaan High School’s Carver Cares Club were joined by energetic members from Carver’s Marketing Committee, including Paula Argosh, Alex Baudouin, Tasha Branch, Marc Alan, Marge Costa, Patrick Steele, Dr. Susan G. Weinberger, Brenda Wilcox Williams, and Wendy Winnick.
Cowabunga and Tony’s Taco provided the food along with in-kind contributions from Garden Catering and Italia’s Restaurant & Pizzeria.
Carver is Norwalk’s largest provider of after school programs for middle and high school students, and the largest provider of summer programs serving K through 9th grade students, operating in 11 Norwalk schools and the Carver Community Center.
In the 2017-18 academic year, Carver served 3,819 unduplicated individuals: 1,323 students in after school and summer programs, 164 students in college, and 2,332 people in community programs. Carver is given free access to each school’s facilities and resources free of charge.
Since 2005, 100% of Carver seniors have graduated on time. Over 95% of Carver seniors enroll in college immediately following graduation. 85% of Carver college students graduate from 4-year colleges and universities within 6 years.
Carver provides support that recognizes individual strengths, needs, and learning styles. Carver interventions and supports align with the Norwalk Public Schools 2019 Strategic Operating Plan aimed at closing the Achievement Gap. Carver received the highest ratings from Charity Navigator and Guidestar, far exceeding industry standards for financial health, transparency and accountability to donors.
Thank you, everyone, for giving the Carver community so much to celebrate! Carver is 80 years young because of you!
Carver music video featured on Common Good website!
Newman's Own Foundation, founded by the late actor and philanthropist Paul Newman, has been a longtime supporter of the Carver Foundation of Norwalk. The foundation just launched CommonGood.com where Carver’s music video and story is prominently featured!
CommonGood is new web platform dedicated to sharing uplifting stories to highlight the good works of people, communities, and organizations from around the world.
"With the fast-paced news cycle these days, we are inundated with world and local events, and it's easy to miss out on all of the truly meaningful work being done in the charitable sector," said Bob Forrester, President and CEO of Newman's Own Foundation. "The Common Good website is aimed at filling a void of coverage about the philanthropic world by highlighting stories about people and organizations that are improving lives and making a positive impact on our world."
CommonGood.com is designed to make it easy for users to find meaningful stories and connect directly with philanthropic organizations. The site will feature up-to-date news and events on the charitable front and allow users the opportunity to learn about and connect directly with the people, organizations, and causes that are making a positive difference around the globe.
Newman's Own Foundation has underwritten the development of the Common Good website for the purpose of promoting and encouraging philanthropy. In developing the concept for the Common Good website, Newman's Own Foundation selected Narrative Content Group as its publishing partner, based on their expertise in creating and distributing content. Narrative will handle the day-to-day operations of content gathering, technology, and development, and outreach to organizations for stories.
"Working with Newman's Own has always been an honor for us," said Narrative CEO Joel Babbit. "Being able to help develop something with the mission and potential of Common Good is particularly rewarding."
Thank You, Newman
Read an alumna's letter to the editor at Nancy on Norwalk!
See the letter at Nancy on Norwalk here!
Thursday, Sept. 20, is Carver Day. Taylor Hemphill is a Carver alumna.
Even as a young adult, living in Philadelphia, I still consider myself a Carver Kid. It’s an identity that didn’t leave me once I graduated high school. My parents were involved with the Carver Center in their youth and my involvement extended to Girls Scout meetings, CASPER program, summer camp, Junior YDP, then Senior YDP. I would later return to the Carver the summer before finishing my undergraduate degree. I had the privilege of giving back in the building that gave to me, as a co-director for Let’s Get Ready!, an SAT prep program for low-income high school students.
After 18 consecutive years as a student, I am now an Ivy League educated, masters-level social worker; a career choice introduced to me when I started at the Carver Center. My most memorable experiences from the Carver are rooted in education, social justice, and self-confidence. The Carver took me on my first college tour at thirteen years old. Mr. Fuller taught me history about my black ancestors that school teachers omitted when he challenged us to be first at his office with the answer to his black history question over the PA system. My drive for social justice was provoked during discussions in the Teen Room and with my peers and counselors. Then it was enhanced when I joined the Junior NAACP along with peers from Junior and Senior YDP. My self-confidence would start to mold from the relatable representative I saw in the Carver Center staff, reciting the YDP pledge, and participating in the Girls’ Group. This group facilitated by Ms. Roberson encouraged us to discover our voice and potential despite societal limitations. Ms. Roberson was the first social worker I had met and my admiration for her role at the Carver Center led me to where I am today in my career.
I am pleased to see the George Washington Carver Center remain not just a landmark but a staple in youth upbringing for Norwalk. The center as endured its role of being a safe place in the community to learn and engage in extracurricular activities. These activities (during my time) ranging from cooking class and basketball to sleep away camps on a farm and STEM lessons. I’m elated to see the Carver continue its efforts of building lifetime achievers across the spectrum.
Taylor A. Hemphill, MSW
Philadelphia
Join us for Carver Day!
Bankwell sponsored Carver kids to participate in Spartan Kids-Only Races
Spartan Races returned to Mill River Park in Stamford for the fourth year. The Spartan event for kids attracted families from all over the Northeast on September 15 and 16. Bankwell made it possible for Carver’s young athletes to join in the fun and competition.
Kids took in fun and challenging obstacles on a course all their own. The signature Spartan festival area was filled with super cool kid-friendly activities, healthy snacks and training obstacles. The race MC got everyone ready with cheers and burpees at the start line. The rest of the event was accompanied by the latest music blasting throughout the course as the young athletes climbed, crawled, jumped and ran their way to their individual victories.
Mill River Park is a 12-acre transformative space in the heart of downtown Stamford. Frequently described as a “Mini Central Park”, a quick tour reveals a beautiful sparkling and free flowing river with dozens of new species of wild life, a brilliant community-built playground, and three incredibly landscaped outdoor activation areas for our Spartan Kids Obstacle course. Over the past few years, they have begun 28 acres of revitalization, including the recent construction of the Brownstein/Selkowitz Pavilion, which will house the Nissen Carousel.
Thank you, Bankwell and Spartan for your gifts of inspiration and healthy living to Carver kids!
