Sacred Heart Mentors Build Up Bridgeport Children

Though coronavirus cut the program short, it still had a profound effect on mentors and youth

Before the current pandemic forced schools to close, 28 Sacred Heart University students were mentoring 36 middle school youth at John Winthrop School in Bridgeport through SHU’s Jones-Zimmermann Academic Mentoring Program (AMP). Despite the disruption, interviews are underway now for the next set of mentors.

Sacred Heart students apply to participate in AMP through the Office of Volunteer Programs & Service Learning when they are sophomores. The Jones-Zimmermann foundation funds the after-school program, which helps young people maintain academic success with the help of their SHU mentors. Each mentor meets with the same two students twice a week during the youngsters’ middle school years.

Madison Zammarelli, AMP’s coordinator and SHU graduate student majoring in strategic communications and public relations, said the sessions begin with homework and academic enrichment. Afterward, there are games of kickball or dodgeball or hoops in the gym. There are craft activities too: gingerbread houses during the holidays and Valentine mailboxes in February, along with snow globes, sand jars, stress balls and slime. Members of SHU’s biology club visited one afternoon and helped the students create lava lamps.

“Before I started, I didn’t know what to expect,” said Zammarelli, 23, of Lincoln, RI. “I knew it was a great program. I just didn’t know how great, and I didn’t know I would leave AMP with so many memories.”

John Winthrop students enjoy being in AMP and see it as a privilege, as they get special one-on-one time with their college mentors.

The mentors must have certain qualities, such as patience, kindness and sensitivity. Most importantly, they must want to make a difference in a child’s life. The SHU mentors learn how to work as a team and build lasting bonds with the middle school students.

Although the semester was cut short—the group never had the chance to complete Winthrop’s community garden, or go on end-of-the year field trips—next year’s SHU mentors and Winthrop mentees are look forward to continuing their partnerships when the schools reopen.

For more information, visit the AMP webpage.