Program News 2007
Young Adult Borough Center Region 8 Graduate Recognition Ceremony
“Graduations are my favorite kind of celebration,” said Good Shepherd Division Director Joy Goldsmith, at the Graduate Recognition Ceremony for Good Shepherds’ Region 8 Young Adult Borough Center, “Because they honor people who set a goal for themselves and worked to achieve it.” The forty-five young adults who earned their high school diplomas through the program last semester were honored with special awards, gifts and heartfelt expressions of congratulations during the Ceremony held at St. Constantine’s in Brooklyn Heights. Program Director Alyssa Garcia reminded the former students that they can always come back for advice and support on any aspect of post-high-school life, and English teacher Mr. Harris encouraged the giving of credit where credit is due, advising the graduates “Don’t be afraid to pat yourselves on the back.”
The Region 8 YABC is a full-time evening academic program for students 17 ½ and over who require five or more years to finish high school. Good Shepherd operates this program, along with seven other YABCs in Brooklyn and the Bronx, in partnership with the New York City Department of Education, providing specialized support services including tutoring, counseling, assistance with post-secondary vocational and educational plans, as well as stipended internships. Region 8 was the first of our YABC programs, opening in 1999 as the Post-5 Initiative at Sarah J. Hale High School.
YABCs are just one example of Good Shepherd Services’ Multiple Pathways to Graduation programming partnerships with the Department of Education. In addition to our eight YABC programs, we operate two transfer high schools for former dropouts, five GED programs, including a full-time model citywide program, and offer Learning to Work services in conjunction with all of these programs. As increasing emphasis is put on the needs of vulnerable older adolescents who are not succeeding in traditional educational settings, Good Shepherds’ demonstrated success with this population has placed us in the forefront of the City’s expanded efforts to re-connect these young people with their education.
April 10, 2007
