The LYFE program was one of 4 award recipients at the Center for Children’s Initiatives’ 2015 Champions for Children Award Luncheon. Dr. Kara Ahmed, LYFE Principal received the Organization Leadership award on behalf of the LYFE program. LYFE leadership and staff were very grateful for the honor. LYFE is committed to providing the highest quality of care and support services to NYC DOE student parents and their children, as it is our program’s vision that every student parent in the LYFE program will graduate from high school or it’s equivalent fully prepared to pursue college/career opportunities and empowered to sustain a healthy family.

On Tuesday, October 6, 2015, LYFE participated in the NYC Office of Child Support Enforcement Policy Conference on Forging Positive Partnerships with Young Families. LYFE Director of Program Strategy, Ashleigh Washington served on the morning panel, which addressed the unique challenges young families face when co-parenting, such as building healthy relationships, providing financial support for children, and navigating social services. The firsthand insight provided during the conference by young parents and the ideas shared amongst service providers gave OCSE insight into the key issues and possible strategies needed to help improve policies that impact young families, reduce the stigma of child support, and encourage young families in OCSE services.

For the fifth year in a row, LYFE participated in Dads Take Your Child to School Day in collaboration with the Mayor’s Fatherhood Initiative and its citywide partners.  Because of the important role immediate, extended, and kinship family members play in the success of LYFE children, student parents and the LYFE program as a whole, the  focus of the day was broadened to include the entire FAMILY, resulting in LYFE Family Day!

LYFE Family Day was held program-wide on September 22, 2015.  Across 34 LYFE sites, over 400 family members (including moms, dads, grandparents and great grandparents) took part in LYFE Family Day. In addition, over 40 fathers participated on this day as a part of Dads Take Your Child to School Day!

Program-wide, families engaged with one another and learned about their child’s participation in LYFE and the wealth of support services offered. LYFE Teachers, Social Workers, Educational Paraprofessionals, and Family Workers facilitated interactive activities and experiences for LYFE families to participate in such as: sing-a-longs, hands-on art experiences, vison boards, dancing, reading, and storytelling. These activities allowed for families to have fun with their children while also exploring the ways their children learn and grow in the LYFE classroom every day, as fellowship and community within the site was fostered.

Special thanks to Scholastic, HIT Entertainment (Mattel), Nickelodeon, and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Pathways to Success Initiative for donating  books, toys, and t-shirts respectively to give out to families on Family Day.

Visit LYFE on Facebook to view photos from the following sites’ Family Day celebration:

• Aspirations H.S.
• Beach Channel E.C.
• Boys H.S.
• Bronx Regional H.S.
• Bushwick E.C.
• City As School
• DeWitt Clinton H.S.
• Far Rockaway E.C.
• Franklin K. Lane H.S.
• Grand Street E.C.
• H.S. for Environmental Studies
• H.S. of Telecommunications, Arts and Technology
• Harlem Renaissance H.S.
• Hillcrest H.S.
• James Monroe E.C.
• Jane Addams H.S.
• Long Island City H.S.
• Louis D. Brandeis H.S.
• Pathways to Graduation (Downtown Brooklyn)
• Paul Robeson H.S.
• Performance Conservatory H.S.
• Port Richmond H.S.
• Prospect Heights E.C.
• Springfield Gardens E.C.
• Theodore Roosevelt E.C.
• Thomas Jefferson E.C.
• William H. Maxwell H.S.
• William Howard Taft E.C.

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Take a look at what happened at LYFE this Summer:

Beach Party at Bronx Regional

Smoothie Day at Aspirations

Family Book Day at West Side HS

Healthy Meal Experience at Brandeis HS

Cultural Day at Clinton HS

Luau at Long Island City HS

Carnival at Hillcrest HS

Take a look at what happened at LYFE in June:

Big Apple Award – Peggy Diercks

Broadway Trip

Ed Para Appreciation Week

NYC First Lady’s Visit

Superintendent Recognition Ceremony

On Wednesday, May 20, 2015, the LYFE Program hosted its third Student Parent Graduate Recognition Ceremony, titled Onward & Upward. The event was held at Scholastic Corporation in Soho, NY.

Collective of LYFE’s 35 sites, LYFE celebrated the upcoming June graduation of over 100 student parents. The ceremony was a great success with approximately 265 guests including, student parent graduates, their children, LYFE staff, and external partners in attendance to celebrate and recognize LYFE student parents and their amazing triumphs.

The evening began with a family-friendly reception including food and entertainment — magic tricks, face painting, and photography! LYFE had a very special visit from the NYC Department of Education Chancellor, Carmen Farina, who addressed families and guest, sharing her perspectives about early childhood education and the role of family engagement.

The reception was followed by an awards ceremony honoring student parents’ achievement and acknowledgement special honorees.

Here are a few highlights from our spectacular and inspiring award ceremony:

• Jonathan Lulov, Social Worker from LYFE at Brandeis and West Side High Schools received the LYFE Staff Support Award. Jonathan was nominated by 4 student parents this year — the most submissions received for one staff member! Jonathan has worked in the LYFE Program for 6 school years and has always demonstrated a strong commitment to providing advocacy and unconditional support to LYFE student parents.
• Manolia Rodriguez, a student parent from LYFE at Franklin K. Lane was the recipient of the LYFE Inspiration Award, which recognized her resilience toward academic achievement. Despite emigrating to the U.S. without the ability to speak English and losing the support of her family, Manolia has maintained good grades and has been a relentless advocate for her daughter, who has a hearing impairment and receives both occupational and speech therapy. Manolia ensures her daughter receives the care she needs, while also managing the demands of completing her education as a young parent.
• The Gonzalez Family, received the LYFE Legacy Award to honor their engagement and success as a family in LYFE. While many young parents lose the support of their families when they themselves become parents, Cindy Gonzalez  from LYFE at Franklin K. Lane’s mother, Delia Alvarez, has remained Cindy’s biggest supporter by picks up her grandson Matthew from LYFE almost every afternoon so that Cindy can attend afterschool classes to recover credits and receive tutoring toward completing her high school education.
• Diaz and Perez Family, the recipients of the LYFE Legacy Award which celebrates the family’s engagement and success as a family in LYFE. As co-parents in the LYFE Program, Axel Diaz and Anabelen Perez worked together to support each another in attending their classes and encouraging post-secondary planning. They have actively worked to strengthen their relationship in order to set a positive example for their entire family.
• Janira Moore, LYFE student parent and student speaker was awarded the LYFE Academic Achievement Award for her excellence in completing her high school education. Janira, a 16 year-old student parent and mother of a 1-year-old Joshua Moore, accomplishments include maintaining a B+ average, while participating in extracurricular activities, such as track and field and performing arts. In addition to these achievements, Janira completed the STEM Program (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) at City College last school year. Her academic performance has resulted in her being accepted to several colleges and universities.

Congratulations to the LYFE student parent graduates, to the LYFE award winners and to all the LYFE staff members who helped these students reach their goals and realize their potential, academically and socially.

Photos from LYFE’s 2015  Recogniton Ceremony can be found on LYFE’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lyfenyc or by clicking  here for a direct link to the ceremony album.

Take a look at what happened at LYFE in May:

District 79 Arts Showcase

Teacher Appreciation Week

Take a look at what happened at LYFE this Spring:

The First 100 Days of School

Spirit Week

Social Worker Appreciation

 Week of the Young Child

February 26, 2015 marked the first 100 days of school year 2014 – 2015. LYFE sites city-wide celebrated this important milestone from February 23^rd – March 6^th.  The goal of celebrating the 100th day of school for LYFE was to celebrate family engagement and encourage academic persistence.

Check out celebration highlights from four of our sites!

• LYFE at Paul Robeson celebrated two families that had outstanding attendance during the first 100 days of school. As a reward for perfect attendance, Student Parent Yamilka Davis was rewarded with an annual membership to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum for her and her daughter. Student parent Stephanie Lahen’s attendance earned her 2 movie tickets!
  

• LYFE at Prospect Heights created a 100 leaf flower that showcased each child’s developmental milestones during the first 100 days of school.
• Mrs. Pratt, LYFE social worker at High School for Environmental Studies encouraged student parents and staff to come up with 100 positive words and sayings, which were displayed on a chart for everyone to see.
• The Far Rockaway LYFE site celebrated with a pajama celebration. Thanks to a donation of books and pajamas from Pajama Program, each parent received a gift bag with books and pajamas for their child.

Visit us on Facebook to view photo submissions from LYFE at Beach Channel, Far Rockaway, Hillcrest, HS of Environment Studies, Jane Addams, Long Island City, Paul Robeson, Port Richman, and Prospect Heights.

We are very proud of our student parents’ commitment to their education and role as parents over the first 100 days of school.  We are excited about the goals our student parents have set for the reminder of the school year.  We look forward to supporting our families with reaching their short and long term goals, and of course, celebrating along the way!

College Application Week is a national initiative that raises awareness about the importance of college planning. Last month, throughout the week of November 17^th – 21^st, LYFE sites citywide celebrated the initiative, supporting student parents with college exploration opportunities and experiences. To make the week fun and informative, LYFE staff wore college swag (e.g. shirts, sweaters, and pennants ) branded with their alma mater; shared blasts from the past photos from their college years and graduations; and planned informative activities about college applications, financial aid and college life. Check out how two of our LYFE sites celebrated the week.

LYFE at Hillcrest High School in Queens

A recent LYFE alumna visited LYFE at Hillcrest High School in Queens to speak with LYFE student parents about her experience attending LaGuardia Community College and the free support services, such as metro-cards, book stipends and free tutoring she receives from the ASAP program.  Students were excited to learn that programs like ASAP exists to support students financially, academically, and personally.

LYFE at Jane Addams High School in the Bronx

LYFE student parents attended a private tour of Bronx Community College. Student parents observed college students in classes, studying in the library, and connecting with peers. The student parents were also able to check-out the campus’ childcare center, which helped several student parents see and feel that attending college while parenting is possible!

College Application Week is one of many ways LYFE promotes post- secondary education. LYFE social workers work closely with student parents’ home schools to support students’ transition into college.  On average, LYFE has approximately 200 student parents each year complete high school or a high school equivalency program, many of who apply and enroll in college.

To see photos from College Application Week 2014, visit the photo gallery below.

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Special thanks to the following LYFE sites for sharing photos from their College Application Week celebrations:

• Beach Channel Educational Campus
• Far Rockaway Educational Campus
• Hillcrest High School
• Jane Addams High School
• Long Island City High School
• Louis D. Brandeis High School
• Springfield Gardens Educational Campus