“WE GET UP – WE GET BUSY”
GCF Mariners Harbor team call and response
Ashley McGeary
Graduated: 2022, Cohort 22
Mariners Harbor Houses Eco-Hub Fellow, Cohorts 23 & 24
From: Wagner Houses, Manhattan
Current Position: Group Leader, SCAN-Harbor
Founded in 1977, SCAN-Harbor is a non-profit youth and family service organization that provides a variety of integrated support to the highest risk children and families of Harlem, East Harlem and the South Bronx. Our mission is to provide the highest risk families and children living in Harlem, East Harlem, and the South Bronx with integrated family-focused programming that uses a positive approach, harnesses individual strengths and fosters responsibility, self-esteem, initiative and the development of life skills.
Tell us about your current role.
“I supervise, coordinate, instruct, and manage three groups of students – 3rd graders to 5th graders – in a variety of settings (from help with homework to teaching in the gym and classroom).“
What does your typical workday look like?
“I create lesson plans focused on youth development. I’m in charge of ‘Group 2’ where I teach them creative arts, financial literacy, civic engagement, [recreation activities] and farming.”
Describe your career pathway. How has your GCF experience helped you?
“I couldn’t have done it without Justin and the team and my fellow Eco-Hub Fellows. [Creating an] objective every day really prepared me for lesson planning – now I enjoy leading and teaching my students every day. GCF taught me time management and that’s a very important skill – till this day I will never be late ever! GCF also taught me to delegate, and always communicate. This helped me so much in my new job.”
What advice do you have for current Corps Members and other Alumni?
“Work hard, don’t be late, don’t give up and always have grit!”
Achievements at GCF:
“I got to travel and network. My [main] achievement was that I graduated!”
Feature in NYCHA’s Recycling Tutorial!
What’s your favorite GCF memory?
“My favorite GCF memory has to be when there was a storm on Staten Island – everyone was cold and wet. The community came together with hot soup and crackers and the team went home with a smile and a warm belly.”
GRADUATION TESTIMONY:
“Before Green City Force, COVID started and I didn’t know where to start. After high school, I had no experience, no guidance, then I saw Green City Force’s recruiting flyers and thought, ‘I get to help my community and get paid for it,’ but it was so much more than that. I gained experience in the field, met new people, traveled, networked, got certifications, improved my resume, and the most important thing I learned from Green City Force was time management and teamwork – two main things to keep the team at 100%. I want to thank the Forest team – Jelani, Jason, Gaby, Alexa – you guys helped me improve so much and helped me deal with a lot. You helped me understand things I never thought I could know like how to learn and unlearn things. We were always a team and I appreciate you guys for that!”
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