Youth Programs


DotWell offers an array of youth programs open to youth ages 6-19, including pool and fitness classes, leadership development programs, after-school and tutoring programs, and our newly re-opened Teen Center.  Programs are listed alphabetically below.

Community Health Careers Internships
Looking for an internship? Want to jumpstart your career? Apply to our summer internship program. As an intern, you’ll be able to develop your professional skills through hands-on work experience at the health centers. The daily schedule includes one hour of workshop time focused on key life skills areas including civic engagement, job readiness, financial literacy and wellness. Internships can include administrative, clinical, youth programming and recreation placements. Another key component of the program includes work site tours at other companies and organizations. The goal of the program is to increase job readiness, develop leadership skills, increase financial literacy and encourage healthy lifestyle behaviors. Boston Youth Fund Summer Internships are made possible by the efforts of the Teen Center and the financial support of the Mayor’s Youth Funds.

Ages:
15 - 18 years

Locations:
Codman Square Health Center
637 Washington Street

Codman Square Tech Center
450 Washington Street, Dorchester

Interns meet at 450, and then go to their worksite placements

Summers: Monday - Thursday, 10am - 4:00pm

For more information, please contact:
Marisa Luse
Director of Community Programs
617-740-2232
Marisa.Luse@dotwell.org

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Dorchester FAMILY School Initiative (DFSI)
The Dorchester FAMILY School Initiative (DFSI) is a multi-organizational partnership that connects three public elementary schools in central Dorchester with health and social service organizations, colleges, other enrichment groups, and parents.  Our goals are to:

  • Support before-school and after-school programming
  • Coordinate social and emotional services within schools
  • Expose the children to positive youth development activities that will help them improve their health and wellness
  • Provide enrichment activities that engage students in art, music, drama and sports
  • Connect families with community programs and services
  • Support teachers and the schools to strengthen math and reading skills

DFSI Schools and Community Partners:

  • Oliver W. Holmes School is a K1-5 school of 282 students near Four Corners.
  • Joseph Lee School is a K0-5 school of 340 students near Franklin Field.
  • Emily A. Fifield School is a K1-5 school of 325 students near Roberts Park.
  • DotWell is the partnership of Codman Square Health Center and Dorchester House Multi-Service Center.  DotWell is DFSI’s lead agency and provides key staff members- DotWell’s Tom Powers, Director of Wellness Integration, who coordinates services and activities between schools and community partners, and SCIDorchester Americorps team member Laura Santel, Coordinator of Community Linkages, who connects the school’s parents with community programs and other resources.
  • FAMILY, Inc. (Fathers And Mothers Infants Infants eLders and Youth) is a non-profit organization that works as a community organizing system.  By creating partnerships with individuals and institutions, FAMILY, Inc. connects educational, health care, economic, and other systems to collaboratively create healthy, safe, sustainable communities throughout the world.
  • Wheelock College brings a committment to children and families within Boston communities, stemming from justice, strength, and family-centered approaches.  Wheelock provides interns in social work, school counseling, and academic support.
  • ABCD Dorchester Neighborhood Service Center (DNSC) has been in operation since 1966.  It is one of the Centers of Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), Boston’s antipoverty agency.  ABCD serves more than 100,000 low-income Greater Boston residents through its city-wide network of neighborhood-based organizations.  The DSNC provides a wide range of after-school and summer youth programs, fuel assistance, tax preparation, and other family services.
  • Open Circle, based at the Wellesley Center for Women (WCW), provides schools with year-long curricula for each grade level from kindergarton through fifth grade.  The program teaches children social and emotional skills, including how to communicate effectively, listen well, recognize and manage emotions, cooperate and collaborate, and to respect and appreciate differences.

For more information, please contact:
Tom Powers
Director of Wellness Integration
617-474-1464
tom.powers@dotwell.org

For Families:

  • Oliver Wendell Holmes School, Larina Mehta 617-635-8773
  • Joseph Lee School, Ellen Stonkus 617-635-8687
  • Emily A. Fifield School, Jessica Burque 617-635-8622
  • SCI-Dorchester@ DotWell, Laura Santel 617-474-1453
Teen Center
Whether you need help academically, want to socialize with your friends, create an artistic masterpiece, dabble in technology, get advice from a peer leader or just want a cool place to hang out, the Teen Center is for you! The Teen Center also offers youth leadership development programs, mentoring and healthy lifestyles education, and recreation opportunities in the gym and pool. We provide a safe, fun and nurturing environment where you’ll feel supported in the pursuit of your dreams.  Thursdays are cooking and baking days, and Fridays we have Friday Fun Night with movies and field trips.

Location:
Dorchester House Multi-Service Center
1353 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester

Hours:
School Year Hours: Monday - Friday, 2:00pm - 6:00pm
Summer Hours: Monday - Friday, 11:00am - 6:00pm

For the current Teen Center schedule, click here.

For more information, please contact :
Marisa Luse
Director of Community Programs
617-740-2232
Marisa.Luse@dotwell.org

Dorchester Youth Council:
The Dorchester Youth Council is a diverse group of 12-18 year olds from Dorchester who work together to make a difference in the community. This group distributes mini-grants to other youth projects and implements various civic initiatives. Members attend leadership training and receive on-going support from adult advisors to coordinate the mini-grant process and address community issues that concern them. As community leaders, they also encourage their peers to become active citizens. Members develop practical skills, learn the importance of leadership and teamwork, and gain knowledge of community issues.

Meetings are Mondays from 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact:
Keith Pernell
617-740-2580
keith.pernell@dotwell.org.

Arts and Multi-Media Collaborative:
The Teen Center offers a Drawing Club and Film Crew for teens interested in persuing talents or learning new skills.

The Drawing Club is centered around the “awesomeness of drawing.”  The Club provides teens with materials for drawing and encourages them to try different styles and to work with each other to get feedback and inspiration for their work.  The Drawing Club engages as a group in public arts projects and takes field trips to see different works of art and meet with local artists.

Drawing Club meetings are Wednesdays from 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Film Crew teaches teens how to use a video camera and editing software, with the final goal of producing a short film. Film Crew is for teens of all ages, interests and experience levels.  The final film, or series of films, will be screened at the DotWell Teen Center and copied and given to members of the group.

Film Crew meets every Tuesday from 5:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact:
Maggie Casey
Youth Leadership Coordinator
617-740-2580
maggie.casey@dotwell.org

Tutoring
Tutors are available in all high school subjects at the DotWell Teen Center every Monday-Friday from 2:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact:
Keith Pernell, or Maggie Casey
617-740-2580.

Check out this video on YouTube, which showcases the Teen Center!

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Partners: Dorchester House | Codman Square Health Center

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