Doc Wayne Youth Visit with Olympian & Learn to Row

In partnership with Community Rowing and the Joseph M. Tierney Learning Center, Doc Wayne provides an indoor rowing program for Chalk Talk® sport-based group therapy participants. The program is a valuable opportunity for youth to learn about the sport of rowing while receiving accessible and engaging outpatient group therapy in their community.

Doc Wayne’s COO Rebekah Roulier, LMHC explains, “Along with teaching core skills that assist in emotional and behavioral regulation, Doc Wayne’s indoor rowing program aims to highlight and strengthen youth participants’ sense of self-worth, resilience, and empower them to flourish as individuals and accomplish their goals through collaboration with others in the sport of rowing.”

After 7-weeks on the ergs, Chalk Talk® participants put their skills to the test on the Charles River.

On the water, Chalk Talk®  youth and coaches worked as a team to successfully move the boat while enjoying a beautiful cruise around the river.

After putting forth great effort in what was the first experience rowing on the water for most, youth were visited by Dr. Gevvie Stone, a US Olympic Rower. Gevvie shared her story of setting and completing various goals both on and off the water, her successes, setbacks, as well as the obstacles that she encountered along the way. Gevvie emphasized the importance of doing what you love, being passionate about what you choose to pursue in life, and building your support team.

Youth refueled with lunch while receiving their certificates acknowledging the hard work they had put in throughout the program.

Aymee Suarez, a Clinical Game Changer at Doc Wayne reflected on how “wonderful it was to see our youth experience a new sport, learn self-compassion, and appreciate how far they have come individually and as a group in 7 weeks. I am proud of each and every participant and grateful that I had the opportunity to share with them a sport I love.”

Doc Wayne is appreciative of our collaborative partners, Community Rowing and the Joseph M. Tierney Learning Center and look forward to upcoming trips to the boat house!

Additional photos of the event can be viewed here.

For more information on Doc Wayne please visit us at http://www.docwayne.org or follow us on twitter @DocWayneDtG.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doc Wayne Youth Ready for Winter Thanks to the Highland Street Foundation

The snow is falling, the temperatures are dropping and the anticipation of winter is over! Winter has arrived. Lucky enough for the team here at Doc Wayne we know our kids will be extra warm this winter thanks to the Highland Street Foundation.

The Highland Street Foundation is committed to addressing the needs and concerns of children and families in Massachusetts and California. The Foundation directs their efforts to providing access and opportunities in the areas of education, housing, mentorship, health care, environment and the arts.  The Highland Street Foundation has contributed more than $165 million to non-profit organizations since its establishment in 1989.

Doc Wayne kids showing off their new coats

Our mission at Doc Wayne is to fuse sport and therapy to heal and strengthen at-risk youth and our goal is to help young people find their positive path and become responsible contributing members of society. Our relationship with the Highland Street Foundation, who shares similar goals and values as Doc Wayne began in July 2015, when the organization was selected to receive a Community Impact Consultant.

Recently Doc Wayne received a call from the Highland Street Foundation offering to donate winter coats to our youth. We are extremely appreciative of this generous donation. With 85 brand new jackets and smiles, Doc Wayne youth are ready for whatever winter has in store!

To learn more about The Highland Street Foundation visit: http://www.highlandstreet.org

For more information about Doc Wayne please contact us at info@docwayne.org and follow us @DocWayneDtG

 

Jr. Celtics Clinic A Huge Hit For Doc Wayne Youth

Saturday was an exciting day for many Doc Wayne Chalk Talk participants! Close to forty youth from the Tierney Learning Center in South Boston and from the Framingham Housing Authority spent the day with Celtics players Evan Turner and Marcus Thornton. The Junior Celtics Program, a community outreach initiative presented by New England Baptist Hospital in partnership with the Boston Celtics, gave underprivileged youth the chance of a lifetime, while also teaching leadership and basketball skills. To top off an amazing day, Evan Turner and Marcus Thornton presented one lucky Doc Wayne youth with a signed basketball! Doc Wayne’s Chalk Talk participants are excited for the month ahead when they will have the opportunity to develop their leadership and athletic abilities. Thank you to the Boston Celtics and New England Baptist Hospital and also to FoodieCafe for providing our Framingham youth with dinner!

Having a great time!

Doc Wayne Coaches!

Evan Turner and Marcus Thornton present an autographed basketball to a Doc Wayne youth!

Mural Complete in South Boston

Youth in South Boston were involved in our Global Life Empowerment (GLE) program and together worked on designing and painting a community mural with the theme “There is Unity in the Community!” The mural is complete and images are below.

Doc Wayne volunteer coaches, Jose and Andrew, show off the work of their team of youth.

The GLE program seeks to:

• Empower youth by giving them a voice
• Provide additional out of the classroom writing and alternative self-expression opportunities
  Teach self-regulation and social skills
• Help youth learn to advocate for themselves, their needs, and desires in appropriate ways.
• Youth work cooperatively, with team members and their coach, to share their responses to suggested changes, lessons learned, and group leadership activities experienced.

For more information about Doc Wayne and the Global Life Empowerment program please visit www.docwayne.org or contact us at info@docwayne.org.

Power of Love and Forgiveness Reaches Doc Wayne Youth

Within Doc Wayne’s Chalk Talk Group Therapy Program, and supported by the Fetzer Institute, pilot sessions utilizing the newly launched Teaching Love and Forgiveness Through Basketball curriculum were recently completed. Doc Wayne’s collaboration with the Fetzer Institute provided youth with a 7-week opportunity to learn about love and forgiveness within the context of basketball. 43 youth were served at a low-income housing development and residential treatment facility. Insights into youth participants’ experiences of, understandings about, and obstacles faced in relation to the themes of love, forgiveness, and trust were gained through the project. 

Please see pictures of Doc Wayne’s Love and Forgiveness Celebration hosted by the Joseph M. Tierney Learning Center. For more information on Doc Wayne Youth Services please visit www.docwayne.org or contact us at info@docwayne.org.

 

Doc Wayne participant congratulated by Nikki Valila (Coach) and Rebekah Roulier (Clinical Director)

 

ABOUT THE FETZER INSTITUTE (@FetzerInstitute):

The Fetzer Institute’s mission is to foster awareness of the power of love and forgiveness in the emerging global community. People across the globe, from all cultures and traditions, embrace love and forgiveness in daily life. These values are universally viewed as central to the fabric of humanity. Yet, the emerging global community has few institutions dedicated to deepening the understanding and fostering deeper awareness of these values. In this context, the Fetzer Institute pursues a unique role—working to investigate, activate, and celebrate the power of love and forgiveness as a practical force for good in today’s world. We are interested in how people truly experience and understand love and forgiveness from their diverse points of view, especially from the perspective of their daily work in the world.

ABOUT DOC WAYNE’S CHALK TALK GROUP THERAPY PROGRAM (@DocWayneDtG):

Through Boston ASAP (http://www.bostonasap.org), Doc Wayne provides Chalk Talk as a billable, sport-based group therapy program that creates a clinician-guided environment where sport is the lens through which youth examine important social and emotional issues in real-time. The curriculum teaches the principles of do the good® by both didactic and interactive approaches. In a series of weekly sessions, participants undertake written goal setting and movement-oriented exercises to develop the thoughtfulness, sense of competence, and feeling of effectiveness that are derived from positive sport participation and are essential to social development.

Doc Wayne Youth Support the Troops

Youth involved with Doc Wayne’s Global Life Empowerment (GLE) program (http://www.docwayne.org/what-we-do/GLE), funded by the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, continue to “Fill the Tank” of others. Youth at the Key Program, Inc. delivered words of encouragement, thank you letters and hand-knitted items to members of the military stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base. This is just one in a series of kind acts done by Doc Wayne youth that are truly inspirational. Check out the pictures! To participate in GLE or the other programs offered by Doc Wayne, please visit http://www.docwayne.org or contact us at info@docwayne.org.

Thank you for your service!

Mayor Walsh re-opens South Boston Playground

South Boston residents gathered on a gorgeous May morning to celebrate the re-opening of Sweeney Playground. Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department hosted the event as part of a series of “Coffee Hours” where local community members have the unique opportunity to speak with Mayor Walsh, one-on-one, about neighborhood needs. Doc Wayne staff were able to chat about their services that are being offered in Metro Boston with members of Mayor Walsh’s team. The feedback received was very positive and encouraging, and opportunities to reach more Boston area youth through Doc Wayne’s Therapeutic Sports Program and Chalk Talk Group Therapy were discussed. Doc Wayne is eager and excited for the opportunity to make a lasting impact in and around Boston. Pictures of the re-opening ceremony and newly constructed playground are below. For more information, please visit http://www.docwayne.org or contact us at info@docwayne.org.

 

Mayor Walsh’s re-opening speech

Ribbon cutting ceremony with local children

Beautiful new basketball court

South Boston Youth Do the Good

Youth at the Tierney Learning Center at Beacon Communities in South Boston demonstrated that giving back continues after the holiday season. Youth participating in Doc Wayne’s Global Life Empowerment (GLE) program (http://docwayne.org/what-we-do/GLE), funded by the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, collaborated with the Notre Dame Education Center (NDEC) (http://ndecboston.org) to donate canned goods to families in need. The NDEC is an educational facility that also serves as a counseling and outreach program site. This wonderful act of kindness makes a positive difference in the lives of others and these incredible South Boston youth are an inspiration to do the good! Check out the photo below! For more information, please visit http://www.docwayne.org or email info@docwayne.org.

 

Executive Director Delivers Powerful Pitch at Root Cause’s Social Innovator Showcase

Doc Wayne has experienced an exciting few months since being welcomed by Root Cause as a Social Innovator for “Breaking Down Barriers to Effective Mental Health Services.” Doc Wayne’s Executive Director, David S. Cohen, has worked tirelessly to prepare for the Social Innovator Showcase held on May 7^th, 2014. With the assistance of the amazing team at Root Cause, David was poised to deliver a pitch he hopes will resonate with over 300 government, business and philanthropic leaders from Greater Boston in attendance. Doc Wayne aims to reach thousands of children and families in need of services and support in the coming years! You can watch David’s pitch that recounts a powerful story of youth transformation below. For more information on Doc Wayne please visit http://www.docwayne.org or contact us at info@docwayne.org.

 

 

David Cohen’s pitch at Root Cause Showcase

Networking

Doc Wayne staff and board members

Social Innovation Forum

Hello friends of Doc Wayne! It’s our pleasure to inform you about an exciting distinction recently bestowed upon our organization. At a reception held yesterday evening at Microsoft’s New England Research and Development Center in Cambridge, Doc Wayne was welcomed into the portfolio of Root Cause’s Social Innovation Forum as a 2014 Social Innovator in the category of “Breaking Down Barriers to Effective Mental Health Services”.

Root Cause is an organization dedicated to improving the performance of selected non-profit organizations adjudged to be engaged in truly visionary work in their respective fields. A list of past recipients reads like a who’s who of organizations using outside-the-box models to foster social change and, as an organization which uses the medium of sport to achieve these ends, our selection as mental health service providers validates the therapeutic value of our interventions!

Such support is greatly appreciated and will surely allow our organization to achieve a greater impact with the youth we serve as well as give us the opportunity to expand our reach to more young people in need through the power of sport.

For further information about Root Cause’s Social Innovation Forum, please visit http://www.rootcause.org/social-innovation-forum.

For more information about Doc Wayne please contact us at info@docwayne.org.

Best wishes for the holiday season and here’s to an even brighter 2014!