Hi everyone! My name is Robbie Metcalf and I am a first-year VISTA serving in Grand Rapids, Michigan with School-To-Career Progressions. Currently we have 9 youth enrolled in our diversion program, but have served 104 youth and 37 parents using our curriculum and materials! It has been an eye-opening experience working with the teachers and volunteers who assist 4th – 6th graders and it has helped me to realize that I am not as awkward with kids as I thought I was. We ended our time at the school in January and since then I have helped to create videos, workbooks, and narratives to support our Strong Character curriculum.

Some of the students in our diversion program have powerful stories. For those who don’t mind sharing, we videotape their testimonies and put them on our website or use them as teaching tools. Presently I am helping two girls with unique stories write up a script and getting them prepared to film! The tapings last 3 hours, sometimes more, all for a 2:30 minute video, but they are always super excited with the result and can’t wait to show it to their parents.

One of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had so far was preparing a lesson for our teacher with our youth in the diversion program about thankfulness. I had them write about someone they are thankful for and why. One of my female students gushed about how strong and fearless their mom was and I encouraged all the students to go home and give away their letters. The next day, the girl came up to me and thanked me for helping her step outside her comfort zone and share how she feels for her mom to her mom.

I have helped create and maintain partnerships with Grandville Alternative School, Scouts of West Michigan, Grand Rapids Iniatives for Leaders, and William C. Abney Academy. I have also helped to hire one summer intern and helped two of our graduated youth from the diversion program get a job with an organization that runs a summer camp.

During the last few months of service I plan to create more interactive lessons for the diversion program, provide the current staff with printed how-to’s and procedures to keep the organization sustainable, and help with the fiscal year reporting numbers for United Way in order to keep its funding for next year. 

Hello, my name is Robbie Metcalf, and I am a first-year MNA VISTA serving with School-To-Career Progressions of Michigan. In May, I graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. I knew I had to go back to school if I wanted to further my career, but I also knew jumping right back into books, homework, and essays would burn me out. My mentor suggested a gap year with AmeriCorps and here I am!

Thus far, working with School-To-Career Progressions has been a fulfilling experience, showing me the gritty side of administration and the sweet side of working to make a difference. School-To-Career Progressions (S2C Progressions) is a nonprofit that partners with the Grand Rapids juvenile court. By enrolling in our 60 hour program youth get their charge(s) dropped, learn social emotional learning and non-cognitive skills, and improve their executive functioning skills. S2C Progressions holds classes three times a week, which focus on strong character, healthy emotions, positive mindset, and successful behaviors. Our mission is to help prepare students to be successful in school, the workforce, and the community by empowering them to take control of their environment.  

Once a student is enrolled, a self-assessment is given and personal goals are generated based on their answers. For the next two to three months, a success coach and the youth work on improving behavior, mindset, and emotional intelligence based on the assessment, as well as on personal academic goals. Through this, youth are taught self-management skills that they can take with them after they graduate from the program.

S2C Progressions has also continued a positive partnership with a charter school in the community, William C. Abney. This K-6 school has allowed us to incorporate our curriculum into 4th – 6th grade classrooms and work one-on-one with the students who are at a higher risk of being suspended and may need more resources. 

At S2C Progressions, we want the youth that come through our program to realize their charges are static and moving forward is key. Since beginning my VISTA year I have seen great improvement in many students who initially came in shy and distant and are now participatory and open. One current student and two of our graduated students have secured jobs with another nonprofit in our building, another student has enrolled in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC), and another student is treasurer of her school’s sophomore class. At S2C Progressions, we try to regularly celebrate and encourage these advancements.

Currently, we are planning to have a guest speaker discuss her profession within her nonprofit and create vision boards with the students. Through the enrollment assessment, I have noticed almost all of the students lack future orientation. This week we are moving into the lesson of positive mindset (the ability to look for the good in people and things). This lesson also includes discovery of talents and abilities that many of our students are still searching for. Through exploration or a talent show, I am hoping to breed an environment of self-discovery that will build closer relationships between students and their success coaches and generate confidence in our students.