Roslindale, Hyde Park, Dorchester,. Roxbury, and Mattapan. As always, the program has more applicants than it can accomo
Diversity BRINGING THE MISSION TO LIFE:
Horizons at DCD Reaches New Milestone and Welcomes Back Executive Director Meredith Laban
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his spring marks Meredith Laban‘s return to the DCD campus as Executive Director of the Horizons summer program. Students, faculty, and staff all report happily anticipating the return of a leader who launched and led in its early years the program that has grown from a modest start of 16 students in 2009 to expected summer of 2017 enrollment of 150. Having returned this past March, Meredith is well positioned to resume leading Horizons in a milestone year, as the program’s founding class completes eighth grade and is poised to enter high school. Horizons is a six-week academic enrichment program offered to low-income stduents from Boston and Dedham to combat what’s known as “summer slide.” Students focus on improving math and literacy skills while receiving swimming instruction and enjoying a variety of cultural enrichment activities. An affiliate of a nationally recognized program, Horizons at DCD is one of 51 sites. During Meredith‘s hiatus from the DCD program, she oversaw operations of other sites in the network at the Horizons National office. “My job at the National office was satisfying,” she shares, “but I’ve been missing the old interactions.” Meredith says she’s most excited about working again with the students, staff, faculty, and families of the
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program, many whom she’s become close to over the years. The tightknit bonds formed are reflected in the program’s remarkable 95 percent retention rate. With so many students and families returning yearly as the program has grown, these same bonds are also deeply rooted in the DCD community. The close community is something that Meredith takes pride in, making her return almost seamless. She sees DCD as a home that shares the principles
and commitments of the Horizons mission. “There is a real overlap in vision and a natural connection,” she says. She cites the common goals of stressing “hands-on” work, support for development of both academic and life skills, and an appreciation of cultural, ethnic, and racial diversity. In many ways, she says, DCD’s motto, “Learning Is a Way of Life,” encapsulates Horizons’ core values. This summer, Horizons will serve 150 students coming from Dedham,
Diversity
Roslindale, Hyde Park, Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan. As always, the program has more applicants than it can accomodate. Openings for new students—particularly in the higher grades—are scarce due to the policy of giving siblings admission priority and because of the high retention rate. Meredith cites the increasing demand for Horizons as added confirmation that the program works. Horizons students consistently demonstrate improvement in reading and math skills. She also points to the diversity of staff and faculty working at Horizons, where 30 percent of the students are African American, 30 percent are Latino, and 30 percent are white. Thirtyfive percent of faculty members are African American, as are 25 percent of staff. These figures and the program’s success echo the findings of recent studies showing increased retention and improved skills in math and English among African American students who have studied with an African American teacher between third and fifth grades.1 Beyond the advantages of having diversity in both Horizons students and staff, Meredith believes the DCD community benefits from having this perspective on campus and in
REQUIRED READING Here some of the books DCD students are reading as part of the K-2 curriculum:
DCD families. Current and former DCD parents, many of whom are on the Horizons Board, have been tremendously generous supporters of the program, donating funds and time. DCD teachers have taught at Horizons, and DCD students and alumni have worked and volunteered at the program. Horizons even has a student who now attends DCD, bringing this wonderful relationship full circle. Meredith continues to work to find ways to meet increased demand and is currently researching opportunities to open new programs at other independent schools in the area, some extending to serve high-school-age students. Meanwhile, she strives to make improvements to the current program at DCD. She says the DCD program rates well among the more than 50 Horizons programs nationally, and though very happy with that, she’s dedicated to seeing the program continue to improve and grow.
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