March 2026 Recap
Program Updates
After School Club
"March marked a special month for After School Club because key partnerships helped bring the programming to life. Dakota and Madeline from ARYSE’s Post-Secondary Support program joined us to launch our programming block on career exploration. Through these sessions, students were able to spend time with mentors exploring different careers and the traits and skills associated with them. Utilizing that information, students found connections with other professions that offer similar experiences and explored the different pathways available to pursue those careers.
After School Club also hosted the wonderful team from Justice at Work to learn about their work and continue the know your rights discussions we have been having this semester. As we look toward April, we will be spending some more time learning about post-secondary pathways and begin focusing on closure as the end of the school year draws near."
-Mike Sirera (he/him), Program Manager
Girls Art and Maker Group
"We had a session of warmth and good fun, what a perfect way to welcome the (semi) warmer weather! For March, we focused on interpersonal relationships and setting boundaries. Students shared some of the ways they already set boundaries and some of the questions they have about how to navigate difficult social situations. The second half of our day we started the design for our Girls Group mosaic and started quilting for our communal quilt. Students were excited to design and co-create! We’re excited for our next session in April and to wrap up our year with energy. Thank you to our volunteers, ARYSE staff and students :)"
-Erica Hughes (she/they), Program Manager
Youth Steering Committee
"March led the way for many opportunities to put leadership skills into practice! This month, YSC members participated in a joint programming day with City High students in the LEAP program through CMU! Together, we discussed and reimagined how schools can better foster inclusion and be sites to practice freedom. For that meeting, YSC members worked very hard to develop and deliver a presentation on ARYSE and the YSC. It was an awesome day!
In celebration of Ramadan, a few members of the YSC also formed a planning committee to host ARYSE’s first Iftar dinner to be hosted for and by students! Students across school year programs who celebrate Ramadan were invited to come together for a night of community, reflection, fun activities, and to break fast!"
-Meg Booth (she/her), Youth Education and Advocacy Specialist
Post-Secondary Support
"Neither rain nor sleet, snow nor hail shall keep the Post-Secondary Support program from visiting campuses! We beat the drizzle at Carlow University and were in awe of the snow flurries falling around CCAC as we and the students continued to learn more about the opportunities and resources they can access along their post-secondary pathways in fields like social work, business, computer science, healthcare, and more. Thanks to Kali and the team at Carlow and Chalese and Kay and the team at CCAC for being so welcoming!
We’ll continue to connect students with colleges, universities, and trade schools for the rest of the spring, with the hope that every student knows more about the breadth of options available to them. Stay tuned for April’s update… the “Understanding Money” Financial Empowerment Series is just days away. 😏"
-Dakota Rottino-Garilli (she/her), Program Manager
PRYSE Academy
"March has been full of momentum and great reminders of the relationships that make PRYSE so special. We loved tabling at CLP Hazelwood where it created space to connect with both new and familiar faces in the community. Program planning also took big steps forward with confirmed locations on Pitt’s campus and a tour of the brand new Recreation and Wellness Center, an exciting space where our students will have access to play sports, build community, and unwind throughout the summer.
Behind the scenes, our team has been hard at work completing interviews for all PRYSE positions, including counselors, junior counselors, and co-directors. We’ve been so inspired by the passion and talent of our applicants. We are also in the process of finalizing our creative partners, who will lead a diverse range of engaging workshops. While it is bittersweet to officially sendoff Cody, our former PRYSE Academy Manager, as he pursues an exciting new opportunity, we are so grateful for all he has contributed to PRYSE. The incoming leadership team is energized and ready to build on that foundation - we can’t wait to continue putting together an amazing summer for our students!"
-Parag S. Gohel (he/him), Program Manager
