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Celebrating Student Success: Films by Sebanyah Buckmire and Audrey Taveras Shine at NYC Public School Film Festival

We are thrilled to announce the remarkable achievements of two of our talented students, Sebanyah Buckmire and Audrey Taveras, whose films were selected for the prestigious NYC Public School Film Festival! Sebanyah's "In My Head" and Audrey's "It Girl" received unanimous acclaim from the festival judges and have been awarded the highest honors. These outstanding films were showcased at the NYC Public School Film Festival, an event that honors diverse student voices, hosted by The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment. 

 

About the Films

"In My Head" by Sebanyah Buckmire

Sebanyah Buckmire's film delves into the complexities of mental health, exploring the anxieties and depression of youth. The film's poignant narrative and evocative visuals demonstrate how mental illnesses can be overlooked by anyone. 

 

"It Girl" by Audrey Taveras

Audrey Taveras' "It Girl" presents a sharp and insightful commentary on how oftentimes people tend to conceal their internal struggles based on social pressures, leading one to spiral into depression and loneliness. 

 

In addition to their films being recognized at the festival, Sebanyah Buckmire and Audrey Taveras were featured in an interview on CBS Mornings on May 13th. They joined Patricia Kaufman, the Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for Media and Entertainment, to discuss their films and the impact of this achievement!

 

The selection of these films for the NYC Public School Film Festival and being featured on CBS is a testament to the hard work, talent, and vision of Sebanyah and Audrey. It also highlights the supportive and nurturing environment at The High School for Media and Communications, where students are encouraged to pursue their artistic passions and develop their storytelling abilities! We also appreciate the invaluable support and contributions of La Sala Talks to the success of these students. 

English - 07/11/2024 - Anthony Ramirez Diaz
black voices unfiltered

Empowering Youth through the Voices Unfiltered Podcast Network

The Media Performing Arts Division at The High School for Media and Communication (HSMC), alongside Spanglish Voces, is proud to inaugurate their latest project - the Voices Unfiltered Podcast Network! This innovative platform aims to empower youth by providing them with an outlet to express themselves freely while honing their critical thinking, writing, and research skills.

The mission of the Voices Unfiltered Podcast Network is to give power to youth voices by fostering confidence and providing opportunities for self-expression. Supported by Artistic Director and Teaching Artist Zulaika Valezquez, students will share their diverse and personal stories, ideas, and perspectives. By encouraging them to pursue their passions and create high-quality content, the initiative aims to instill a sense of agency and advocacy in these young adults. 

One of the primary goals of the Voices Unfiltered Podcast Network is to amplify marginalized voices and narratives. In collaboration with HSMC students, the new podcast, “Black Voices Unfiltered," seeks to shine a light on the experiences Black youth. This initiative aims to provide a space for understanding, empathy, and solidarity within the broader community.

Through the creation of their own podcasts, students involved in this project will gain valuable hands-on experience and improve their abilities in media and communications. Furthermore, the Voices Unfiltered Podcast Network serves as a catalyst for meaningful conversations and community engagement, ultimately, being a powerful platform for youth empowerment and social change!

Check out the podcast here: Black Voices Unfiltered Podcast

English - 03/27/2024 - Anthony Ramirez Diaz
rtw week without walls workplace challenge

Empowering Students: F&T 10th Graders Tackle Rare Diseases in Workplace Challenge with RTW Charitable Foundation

With curiosity and dedication, a group of high school students from The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology participated in an innovative initiative aimed at raising awareness about rare diseases. In collaboration with RTW Charitable Foundation and Arete Education, 10th grade students were provided with the opportunity to delve into the complexities of rare diseases and explore their creativity with science communication! Co-lead by Sarah Benis Scheier-Dolberg from Arete, Sean Robinson from The Lab School, and Sarah Garwood and Joe Katakowski from RTW Charitable Foundation, this unique collaboration was supported by The Lab School’s recent Magnet Award for Career Connected Learning.

The first workplace challenge was intended to immerse students in a thought-provoking environment where they would be able to learn about different diseases that are often overlooked. The research they conducted involved learning about signs, symptoms, and struggles that people face when diagnosed with these rare diseases. Using the knowledge they gained through the investigation process, students were tasked with creating communication materials to disseminate their findings within their community and beyond! 

As part of Rare Disease Month, RTW has featured spotlight posts on different rare diseases on Instagram. The rare diseases highlighted were Sickle Cell Disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Angelman Syndrome, and Marfan Syndrome. The posts uploaded were curated by the students, showcasing the information they learned through the workplace challenge. Each post displays the students' attentiveness to learning about diseases that affect society and commitment to health advocacy. 

In essence, this workplace challenge is indicative of the meaningful knowledge students can acquire and spread. This serves as a powerful reminder that young people can have an amazing impact when it comes to various social issues when given the opportunity to engage with new topics in creative and intriguing ways. Furthermore, the graphics from the workplace challenge are also a form of motivation to inspire the general public in joining the cause of advocating for a more healthy, equitable, and inclusive world. The work that RTW does within the sciences are opportunities that allow us to continue supporting and empowering our students. With the help of RTW, we can establish new career paths, invest in science education for our students, and drive future generations of changemakers!

English - 03/20/2024 - Anthony Ramirez Diaz

S.T.E.M. to S.T.A.R.S. 2022 Launch

Support Our Summer 2022 Launch of S.T.E.M. to S.T.A.R.S.

Make a Contribution on Square to Sponsor Our First Cohort at our Juneteenth Program Launch

S.T.E.M. to S.T.A.R.S. Supporter

S.T.E.M. to S.T.A.R.S. Supporter

Donate

English - 06/18/2022 - sbsd@areteeducation.org
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Feed Our Needs Initative 2.0 Success

As the spirit of giving continues, Arete continues to reach our mission of investing in Mott Haven youth. As part of Arete’s Feed Our Need 2.0 Initiative, members of the community came together to provide over 150 Lab School families with bagged groceries and hot meals. Members of our Arete Alumni Council volunteered to serve the community alongside 25 voluteers from Arete, The Lab School, and the Corporate sponsors of the initiative - IHS Markit, Barclays, and Carvers.

To provide some history on the initiative, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic The Collective Black Employee Resource Group (CFBERG), led by Engage@IHSMarkit and Barclays Embrace partnered with Areté Education (Areté) and black- and brown-owned restaurants to raise funds for meal distribution in Harlem and the Bronx in 2020. The initiative’s objective was to support black- and brown-owned restaurants in the surrounding areas to source the meals that were distributed to disenfranchised communities. Learn more by viewing our impact report.

Alumni Council President, Brittni Ortiz, reflected on the event:

"Feed Our Needs was an amazing experience, and I would definitely do something like it again. This was a type of event that I wanted to do for a long time. We connected with families, escorted them throughout the whole process and had insightful conversations about what the school is doing and what our roles are. It was also so great to see so many parents that I have worked with before through the College Office. It was a great feeling when some of them recognized me, too! Overall, I can't wait to volunteer at future events and for the Alumni Council to have our own.”

Alumni Council Secretary, Chanel De Los Santos also added on that:

"The feed our needs event was a great way to connect with local families. The families were so lovely and wonderful.”

Reflecting as as an Arete staff member and Lab School alumni, it is amazing to be able to provide these direct services to the community. As on organization, it is our goal to make sure that we provide Mott Haven youth and families with these resources. We believe that the sense of hope that comes through creating resilient communities is something that has the power to change our communities forever. We know that our work does not end with an event but continues throughout our lives. We cannot wait to continue the work that we are doing as a team with our staff, alumni and other proud members of the community.

If you want to learn more about the Feed Our Needs 2.0 Initiative Event, visit our event page. We would love your support with a donation or volunteering.

Check out both the Alumni Council's instagram (@aretealumnicouncil) and the main account (@areteeducationinc) to say up to date with the work that is being done.

 

English - 11/29/2021 - Mariyam Sumareh

Welcome The Arete Alumni Council!

We are in full swing this fall semester! As fall brings an energy to reflect and refresh, we take an opportunity to consider new ways to grow and expand to best suit our community’s needs. One of those expansions is the launch of the Arete Alumni Council. The Alumni Council consists of different graduating classes coming together to create a stronger community. The main purpose of the Alumni Council is to provide Alumni the chance to be listened to, as well as provide Alumni with the opportunity to branch out and network in numerous ways. The Council consists of a President, Secretary, Treasurer, Communications Leader & Media Leader.

The Alumni Council will be instrumental in creating initiatives to reinvest in the community from the people that know the community best.

To find out more about the Council and upcoming events feel free to follow both the Arete instagram page (@areteeducationinc) and the Alumni council instagram page (@lsftalumnicouncil) as well. We as a council cannot wait to get started on hosting events and workshops for the community soon. 

English - 11/10/2021 - Mariyam Sumareh

Summer Bridge (Rising) - First Day!

Written by Mariyam Sumareh

Today marks the first day of Summer Bridge for the students at The Laboratory School of Finance & Technology! It is exciting to see many young faces gathered after the year we have experienced. Throughout today, students across the grades engaged in academic and enrichment activities.

We had over 100 students attend summer programming, and we are excited to keep the momentum going. One thing for sure is that today has been a success. It's exciting to know that this is some students' first time being in the building while doing their whole sixth grade experience virtually and were able to engage with their classmates and instructors.

Through all of the first day challenges, we were able to get it done thanks to the students’ flexibility and the drive of all of the amazing staff. Students were able to sample the enrichment activities, exploring and getting a taste of each club so that by the end of tomorrow they can choose where they would like to be for the remainder of the summer.

The enrichment activities available to students this summer are:

  1. Guitar

  2. Fitness & Sports

  3. Visual Arts

  4. Performing Arts

  5. Table Tennis

  6. Creative EQ/Ceramics

  7. STEM 101

  8. Debate

Take a look at what our students had to say about their first day:

“Today was awesome. I got to meet new teachers and classmates. I got to learn more stuff about the school. So now I’m prepared for the school year.” - Juelz Perdomo, 6th Grade

 

“My day went good because I got to make new friends and I got to see new faces. It was good to get to know the teachers” - Juliet Flores, 7th Grade

 

“My first day here today was fine as we did a lot of fun things like play a game for our birthdays and engaged in Ice breakers” - Anonymous student, 8th Grade

English - 07/07/2021 - sbsd@areteeducation.org

Arete Youth Service and Leadership Fellowship

Arete is proud to announce the hiring of Yaritza Montiel, a graduate of the Laboratory School of Finance and Technology (MS/HS 223) and alumni of Arete programs, in the new position of Youth Service and Leadership Fellow. In this role Yartiza will be leading youth service and leadership initiatives for middle school and high school students across our programs in Mott Haven. She will be focusing on the areas: financial literacy, community service learning, advocacy for racial equity, food security for children and families, and high quality job access for youth.

Yaritza is enrolled at Cornell University and is majoring in Information Science and also serves in the U.S. Army Reserves. She will be taking a GAP year for the 2020-2021 school year and during this time will serve as an Arete Fellow and figure out what she is passionate about, enjoys doing, and should explore for a future career. We are thrilled to have Yaritza join the team.

English - 12/01/2020 - sbsd@areteeducation.org

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