AIC Students Support Hope for Youth and Families Youth Summer Program

Springfield, MA – This summer, American International College (AIC) teamed up with Hope for Youth and Families (HYF) in Springfield, launching an exciting new partnership for the non-profit’s 2024 Sports and Enrichment Program. This collaboration brought together AIC students, including members of the College football team, to work with partner schools Central High School, Duggan Academy, Forest Park Middle School, and Springfield Realization Academy. The program offered local youth opportunities to participate in engaging sports and life skills activities, with nearly thirty AIC students trained as mentors to guide them.

The AIC mentors provided ongoing support to the participants in grades six through nine during summer school, enhancing classroom engagement and attendance, and reshaping the overall experience. Several mentors also assisted students in an intensive reading program aimed at improving reading comprehension and critical thinking, thereby empowering the youth with the confidence and literacy skills necessary for success in academics and beyond the classroom.

In addition to academics, the program included various sports and enrichment activities led by the AIC mentors, such as football, building race cars and robots, Jenga matches, anime drawing sessions, and more. The relationships formed between students and coaches had a profound and positive impact.

The HYF program served nearly 400 students from Springfield, including English Language Learners, students recruited by teachers for credit recovery, and those who experienced chronic absenteeism in the previous school year. The pilot program’s success has prompted HYF to explore further opportunities with AIC, including potential internships for the College’s students.

Hope for Youth and Families, founded by local entrepreneurs Bob and Roberta Bolduc, is in its second year of offering summer youth programming. According to HYF Co-Director Mechilia Salazar, the initiative was born from recognizing that middle and high school students in Springfield have limited access to safe, affordable, and enriching summer experiences.  “The health and strength of our community require an all-hands-on-deck approach to support our young people,” Salazar said. “With alarming levels of classroom disengagement and chronic absenteeism nationwide, the call to action is urgent. Hope for Youth & Families is proud to respond with a holistic and innovative approach to support our community’s youth.”

Last summer, HYF recruited several AIC students, including members of the football team, to lead an after-school club. The club was a success, engaging thirty students from Duggan Academy and providing the student-athletes with the opportunity to give back to the community while gaining valuable experience.

Salazar credited AIC starting quarterback Aubrey Williams for inquiring with HYF about opportunities for his teammates. That led to a conversation with the football team’s coaching staff who were eager to find positive summer activities for the players, allowing them to stay local so they could continue to train together while earning money. According to Salazar, Williams truly embodies the football team mantras of “Build Better” and “AIC Brotherhood.”

Williams expressed his gratitude to HYF, Central High School, Duggan Academy, Forest Park Middle School, Springfield Realization Academy, and AIC coaches and administration for the opportunity, calling it a transformative opportunity. “This partnership not only allows us to give back to the community but also teaches us invaluable lessons in leadership and service,” he said. “It’s a privilege to contribute to the growth and success of these young individuals, and together, we are making Springfield a better place for everyone. We look forward to continuing this meaningful journey.”

AIC Interim Head Football Coach Dan Chipka called the experience of working with HYF a rewarding one for everyone involved. “From what I understand, the children have been positively impacted by the presence, guidance, and mentorship that our players have provided,” he said. “Our players have grown exponentially by this experience as young men, mentors, and leaders.  I believe that these lessons that they have learned off-the-field will carry over to our season this Fall.”

Salazar called the collaboration a “triple win”, saying it was great for AIC and its students, a perfect match for HYF because of a shared mission with the College, and, most importantly, a big plus for the community.  “There couldn’t be a better alignment with the values we aim to instill in the youth of our community to set them on a path to success,” she said about working with AIC. “Having this alignment proved to be a tremendous success and a win for all. I hope this is just the beginning of a great connection.”