Jubilee Center Hoboken Press Release 3/11/2009

1. Press Release
The Jubilee Center of Hoboken
We at the Jubilee Center have been busy both with great programs for
children of Public Housing in Hoboken as well as fund raising to sustain our
efforts for kids who were in a recession long before the rest of us.
We have found that as we talk about the Center people want to know,
“what exactly do we do?” Here is a snapshot (and snapshots) of the last
couple of months.
The Kids
The children arrive at the Jubilee Center after school and do what they have
been doing for over 5 years. They do their homework; this is the number one
priority. Last year, Craig Mainor, the program director, started an incentive
system to help the children to complete their homework. The children can
earn points over a 2 week period for behavior, attendance and homework
completion. It is a joint effort with public school teachers, and children who
do well consistently are rewarded with a party on a Friday afternoon.
After homework, the kids take singing and dance classes, play games, make
arts and crafts, learn to cook, eat a good meal, get special tutoring, and
celebrate birthdays.
The kids decorate cookies at the February birthday party
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2. School Holidays
On school holidays, the children now get a full day of programming that starts
with breakfast at 8:30. In addition, the Center stands ready to respond to
unusual circumstances. On the half snow day in late January, when the kids
arrived 2 hours early, Program Director, Craig Mainor simply made 70 tuna
fish sandwiches and got started with after-school activities early.
During the week of February 17th when the schools were closed for
President’s week, the children enjoyed roller skating in Branch Brook Park in
Newark, saw the wonders of the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, and
they competed in a softball tournament in the baseball diamond across the
street. Before all the fun began though, they started each morning with an
hour of math or reading, because getting ahead through education is,
after all, what the Center is all about.
Daddy and Me
Valentine's Day came early at the Jubilee Center on Wednesday, February
11. That night the second annual quot;Daddy and Mequot; dance was held, and more
than 40 families attended. The event, organized by Craig Mainor, the Center's
Program Director, included dancing to a DJ and other activities like cookie
decorating in addition to arts and crafts. It also gave the children the
opportunity to quot;show offquot; the Center to their fathers and families.
“Daddy and Me” Dance
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3. The Volunteers:
Cooking
The Center has 2 volunteers who come and teach kids cooking. They focus on
nutrition, portion size and healthy alternatives to sugar, oil and fried foods.
The volunteers and the children have made chicken with coconut, Thai salad,
basil pizza, and mango sorbet. Also, we instruct the children how to reduce
orange juice and use it as a sweetener in sugarless cookies. The kids love it.
Making Hummus Healthy and Fun!
Girl Scouts
Margaret Ramos of the Heart of New Jersey Girl Scout Council has started a
troop at the Jubilee Center. Every Monday, she runs a troop meeting for
Brownies who will learn about Courage Character, Confidence and the Girl
Scout Way . The Girl Scouts are also planning summer programming as well.
Tutors
Every night, children who need extra tutoring receive it from community
volunteers this also is an essential part of the Center’s success with children.
Visit our website www.jubileecenterhoboken.org to learn more and to
support the Jubilee Center.
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