Dream Cities | Philadelphia, PA
George W. Childs
1599 Wharton Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146-3196
Phone: (215) 339-1090
Fax: (215) 339-1091
Learning Center DirectorLavarr K. Zuberlzuber  usdreamacademy [dot] org | Mentor CoordinatorNaaila Grayngray usdreamacademy [dot] org |
Feature Story
Job Shadowing…A Day at the Board
“I had so much fun. At first I thought the trip was going to be boring but it wasn’t,” said Latrell Jackson an 8th grade participant in the U.S. Dream Academy’s Job Shadowing Day. The Dream Academy Learning Center at GW Childs School partnered with the Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) to inspire students to build career dreams. 20 students visited the Board’s Center City Philadelphia location and spent the day engaging with professionals in various fields ranging from Information Technology to Finance. “When I get older, I’d email reports to my boss because that’s what Frank does,” said Jadzia, a 5th grader who shadowed Frank Grunseich, Research and Investment Strategist. The Job Shadowing Day provided students the opportunity to observe and engage in real life day-to-day work scenarios. Alynn, a 7th grader at GW Childs School, described his experience as one that will certainly help him in the future. “If I’m a basketball player one day, I know that I will have to go to business meetings. The day I went to the Board of Pensions, I went to a meeting with everyone. This gave me a chance to see how business meetings are run.”
The day kicked off with a student-employee get-to-know-you mixer. From there, students were whisked away to various departments where they sat in on staff meetings, assisted employees with completing financial reports, and as one student described it, “got to meet the bosses boss”. The goal of the Job Shadowing Day was to expose students to a professional environment and provide an opportunity for students to learn how school work connects to the real world. Students were able to observe everything from how to dress for the workplace to the significance of teamwork and social skills. During the lunch break students heard an inspiring story from Kelly Riley Brown, Vice President of Member Services. Ms. Brown shared how her experience growing up in a family with little money built in her a determination to succeed. She provided each student with a copy of her business card. Ms. Brown told students to write their dreams on the back of the card, carry the card with them at all times, and let the card be a reminder to them to reach for success.
Not only was the experience enjoyed by DreamKids. At the end of the day Board employees reflected on the grand time they had participating as Workplace Hosts. “This was an amazing experience and I hope the Board creates this as a yearly event now,” said one Board employee. The U.S. Dream Academy seeks to equip students with the skills and resources to make their dreams a reality. The Job Shadowing Day at the Board of Pensions brought students one step closer to that reality as described by Christiana, a 5th grade DreamKid, “My experience with my hosts was a day when I learned I can be anything I want to be.”
*Special thanks to DreamTeam Ambassador Peter Maher for connecting the U.S. Dream Academy to the Job Shadowing opportunity. Peter is an Investment Analyst with the Board of Pensions.
Our History in Philadelphia
Recognized as “Center of the Year” in 2008, the Philadelphia Learning Center helps students at G.W. Childs Elementary School develop useful skills, positive characters, and attainable dreams, despite negative circumstances.
Located in an economically and culturally diverse community in South Philadelphia, the Learning Center provides mentoring and tutoring to students who are falling behind academically or who have a parent or family member who is currently incarcerated.
The Philadelphia Learning Center also provides a six-week summer program that offers golf lessons, photography, dance, and music programming in addition to Dream Academy program standards: skill, character, and dream-building activities.
About Our Staff
Learning Center DirectorLavarr Zuber has over 10 years of experience working with at-risk children, including serving as Math Instructor for juvenile offenders, Case Manager for recently released juvenile offenders, and Consultation and Education Specialist for children in need of behavioral health services. Mr. Zuber has also served as a Youth and Family Case Manager for a clinical after-school program promoting drug and violence intervention methods. In his spare time, Mr. Zuber serves as a volunteer soccer coach for young children. He holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Cheyney University of PA. Mr. Zuber was awarded the “Director of the Year” honor for 2009. | Mentor CoordinatorRecognized as the “Mentor Coordinator of the Year” in 2008, Naaila Gray has dedicated her career to enhancing the lives of youth and children for the past six years. Her wealth of experience includes work in the areas of youth ministry, tutoring and mentoring. While in college, she also launched the “Life After High School Project,” to assist high school students in developing a post-secondary plan. Ms. Gray holds a degree in Communications from Old Dominion University and enjoys speaking at various youth program events. |
Our Philadelphia Partners in the Dream
Drexel University
Pennsylvania Prison Society – Support for Kids of Incarcerated Parents
United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania
Upcoming Events
There are no upcoming events scheduled for this learning center at this time. Please check back later.
