Year Up Boston opened its doors in January of 2001 to a class of 22 students. Now serving more than 200 students each year at sites in downtown Boston, Year Up Boston continues to demonstrate the successful impact the program has on the lives of our urban young adults. With more then 40 corporate apprenticeship partners, 100 community partners and 300 volunteers, the commitment of the communities in which we serve has been inspiring and motivating. We look forward to continuing to work together and to expanding our Boston site in 2008.

WHAT'S NEW

congratulations Class of jANUARY 2008

Platinum Sponsors:

David Morales, Senior Advisor to Governor Deval Patrick, was presented with Year Up's Urban Empowerment Award. This award recognizes individuals who have made an incredible impact on their community by empowering urban young adults to reach their potential. William Stansbury was presented with Year Up's Outstanding Mentor Award and Joe Hayes, of Children’s Hospital Boston, with our Outstanding Apprenticeship Supervisor Award.

As with each celebration, Year Up's graduates inspired the audience by sharing their personal experiences and defining their visions of true success. Stacy Botus reflected on the lessons that Year Up taught her. “I joined Year Up to enhance my academic skills but Year Up has done more than that – it has made me into a professional and a much better person. As a result of Year Up, I now have a career, and I better equipped to deal with difficult situations.”

Graduate Auris Rosario described the change that Year Up inspired her to make in her life. She told her classmates, “It’s one thing to know there’s a future out there, but a program like this, places everything you ever dreamed of becoming, accomplishing, or doing at your feet. It’s up to you to take that first step. And we did!”

Year Up is honored to announce the Class of January 2008 awards and scholarships:

The Dave Retik Award for Excellence:
Jose Guadarrama, Sir Steven Kelley, Yasmin Mugimu

The Chris Mello Award for Leadership:
Meliza Brea, Auris Rosario, David Walker

The Tijani Award for Courage:
Erika Gamez Castro

SIM Laptop Award: Kevin Nicolas

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Year Up is honored at Governor's Prayer Breakfast
On May 16th, The Boston Rotary Club held the 45th Annual Governor's Prayer Breakfast. This annual breakfast brings together leaders for a few hours of fellowship and reflection. Gerald Chertavian served as the keynote speaker and graduate Rashawn Facey- Castillo provided the audience with an inspirational slam poem. Year Up was honored to be the recipient of the proceeds. Distinguished head table guests included Governor Deval Patrick, Liz Walker, George Russell, Reverend Ray Hammond, M.D., Gloria Hammond, M.D., Reverend Steven Ayers, Rabbi Pesner, Timothy Dibble and Gail Snowden.

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WHO WE SERVE
Year Up serves high school graduates and GED recipients ages 18 to 24 years old from the Greater Boston area including Dorchester, East Boston, Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, Cambridge, Revere, Chelsea, Everett, Quincy, and Brockton.

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CONTACT US
Address:
Year Up Boston
93 Summer St, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02110

Phone and Fax Information:
Phone: 617-542-1533
Fax: 617-542-1539

For driving directions:

For general questions, contact:
Tamika Mason
tmason@yearup.org

For questions about becoming a Year Up student, contact:
Linda Swardlick Smith
admissions@yearup.org

To hire a Year Up apprentice, contact:
Kimberly Zouzoua
kzouzoua@yearup.org

To volunteer at Year Up, contact:
Michelle Demars
mdemars@yearup.org

To invest in or donate to Year Up, contact:
Michelle Demars
mdemars@yearup.org

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JOB OPPORTUNITIES
National Headquarters, Boston
Controller, Boston
Manager of Operations and Finance, Boston
Director of Marketing and Communications, Boston
IT Director, Boston

Boston
Instructional Positions in Business Communications, Information Technology, Investment Operations, and Customer Service, Boston
Development Director, Boston
Job Placement Specialist, Boston

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OUR TEAm, boston

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Tyra Anderson
Learning Director
Tyra comes to Year Up from Oklahoma City, OK. She has previously worked with the Children’s Community Arts Program for the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, FL. With a background in working with non-profit organizations, Tyra is excited to be apart of the Year Up Team. She has received her B.A. degree in Arts Management w/a minor in Marketing and African American Studies from the University of Tulsa. She is currently in graduate school pursuing her M.A. in Education at Lesley University.

Kevin Barry
Partner Relationship Manager
Kevin joined the staff of Year Up after a thirty year career in sales and marketing, principally in the publishing industry. Kevin started his career at The New Yorker Magazine and then went on to found his own venture-backed publishing company, Madison Publishing which served the managed healthcare market. Madison Publishing was eventually sold to the Times-Mirror Corporation. Kevin's responsibilities at Year Up include developing new business to support the apprenticeship program and managing relationships with a number of Year Up's strategic accounts.

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Sara Caimi
Director of Enrollment
Sara joins Year Up with ten years of experience working in both for-profit and nonprofit agencies. Her unique experience includes strategic consulting, software QA and training, and knowledge management.  Sara's dedication to social change led her to earn a master's degree in urban social work practice and human service management.  Before returning to graduate school Sara spent three years at the Bridgespan Group developing their knowledge management practice, and five years at Bain & Company as a learning & development specialist in IT.

Sara has an extensive volunteer record working with Boston's urban youth at Steppingstone, MyTown, MSPCC and BP Schools.  She also enjoys volunteering with Boston's homeless. Sara holds a BA in English Teaching from the University of New Hampshire and an MSW from Boston University.

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Smajl Cengic
Director of Career and Alumni Services
Smajl was born and raised in Banovici, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He holds a degree in Economics and has years of sales and marketing experience. Smajl immigrated to the U.S. in September 1996 as a refugee after having lived through four years of war in his homeland. During his first year in the U.S., Smajl held a variety of jobs, including carpentry, construction, assembly, and stockroom before he started working as an Employment Specialist/Counselor. It was at the International Institute of Boston that he began to help refugees and immigrants secure employment. Smajl has extensive experience working with diverse, low income populations such as refugees, asylees, unemployed and underemployed individuals. Smajl now holds an Associate's Degree in Business from Bunker Hill Community College, a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts and a Master of Management degree from Cambridge College.

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Karen Crane
Learning Director
Karen comes to Year Up with a wide range of instructional experience with adult learners. Most recently, Karen worked as a Technical Instructor at The Chubb Institute, an adult technical career school. Not only did she, instruct the technical program, but she also taught courses in Web Design and Web Development. Prior to The Chubb Institute Karen was a computer software instructor for military and civilian personnel at Fort Monmouth. Karen graduated from York College of Pennsylvania, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education, Business.

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Greg Gardner
Boston Site Leader
Greg joined the Year Up team after relocating to Boston from San Francisco, CA. Greg worked as a Project Manager for 7 years in the private sector before moving to the non-profit sector. During his career in Social Services, Greg has worked as a case manager, job developer, and vocational program coordinator. Greg holds a BA in Philosophy from Pitzer College in Claremont, CA, as well as an MSW from the University of Chicago.

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John P. Killeen
Investment Operations Instructor
John comes to Year Up after a number of years in Finance with publishing firms and as an Adjunct Professor at Newbury College where he teaches Finance and Business courses. John graduated from Hartwick College in Oneonta N.Y. where he earned a B.A. in Economics. He also received a certificate in Financial Planning from the New England Banking Institute (now The New England College of Finance) and in 1999 received a M.S. in Finance from Northeastern University. Most recently, John received a graduate certificate in Publishing from Pace University.

John enjoys coaching youth soccer and spending time with his family

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Christopher Knight
Outreach Coordinator / AmeriCorps*VISTA
Chris is a native of Malden, Massachusetts.  In his senior year at Malden High School he earned a full-tuition leadership scholarship through the Posse Foundation to attend Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.  There he double majored in Sociology and Gender & Women’s Studies.  During his junior year Chris spent three months at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica studying Gender & Development through the School for International Training (SIT).  Chris comes to Year Up eager to serve the community in which he grew up.   Looking back on the “year up” he had in his life, Chris is excited to help provide an opportunity for other urban young adults.

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Harry Lindor
Learning Director
Harry was born and raised in Haiti. He graduated from the State University of Haiti with a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering and an Associate degree in Soil Mechanics. For 10 years, he conducted many infrastructural projects such as the drainage project for Haiti's Capital (Port-au-Prince) in collaboration with French and Canadian Consultants. He shared his experiences and knowledge teaching at a private university, and he also opened a Computer School to train working professionals. Immigrating to the US in 1990, he worked for the Florida Department of Transportation, and graduated in Computer Information Systems with a minor in Computer Science. He worked as an Assistant Network Administrator at the Florida Atlantic University, also tutoring students in Programming Languages and Software Applications. He continued his career working as a Help Desk specialist for Compaq, prior to extending his experiences with Equitrac, the world leader and most trusted print tracking and cost recovery solutions Company. His passion for children and youth led him to relocate from Miami, giving up his comfortable life to join the Year Up vision of empowering young adults to reach their potential.

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Caitlin MacDonald
Events and Communicaitons Manager
Caitlin came to Year Up in June 2007 with a passion for education. After graduating from Bowdoin College in 2001 with a degree in English and Education, Caitlin taught high school English in Westbrook, Maine. She then returned to her alma mater as the Coordinator of Community Service Programs, helping to engage Bowdoin students in volunteer, service learning, and community leadership opportunities. Prior to joining the Year Up team, Caitlin earned her MBA in Public and Nonprofit Management at Boston University. While completing her degree, she was a Graduate Assistant at BU's Community Service Center where she served as advisor to the student leaders of the campus volunteer programs. She also worked with the GreenLight Fund and EdVestors to plan their annual fundraising events. Caitlin is excited to combine her experience in student development and her love of event planning and marketing in her position at Year Up.

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Chanelle Mack
Apprenticeship Coordinator
Chanelle joined Year Up after graduating from Class 3, the first class to receive college credits. Chanelle focused on Networking Support I and II and gained an apprenticeship with Children’s Hospital Boston where she worked in both help desk and desktop support. Chanelle currently resides in Dorchester, MA and is attending Cambridge College pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a minorin Business Management.

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Teresa Martinez
Admissions Coordinator
Teresa Martinez was born and raised in El Salvador and moved to United States at the age of 15. She graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School in 2003, where she learned English as a second language. After completing high school, Teresa joined Year Up as a student, where she developed her professional, technical and communication skills. Upon graduation from Year Up, she became part of the Year Up team, working as Admissions Coordinator. Teresa is continuing her education at Cambridge College, where she is working towards her Bachelors Degree in Human Services.

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Jenni McBrayer
Enrollment Coordinator
Jenni joined the Year Up team after relocating to Boston from NC. She brings with her a mix of administrative and social work experience. Most recently she graduated from a one-year appointment with the AmeriCorps*NCCC program where she completed 1,700 hours of national service, including leading volunteers in Hurricane Katrina disaster relief. Prior to Americorps, she worked as a Customer Service and Billing Specialist at Vantel Communications and as a Case Manager for female offenders at the Summit House of the Piedmont. Other community service includes a 1 year internship at the Big Buddy Program, volunteering as a big buddy for a 12-year old girl, tutoring male offenders for the GED exam, and service learning with elementary school children and families. Jenni holds a B.S. of Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

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Matt McCann
Partner Relationship Manager, Boston Site Leader
Matt brings a 20-year career in technology to Year Up. As a Client Partner at Razorfish and i-Cube, he managed large consulting teams and was responsible for the success of major clients. As Partner and General Manager for Conduit Communications in Boston, he set the strategic direction and provided day-to-day oversight of operations. Matt has held senior positions in software development, marketing, sales, product management, direct marketing and purchasing at Sun Microsystems, PC Connection, Data General and Wang Laboratories. He has a B.A. in Philosophy from Dartmouth College and has done graduate work in Multinational Commerce at Boston University.

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Kelly Parrish
Learning Director
Kelly comes to Year Up with a wide range of skills including teaching technology classes in the corporate world and in the non-profit sector. Before joining the Year Up team, Kelly completed her Masters degree in Educational Media and Technology at Boston University. Prior to completing her degree, Kelly worked as an Educational Consultant at 170 Systems, a consulting company which focused on electronic workflow solutions. Some of her responsibilities included training end users, the creation of training materials, managing client relationships and traveling to the client sites. During her free time, she was a teacher at the Prep Computer Center in Dorchester, MA where she taught a Microsoft Word Certification class. Kelly graduated from Indiana University of PA, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. She has a great passion for teaching and reaching students.

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Damien Rudzinski
Learning Director
With five years of professional experience at startups and corporations, Damien joins the Year Up team as a Learning Director to share his knowledge and experience from the industry. Originally entering college as a Music Education major, Damien eventually decided to pursue a degree in Computer Science, although he still enjoys playing music. In 2000, he earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Computer Science, with a minor in Business Management, from Keene State College in NH.

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Kayvan Sabery
Learning Director
Kayvan Sabery comes to Year Up from Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology where has been the director of computing services at for the past 5 years and an instructor for the past fifteen years. He has also taught at the veteran’s Upper Bound program at UMass Boston. Kayvan has also worked as an independent network field engineer for Integrated IT Solutions, and Navic Computers. He holds a BS in Engineering from Boston University and is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.

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Ariel Santos
Boston Site Leader
Ariel comes to Year Up with a passion for non-profit work and a true immigrant story.  After arriving in the United States from Brazil at the age of 12, Ariel worked hard to learn the English language and adapt to life in a new country. He brings an exciting perspective to the Year Up staff combined with an incredible amount of energy and enthusiasm for the work he does. Ariel has a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Tufts University.

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Linda Swardlick Smith
Director, Community Partners and Admissions
Linda comes to Year Up with over 20 years of experience in the workforce-training arena. Most recently, Linda was V.P. of Business Development at WorkSource Staffing Partnership, an innovative workforce development company focusing on job retention and career development. Prior to WorkSource she was the Executive Director for Training, Inc., a Boston-based, not-for-profit job training organization in seven U.S. cities. Linda is also one of the founding members of the Job Training Alliance, a not-for-profit organization focused on workforce development and community partnerships. Linda earned a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan and a B.A. from the University of Vermont.

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CHARLENE SU
Grants and Reporting Coordinator
Charlene joined Year Up in October 2007. She focuses her efforts on developing the institutional funding pipeline and supports the Development Team. Prior to joining Year Up, Charlene was a Consultant with L.E.K. Consulting in Los Angeles. At L.E.K., she focused on business strategy in the media, entertainment and consumer products industries. She was also a Project Leader with L.A. Works, a Big Sister and a member of Step Up Women’s Network. She graduated with honors from University of California, Berkeley with a B.S. in Business Administration from the Haas School of Business.

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Kimberly Zouzoua
Director of Apprenticeships
Kimberly recently joins us from John Hancock Financial Services, one of the world's leading financial services company. She comes to Year Up with a rare blend of marketing and operations experience. While at John Hancock, Kimberly managed the training arm of the Insurance Agency Operations Department as well as managed the relationships of John Hancock’s financial Institutional clients. Prior to John Hancock, Kimberly held Budget Analyst and Client Services positions at Putnam Investments. Kimberly graduated from Johnson and Wales University with an A.S. in Business Administration, A.S. in Finance and Investments, and a BS in Management. She received her MBA from Northeastern University, is NASD 6 and 63 licensed and enjoys playing the piano in her spare time.

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