Phillips Brooks House Association | Programs - PBHAhttps://www.pbha.org/programs/Tue, 02 Dec 2025 21:52:56 +0000en-USSite-Server v@build.version@ (http://www.squarespace.com)Adult ESOL ProgramWed, 15 Oct 2025 15:36:00 +0000https://www.pbha.org/programs/adult-esol-program6203ebdcfedb1079fd8be0c7:6218f99c7d7f0258a4b5b12c:6218f9ae7d7f0258a4b5b5e3

PBHA’s Adult ESOL Program is a summer program that aims to help close critical English literacy service gaps in Chelsea, Chinatown, and Dorchester every summer by providing free adult ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes for low-income immigrant communities residing in those areas.

Student Director Contact Information:

AEP@pbha.org

Staff Contact Information:

Kerry McGowan

Kerry@pbha.org

Term: Summer

AEP (Adult ESOL Program) is a summer program that helps close critical English literacy service gaps in the Greater Boston Area by providing free English instruction to low-income immigrant communities. Historically, we’ve continued from where term-time ESOL programs (PEN, Chinatown ESL, and Chinatown Citizenship) leave off and have provided English instruction to adult students in Chelsea, Dorchester, and Chinatown in partnership with La Colaborativa, St. Mark’s, and BCNC (Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center). 

]]>Adult ESOL ProgramAlzheimer’s Buddies In-PersonSundayAdult ServicesHealthPBHA AdminMon, 15 Sep 2025 19:08:00 +0000https://www.pbha.org/programs/alzheimersbuddies6203ebdcfedb1079fd8be0c7:6218f99c7d7f0258a4b5b12c:67f966b4dbf36d105d5f9ffdHarvard College Alzheimer’s Buddies addresses the profound isolation and social disengagement faced by individuals in the intermediate-to-late stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Through consistent, one-on-one companionship, our volunteers build meaningful emotional connections with residents in memory care—focusing not on what has been lost, but on what remains.

Each week, volunteers are paired individually with dementia residents at two partnering care facilities: Hebrew SeniorLife in Roslindale and Springhouse Senior Living Community in Jamaica Plain. Shifts occur on Saturdays, with the first group meeting at 10:00 AM in Quincy Parking lot and traveling via PBHA vans to Hebrew SeniorLife (1200 Centre St, Roslindale, MA 02131), returning by noon. The second group meets at 12:30 PM in the Mac parking lot and travels to Springhouse (44 Allandale St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130), returning by 2:30 PM.

In addition to individualized buddy time, HCAB facilitates occasional large-group activities that encourage shared joy and interaction among residents and volunteers. Volunteers are trained to engage with empathy and creativity, learning to be fully present and responsive to the needs and preferences of their buddies.

Beyond weekly visits, HCAB also leads the planning and execution of our annual Alzheimer’s Symposium, a signature event that brings together researchers, clinicians, caregivers, and community members. The Symposium offers a platform to share the latest in Alzheimer’s Disease research and care, educate the broader community on memory disorders, and inspire action to combat the loneliness experienced by those living with Alzheimer’s.

HCAB is supported by a dedicated leadership team that coordinates weekly logistics, volunteer training, and community partnerships, while also working closely with PBHA staff to ensure sustainable impact.

Some of our most powerful memories come from watching the bonds between buddies grow over time—seeing the transformation from initial introductions to deep, heartfelt companionships that brighten the days of both residents and volunteers alike.

  • We require either or both the elderly training program run at PBHA or we hold our own training for the Hebrew SeniorLife facility. Our Hebrew SeniorLife facility requires tuberculosis testing and many vaccine requirements in order to begin as a volunteer. Generally, we accept as many volunteers as our vans and van drivers are able to accommodate for. Our timeline for onboarding volunteers primarily happens in the fall, with a potential for some volunteers to start in the Spring. If you have questions, please reach out to AlzheimersBuddies@pbha.org

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Contact Us

Contact Information

Student Director: AlzheimersBuddies@pbha.org

PBHA Staff: Kerry McGowan kerry@pbha.org

]]>Alzheimer’s BuddiesBest BuddiesFri, 15 Aug 2025 16:10:00 +0000https://www.pbha.org/programs/best-buddies6203ebdcfedb1079fd8be0c7:6218f99c7d7f0258a4b5b12c:6218f9a37d7f0258a4b5b387

Best Buddies matches individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in one-to-one friendships with their peers.

APPLICATION INFORMATION:

Contact bestbuddies@pbha.org to learn how to join the program.

Staff Contact Information:

Bryan Zuluaga

bryan@pbha.org

Student Director Contact Information:

bestbuddies@pbha.org

PBHA's Best Buddies program is a chapter of Best Buddies, an international organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Best Buddies provides the necessary tools for people with IDD to become more independent and more included in the community. Our chapter partners with a nearby residential home in Cambridge, where adults with IDD live. Once a month, on Sundays, we have group events in which Harvard students and the buddies hang out. Students also have the opportunity to be matched with one of the residents in a one-to-one friendship. Typically, buddy pairs hang out at the house, grab food in the square, attend concerts or sporting events, or anything else related to their interests. Peer buddies are expected to participate in two activities per month. Many buddy pairs go on to be lifelong friends!


]]>Best BuddiesBoston Refugee Youth Enrichment (BRYE) ExtensionSat, 02 Aug 2025 01:59:00 +0000https://www.pbha.org/programs/brye-extension6203ebdcfedb1079fd8be0c7:6218f99c7d7f0258a4b5b12c:6218f99e7d7f0258a4b5b1f4

Staff Contact Info:

Kerry McGowan
kerry@pbha.org

Officer Contact Info:

BRYEExtension@pbha.org

PBHA’s Boston Refugee Youth Enrichment (BRYE) Extension is both a mentoring program and an academic enrichment program for recent immigrant and refugee youth living in Dorchester. Boston Refugee Youth Enrichment (BRYE) Extension builds English skills and provides a safe, validating, and intellectually stimulating space for students. The program sets itself apart from other afterschool programs by strengthening students’ ESL skills and supplementing classroom instruction with fun and innovative volunteer-designed curriculum in a small classroom environment. BRYE Extension fills a much-needed void in Dorchester, where low-income residents in Boston’s most diverse neighborhood often lack access to affordable afterschool programs.

Students at BRYE Extension are placed into classrooms based on age level and familiarity with the English language. There are three class levels, with the youngest class ranging in age from 6 to 8, a middle class 8 to 10, and a third class ranging ages 10 to 12.

History

BRYE Extension, founded in 2001, was first created in order to close the educational gap between new immigrant children and their peers through an educational enrichment program. The program sets itself apart from other after-school programs by strengthening students’ ESL skills and supplementing classroom instruction through fun and innovative volunteer-designed curriculum in a small classroom environment. The program fills a much-needed void in Dorchester, where low-income residents in Boston's most diverse neighborhood often lack access to affordable after-school programs.

]]>Boston Refugee Youth Enrichment (BRYE) ExtensionBoston Refugee Youth Enrichment (BRYE) TeenTue, 15 Jul 2025 16:53:00 +0000https://www.pbha.org/programs/brye-teen6203ebdcfedb1079fd8be0c7:6218f99c7d7f0258a4b5b12c:6218f9a37d7f0258a4b5b3b6For this coming semester, BRYE Teen will be having bi-weekly meetings with the teens, continuing with providing mentoring and workshops as we have in the past. Every week, a volunteer will lead a workshop on a variety of topics, ranging from resume writing, the history of airplanes, to sandwich making. In addition to these workshops, we will spend a portion of the meetings individually mentoring the students, allowing the volunteers and teens to develop a fruitful relationship throughout the semester.

PBHA’s Boston Refugee Youth Enrichment (BRYE) Teen pairs recently immigrated teenagers (11-16) in Dorchester with college-age mentors. The program supports students as they build English skills and learn to navigate new cultural environments and equips teens with the tools they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom. BRYE Teen's mission combines educational and cultural activities with a social justice mindset in order to develop the teens understanding of their own identities in Dorchester.BRYE Teen meets each Saturday from 1:00 - 3:00 PM in Dorchester.

]]>Boston Refugee Youth Enrichment (BRYE) TeenBRYE 1-2-1In-PersonSundayMentoringPBHA AdminWed, 02 Jul 2025 00:54:00 +0000https://www.pbha.org/programs/brye-1216203ebdcfedb1079fd8be0c7:6218f99c7d7f0258a4b5b12c:6810234cc35ab222f51564c6The Boston Refugee Youth Enrichment Program is a field trip based mentoring program aimed at helping recently immigrated and refugee status youth of Dorchester Massachusetts. BRYE pairs Harvard and Greater Boston area college students with youth ages 5-12 years old, in aims of not only helping them become accustomed to their entry into the United States and the Boston area. But also provided 1-1 mentorship, advice and long-lasting relationships beyond BRYE. BRYE aims to do this through enriching activities such as museum and science based field trips, practical lessons on life skills such as cooking and baking classes, and many moments of reflection and relationship building.

  • We accept Greater Boston area colleges, can apply via the PBHA website through regular cycle. We also accept irregularly if you email BRYE121@pbha.org directly.

  • Can apply via the PBHA website.

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Contact Us

Contact Information

Student Director: BRYE121@pbha.org

PBHA Staff: Kerry McGowan kerry@pbha.org

]]>BRYE 1-2-1BRYE SummerMon, 16 Jun 2025 02:08:00 +0000https://www.pbha.org/programs/boston-refugee-youth-enrichment6203ebdcfedb1079fd8be0c7:6218f99c7d7f0258a4b5b12c:6218f9aa7d7f0258a4b5b4b8

Application Information:

BRYE costs $125 for the first child and $120 for each additional sibling. Preference is given to returning campers and children who have a particular academic or financial need for the program. BRYE will contact families to submit one camper application for each child who wishes to enroll in camp. To learn more about BRYE, email BRYE@pbha.org

Staff Contact Info:

Kerry McGowan

kerry@pbha.org

Student Director Contact Info:

BRYE@pbha.org

ABOUT BRYE

BRYE began in 1987 as a resource for Boston’s Vietnamese community. Today, BRYE serves all of Dorchester’s refugees and immigrants, especially the Vietnamese, Dominican, Haitian, and Cape Verdean populations. BRYE is the only non-Boston Public School program that is recognized as a substitute for summer school, helping many of its students get promoted to the next grade level. BRYE campers are referred to us through Boston Public School teachers and administrators, social workers and partner community organizations for out-of-school ESL education. Beyond learning English, our youth also face the challenges of integrating themselves into American culture while maintaining their own cultural roots. In addition to ESL enrichment, BRYE emphasizes peaceful conflict resolution and cultural diversity appreciation to mitigate the prevalence of neighborhood violence and racial tensions between the diverse ethnic groups in Boston. Like all of our Summer Urban Program camps, BRYE engages campers in mornings of academic enrichment, afternoons of educational field trips, and artistic, cultural, and service-learning workshops throughout the week, along with two overnight camping trips and a day-long final trip.

WORK AT BRYE

BRYE, like all Summer Urban Program camps, is run by college students who serve as directors and senior counselors, or teachers, in the camp. Directors oversee all camp operations, working through the spring and summer to train and supervise camp staff, manage finances, and ensure high program quality. Learn more about directing BRYE.

Senior counselors manage a classroom of 10 children throughout the summer, implementing a self-designed academic curriculum, supervising field trips and community service projects, and supporting the operations of their camp. Learn more about working as a senior counselor.

In addition to its college-age staff, BRYE employs high school students as junior counselors. Teens partner with a senior counselor to co-teach a class and participate in leadership workshops throughout the summer. The majority of SUP's junior counselors once attended the same camp in which they work; many junior counselors at BRYE were once campers in the program. Learn more about working as a junior counselor.

This Camp must comply with regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and be licensed by the Cambridge Board of Health.

]]>BRYE SummerBRYE TutoringIn-PersonAfterschoolMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayfridayin-schoolPBHA AdminMon, 02 Jun 2025 00:44:00 +0000https://www.pbha.org/programs/brye-tutoring6203ebdcfedb1079fd8be0c7:6218f99c7d7f0258a4b5b12c:680aeff7bd62ff34807e817dPBHA's Boston Refugee Youth Enrichment (BRYE) Tutoring program strives to give children of immigrant families in Dorchester a foothold in the United States through quality instruction and homework help, with a priority on improving English skills. By fostering a close, mentoring relationship between tutor and tutee, BRYE Tutoring is dedicated to bridging cultural barriers by through building knowledge, inspiring confidence, and increasing self-esteem through solid friendships.
We meet once a week at the Murphy School in Dorchester and we provide transportation there and back!

  • Apply through the common app!

  • Referral by school

 

Contact Us

Contact Information

Student Director: bryetutoring@pbha.org

PBHA Staff: Bryan Zuluaga bryan@pbha.org

]]>Cambridge After-School Program (CASP) In-PersonAfterschoolMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdaycambridgePBHA AdminThu, 15 May 2025 15:34:00 +0000https://www.pbha.org/programs/casp6203ebdcfedb1079fd8be0c7:6218f99c7d7f0258a4b5b12c:6809063f8820dd4a3e995795PBHA's Cambridge After School Program (CASP) provides affordable and accessible after school programming for youth at the low-income Fresh Pond Apartments in northwest Cambridge. We serve approximately 30 students ages 8-14, most of whom are first- or second-generation immigrants. CASP offers academic programming in a combination of homework help (the first hour of the program) and educational workshops (the second hour of the program). Workshops range from building model rockets and water balloon slingshots to growing bean plants and making weekly library trips. We also run a variety of field trips including recent trips to a bookstore, the aquarium, and movie nights on the Harvard campus. The program runs Monday-Thursday from 3:30-5:30 pm.

Target Population
The program serves 3rd-8th graders at the low-income Fresh Pond Apartments in northwest Cambridge. Almost all of our participants are first- or second-immigration immigrants.

Program Operations
We leave the Harvard Square T station at 3 pm to travel to the Alewife station, from where we walk to the Fresh Pond Apartments and arrive by 3:30. We help with homework for (roughly) the first hour, and volunteers lead a game or activity for the second hour. At 5:30, the participants depart, and we take the T back to Harvard, arriving around 6 pm. We also have 1-2 field trips per semester, which usually take an entire Saturday afternoon or evening.

Mission

PBHA’s Cambridge After-School Program (CASP) strives for social justice in the Cambridge community by providing a safe, fun, and uplifting learning environment for youth near Fresh Pond. CASP focuses on providing affordable and accessible after-school programming for low-income Cambridge youth. CASP aims to alleviate the effects of socioeconomic disparities and empower Cambridge youth, helping them to realize their full potential.

  • Volunteers should apply through the PBHA Application and select CASP. Directors will reach out after with next steps for joining the program, including PBHA-wide tutor training and CASP-specific orientation. We prefer volunteers to join at the beginning of the semester and commit to volunteering weekly for the whole semester, but please email casp@pbha.org if you would like to join in the middle of the semester.

    We sometimes also run program during Harvard's J-term, where we accept volunteers only for the J-term period.

    We accept local high school students in Cambridge to volunteer with us as well.

  • We serve students in grades 3-8 living in or around the Fresh Pond Apartments. Please complete the PBHA Afterschool application form for each child.

    The directors will contact you after filling out the form with more information about the program, including which days your child will attend, family orientation, and program norms and expectations.

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Contact Us

Contact Information

Student Director: casp@pbha.org

PBHA Staff: Bryan Zuluaga bryan@pbha.org

]]>Cambridge After-School Program (CASP)Cambridge Youth Enrichment ProgramWed, 16 Apr 2025 02:23:00 +0000https://www.pbha.org/programs/cambridge-youth-enrichment-program6203ebdcfedb1079fd8be0c7:6218f99c7d7f0258a4b5b12c:6218f9aa7d7f0258a4b5b4dd

APPLICATION INFORMATION:

CYEP costs $125 for the first child and $100 for each additional sibling. Preference is given to returning campers and children who have particular academic or financial need for the program. Families should submit one camper application for each child who wishes to enroll in camp. To learn more about CYEP, email CYEP@pbha.org

Staff Contact Information:

Bryan Zuluaga

bryan@pbha.org

Student Director Contact Information:

CYEP@pbha.org

About CYEP

PBHA's Cambridge Youth Enrichment Program, or CYEP, began in 1982 through the joint efforts of Harvard students and parents from Roosevelt Towers, a public housing development in East Cambridge. The program was an expansion of a student-run summer program that had operated out of Roosevelt Towers since 1964. CYEP quickly grew to include children from the nearby Washington Elms and Newtowne Court housing developments. Later, a site at Jefferson Park in North Cambridge was added to meet growing demand. Today, CYEP serves 160 low-income children at three sites across Cambridge for seven weeks each summer. Like all of our Summer Urban Program camps, CYEP engages campers in mornings of academic enrichment, afternoons of educational field trips, and artistic, cultural, and service-learning workshops throughout the week, along with two overnight camping trips and a day-long final trip. CYEP works to prevent summer learning loss, providing an academic foundation from which students may actively and enthusiastically follow their own curiosity. CYEP hopes to inspire creativity and ambition within each and every camper; foster cooperation between campers, staff, and the community; and forge strong ties between youth, parents, and community members.

WORK AT CYEP

CYEP, like all Summer Urban Program camps, is run by college students who serve as directors and senior counselors, or teachers, in the camp. Directors oversee all camp operations, working through the spring and summer to train and supervise camp staff, manage finances, and ensure high program quality. Learn more about directing CYEP.

Senior counselors manage a classroom of 10 children throughout the summer, implementing a self-designed academic curriculum, supervising field trips and community service projects, and supporting the operations of their camp. Learn more about working as a senior counselor.

In addition to its college-age staff, CYEP employs high school students as junior counselors. Teens partner with a senior counselor to co-teach a class and participate in leadership workshops throughout the summer. The majority of SUP's junior counselors once attended the same camp in which they work; many junior counselors at CYEP were once campers in the program. Learn more about working as a junior counselor (application coming soon).

This Camp must comply with regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and be licensed by the Cambridge Board of Health.

]]>Cambridge Youth Enrichment ProgramChinatown AdventureTue, 01 Apr 2025 13:31:00 +0000https://www.pbha.org/programs/chinatown-adventure6203ebdcfedb1079fd8be0c7:6218f99c7d7f0258a4b5b12c:6218f9aa7d7f0258a4b5b504

ENROLL IN CHAD

CHAD costs $125 for the first child and $120 for each additional child. Preference is given to returning campers, children from the Chinatown community, and children who have particular academic or financial need for the program. Families should submit one camper application for each child who wishes to enroll in camp. After you submit an online application, you will be notified about submitting supplemental materials.

PBHA's Chinatown Adventure, or CHAD, is part of the Summer Urban Program serving Boston's Chinatown community.

Staff Contact Information:

Kerry McGowan

Kerry@pbha.org

Student Director Contact Information:

CHAD@pbha.org


PBHA's Chinatown Adventure, or CHAD, seeks to enrich and improve the quality of life for low-income youth in Boston’s Chinatown through a commitment to the academic, social, and personal development of its campers. CHAD fights summer learning loss by reinforcing and strengthening campers’ academic skills, and promotes personal growth among its campers through activities that develop fundamental social skills, healthy identities, cross-cultural awareness, and social consciousness. For more than 25 years, CHAD has offered seven weeks of  summer programming to young people ages six to 13. Like all of our Summer Urban Program camps, CHAD engages campers in mornings of academic enrichment, afternoons of educational field trips, and artistic, cultural, and service-learning workshops throughout the week, along with two overnight camping trips and a day-long final trip. CHAD partners with PBHA's term-time Chinatown programs, including Chinatown Afterschool and Chinatown Big Sibling, to offer youth continuous academic, social, and personal support throughout the school year. CHAD operates in the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association in Boston's Chinatown. The program is open to young people living in Chinatown, particularly in the Mass Pike Towers, Castle Square, Oak Terrace, Metropolitan, and Tai Tung Village housing developments.

WORK AT CHAD

CHAD, like all Summer Urban Program camps, is run by college students who serve as directors and senior counselors, or teachers, in the camp. Directors oversee all camp operations, working through the spring and summer to train and supervise camp staff, manage finances, and ensure high program quality. Learn more about directing CHAD.

Senior counselors manage a classroom of 10 children throughout the summer, implementing a self-designed academic curriculum, supervising field trips and community service projects, and supporting the operations of their camp. Learn more about working as a senior counselor.

In addition to its college-age staff, CHAD employs high school students as junior counselors. Teens partner with a senior counselor to co-teach a class and participate in leadership workshops throughout the summer. The majority of SUP's junior counselors once attended the same camp in which they work; many junior counselors at CHAD were once campers in the program. Learn more about working as a junior counselor.

This Camp must comply with regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and be licensed by the Cambridge Board of Health.

]]>Chinatown AdventureChinatown Afterschool Program (CHAP)In-PersonAfterschoolChinatownMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridayPBHA AdminSat, 15 Mar 2025 15:24:00 +0000https://www.pbha.org/programs/chinatown-afterschool-program6203ebdcfedb1079fd8be0c7:6218f99c7d7f0258a4b5b12c:67ed56a7d2b9302e28e1a68bChinatown Afterschool (CHAP) was founded in 1984 to meet the need for a free afterschool program in Boston’s Chinatown. Our program was originally based in the Church of All Nations, and from 1984 through 2008 operated from the sites of community partners including College High School, Boston High School, and the Asian American Civic Association. Since 2008, CHAP has been based at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA).

Today, CHAP supports 40-50 spirited kids, from kindergarten to 7th grade. Our dedicated counselors volunteer weekly, helping guide classrooms of 10 to 15 students through homework, enriching STEM activities, food competitions, soccer, and much much more—creating lasting memories and bright futures in the heart of Chinatown.

CHAP's counselor community is a vibrant and passionate group of students hailing from Harvard, Wellesley, Tufts, Boston University, MIT and local Boston High Schools. We’re a close-knit family that bonds over a shared commitment to our wonderful students, and we make time to celebrate that bond each semester with two lively counselor socials. The season’s highlight? Our “day dinners”: an all-expenses-paid meal in the heart of Chinatown, where we share delicious food and toast to the incredible work our counselors do.

Mission

PBHA's Chinatown Afterschool Program seeks to promote academic enrichment for children of low-income families in Boston’s Chinatown community.

We strive to provide a safe and supportive afterschool environment through tutoring, educational projects, and literacy activities.

We also aspire to build self-esteem and intellectual curiosity by fostering mentoring relationships with volunteers, both in and out of the classroom.

Ultimately, we aim to equip our students with life skills that will encourage them to be contributing members of their communities.

  • CHAP is a semester-long commitment

    We welcome anyone currently enrolled in high school or undergrad.

    If you are new, there is a short interview at the beginning of the semester for you to get to know our program better and for us to place you in a classroom.

    In-person Kickoff at Harvard

    Tutor training coordinated by PBHA

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Contact Us

Instagram @chinatown_afterschool

Contact Information

Student Director: chinatownafterschool@pbha.org

PBHA Staff: Kerry McGowan kerry@pbha.org

]]>Chinatown Afterschool Program (CHAP)Chinatown Big SiblingSat, 01 Mar 2025 15:39:00 +0000https://www.pbha.org/programs/chinatown-big-sibling6203ebdcfedb1079fd8be0c7:6218f99c7d7f0258a4b5b12c:6218f9a47d7f0258a4b5b3f3

Staff Contact Information

Kerry McGowan

kerry@pbha.org

Student Director Contact Information:

CHTNBSP@pbha.org

PBHA’s Chinatown Big Sibling Program strives to establish positive relationships between young adults and school-aged children ages 7-12 living in Chinatown. Through one-on-one interaction, big sibs provide both mentorship and companionship, seeking to bolster their little sibs’ self-esteem and encouraging them to explore new opportunities. Students individually plan activities for their sibs and establish unique relationships that offer new experiences possible only in a one-to-one setting.

]]>Chinatown Big SiblingChinatown CitizenshipvirtualchinatownfridaysaturdaysundayPBHA AdminSat, 15 Feb 2025 21:07:00 +0000https://www.pbha.org/programs/chinatown-afterschool-program-ktdg56203ebdcfedb1079fd8be0c7:6218f99c7d7f0258a4b5b12c:67f975c18c932473c1270669PBHA's Chinatown Citizenship is a naturalization assistance program serving Boston's Chinatown community and other Greater Boston Chinese-American residents. Chinatown Citizenship promotes social and political empowerment for immigrants by providing support throughout the naturalization process for U.S. citizenship. The program's services include courses in U.S. history and government, mock interviews, translations, and resources such as practice audio CDs.

Chinatown Citizenship offers free, semester long courses. Tutors prepare students for the naturalization exam by teaching basic American history and government or practicing conversational skills for the oral interview. The program offers tiered levels of instruction.

Level I teaches the foundations of American history and basic concepts of American government, along with ESL training. It also encompasses basic conversation skills needed for the naturalization interview. Since students in this class level have limited or no previous exposure to the subject matter, Mandarin/Cantonese will be the primary medium of instruction.

Level II teaches all of the 100 questions on American history and government (10 of these will be asked on the actual exam). The content is similar to Level I, but classes are taught at a quicker pace and the emphasis is placed on drilling, and fine-tuning speaking and listening skills. Usage of Mandarin/Cantonese is less intensive than in Level I.

Level III begins preparing the students for the actual interview. Level III concentrates on the N-400 form as well as many of the questions that may be asked during the actual interview. Students are expected to have already mastered the basic 100 questions on American History and Civics. There will be very little use of Mandarin/Cantonese in Level III.

Level IV/Oral Interview is comprised of a series of mock interviews for the naturalization exam, which many students have pending; practice interviews are a major component of the course. Students practice writing and reading simple sentences in addition to drilling the material covered in previous levels. Students should be given every opportunity to practice English, and emphasis is placed on personalized instruction. Classes are primarily taught in English, but Mandarin/Cantonese is used for clarification. Classes are held Saturday and Sunday afternoons on the Harvard campus. Terms run from September-December, February-April, and June-August.

  • Students can apply at the beginning of each semester through both the PBHA common app as well as our own internal application, which we will send out through mailing lists.

  • We will send out flyers with a QR code to a form that they can fill out to be added to our WeChat group.

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Contact Us

Contact Information

Student Director: chinatowncitizenship@pbha.org

PBHA Staff: Kerry McGowan kerry@pbha.org

]]>Chinatown CitizenshipChinatown ESLVIRTUALsaturdaysundayPBHA AdminSat, 01 Feb 2025 20:44:00 +0000https://www.pbha.org/programs/alzheimersbuddies-8acm7-wb8ny6203ebdcfedb1079fd8be0c7:6218f99c7d7f0258a4b5b12c:67f96f3722d2cf391a73d172When: Saturdays/Sunday, 10 - 11:30 AM
Where: Online (as of now)
PBHA’s Chinatown ESL program makes affordable ESL learning services available to adults in the Chinatown area, and other Great Boston Chinese-American residents. Volunteers tutor adults in 90 minute sessions on the English language. Lessons focus on developing practical conversational, reading, and writing skills useful for everyday situations. By providing these services, PBHA helps to alleviate the social isolation that many immigrant adults feel when moving to a country where their language is not spoken, and provides new opportunities for them without the financial burden these services typically bring.

  • Please apply using the PBHA Common App. If it is past the deadline, email us at ChinatownESL@pbha.org

    We accept non-Harvard students as well as non-college students!

 

Contact Us

Contact Information

Staff contact: kerry@pbha.org

Student Director: chinatownesl@pbha.org

]]>Chinatown TeenThu, 16 Jan 2025 01:45:00 +0000https://www.pbha.org/programs/chinatown-teen6203ebdcfedb1079fd8be0c7:6218f99c7d7f0258a4b5b12c:6218f99d7d7f0258a4b5b1c0To learn more about Chinatown Teen, contact chinatownteen@pbha.org

Staff Contact Information:

Kerry McGowan

kerry@pbha.org

Student Director Contact Information:

chinatownteen@pbha.org


Chinatown Teen is a mentorship program for high school students from Boston public schools. Our college mentors come from Harvard, Wellesley, Tufts, and Boston University to come together this year to help with homework, have study breaks, play virtual games, and send each other packages. Mentors plan weekly lesson plans that have previously included photography lessons, origami, and helicopter egg drop. Please reach out to chinatownteen@pbha.org if you'd like to be involved or want to learn more!

About Us:

We are a mentorship group for high school students from the Boston Public Schools. Our college mentors from Harvard, Wellesley, Tufts, and Boston University meet every Friday after-school for a study break (boba!), homework help, and occasional program lessons. We attend recreational outings throughout the year which have included trips to college campuses, Boston Bowl, Threatre shows, and ethnic restaurants. High school students with a desire for supplemental academic and cultural enrichment are encouraged to join.

Meetings:

Chinatown Teen runs every Friday from 3:30-5:30 in Boston’s Chinatown. Harvard and Boston University volunteers leave campus together at 3:00 PM to travel to Chinatown on the MBTA. Wellesley volunteers take the Local Motion bus to Chinatown from campus.


]]>Chinatown TeenCIVICSin-personmondaytuesdaywednesdaythursdayfridayin-schoolPBHA AdminWed, 01 Jan 2025 23:57:00 +0000https://www.pbha.org/programs/civics6203ebdcfedb1079fd8be0c7:6218f99c7d7f0258a4b5b12c:67f97bcdb7965611bf5b00a9Harvard CIVICS is a joint initiative between the Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA) and the Institute of Politics, bringing civic education to over 35 classrooms across the Cambridge and Boston Public School systems. Designed for students in 2nd through 6th grade, the program uses a dynamic, student-designed curriculum to empower young learners to explore democratic governance, current events, and their own roles as engaged citizens.

Each semester, CIVICS places passionate Harvard undergraduates into local classrooms to lead weekly lessons on civics, government, and community leadership. Both in the fall and spring, the curriculum emphasizes civic engagement and advocacy, with a focus on major social movements and their historical contexts. Students explore issues such as climate justice, gender equality, disability rights, and the civil rights movement, learning how individuals and communities can advocate for change within a democratic framework.

Beyond the classroom, CIVICS includes three expansion teams—Media, Advocacy, and External Affairs—that work to broaden the program’s impact. These teams create original content, connect CIVICS with community partners, and lead nationwide efforts to promote civic engagement and youth advocacy.

CIVICS is grounded in a committment to equity in education. The program is dedicated to reaching students from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, offering a curriculum that is not only academically rigorous but also culturally relevant and empowering. By addressing the civic education gap, Harvard CIVICS strives to inspire the next generation of informed, active participants in our democracy.

  • To volunteer as a CIVICS teacher, simply fill out the PBHA Common Application at the beginning of the semester and indicate your availability to teach. After submitting your application, the CIVICS Executive Board will reach out with next steps, including training and onboarding. Once you're trained, you'll be matched with a classroom and begin teaching weekly lessons for an eight-week session!

  • CIVICS partners with public schools in Boston and Cambridge to deliver engaging, student-led civics lessons. If you're a teacher or administrator interested in bringing CIVICS to your classroom, please reach out to us at harvardcivicsprogram@gmail.com before the start of each semester.

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Contact Us

Contact Information

Student Director: harvardcivicsprogram@gmail.com

PBHA Staff: Bryan Zuluaga bryan@pbha.org

]]>CIVICSCollege High-School Alliance: A Nexus for Creative Education (CHANCE) In-PersonAfterschoolTuesdayThursdaycambridgePBHA AdminSun, 15 Dec 2024 22:26:00 +0000https://www.pbha.org/programs/chance6203ebdcfedb1079fd8be0c7:6218f99c7d7f0258a4b5b12c:68095a829bf782187399b8fcCHANCE serves local high schoolers from Cambridge Rindge & Latin every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 to 5 right inside Harvard Yard at Phillips Brooks House. Our student tutors work with high schoolers, helping them with homework, general advice, SAT prep, and college essays.

We typically spread out throughout the building, with one room dedicated to homework help and other room dedicated to SAT lessons. Over the course of the semester, tutors grow closer with high schoolers and they essentially become a mentor, friend, and role model!

Additionally, thanks to the F. Gardner Jackson Fund, CHANCE is able to award scholarships to students from local high schools. All who have regularly attended CHANCE and are in their junior or senior year are eligible.

Mission

PBHA’s CHANCE is a college preparatory program that provides SAT tutoring, homework help, and college advice, and strives to give students from Cambridge’s only public high school the desire, support, and motivation to gain admission to college and to succeed there and beyond.

  • Ideally, at the beginning of the semester through the PBHA common app!

    We happily accept any college volunteer as long as they're willing to commit themselves to at least 1 day a week (Tuesday or Thursdays currently 3:30-5 pm). Volunteers also need a tutor training certificate.

  • Google Form (we will send out a new one each semester).

 

Contact Us

Contact Information

Student Director: chance@pbha.org

PBHA Staff: Bryan Zuluaga bryan@pbha.org

]]>College High-School Alliance: A Nexus for Creative Education (CHANCE)David Walker ScholarsMon, 02 Dec 2024 01:24:00 +0000https://www.pbha.org/programs/david-walker-scholars6203ebdcfedb1079fd8be0c7:6218f99c7d7f0258a4b5b12c:6218f9a57d7f0258a4b5b41e

Staff Contact Information:

Bryan Zuluaga

bryan@pbha.org

Student Director Contact Information:

dws@pbha.org

Members of the Harvard Black Men’s Forum created PBHA’s David Walker Scholars to empower young men in Boston through education and mentorship. The program strives to create a sense of black cultural and historical pride, to provide guidance and leadership in order to prepare young men for a positive and prosperous future, and to break the negative stereotypes of the common black man in America. David Walker Scholars teaches and mentors young men on black history and life skills including college planning, understanding drug use in the community, and interacting with the police and other figures of authority. Programming extends beyond the classroom and includes field trips and other activities to create and strengthen mentoring relationships. David Walker Scholars serves Vassal Lane and Putnam Avenus Upper Schools in Cambridge. 

]]>David Walker ScholarsDeaf Awareness CoalitionFri, 15 Nov 2024 17:09:00 +0000https://www.pbha.org/programs/dac6203ebdcfedb1079fd8be0c7:6218f99c7d7f0258a4b5b12c:6218f9a57d7f0258a4b5b419

Staff Contact Information:

Laurie Chroney

laurie@pbha.org

Student Director Contact Information:

DAC@pbha.org

The Deaf Awareness Coalition (DAC) is a student-run organization, composed of community members from Cambridge and the greater Boston area, along with Harvard University students, faculty, and researchers, all dedicated to raising awareness about Deaf culture and accessibility. DAC is committed to increasing awareness and improving accessibility on campus through social and educational events, volunteer opportunities, university initiatives, and fundraising. In Fall 2021, DAC rebranded as 'Deaf Awareness Coalition' to better represent our mission and our different members and stakeholders. We host regular American Sign Language (ASL) Tables as well as fun “Snack N’ Sign” events where we cultivate an inclusive, accessible, and safe environment for all people who use ASL. DAC encourages native signers as well as those who are new to signing to be a part of something greater than themselves, while always striving to make it clear that the coalition is to never act or speak on behalf of the Deaf community. We emphasize that DAC is foremost a group of people from all backgrounds that share a passion for learning about Deaf culture, American Sign Language, and a commitment to creating a more accessible and anti-audist Harvard community.

To learn more about the coalition and join us in our efforts, email us at DAC@pbha.org to join our email list!

Also make sure to follow us on Instagram @dac.harvard and Facebook @pbhaDAC!

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