In addition to teaching full time at the Damon City Campus, I assisted a group called SYTYS ( Say Yes To YourSelf) which is a grasroots youth and anti violence program in the northeast part of Rochester by Portland Avenue. Its director is Anita Jones. I met Anita when she was a student at the Damon City Campus. I wrote, directed and produced a 9 minute promotional video about her program. Featured in the video were Daryl Porter (then president of the Rochester School Board) and Joseph Sturnick (then with Rochester Police Department) as well as parents and students. Some of SYTYS's programs include an After School Academy, a community talent show and Parent Safety Patrol Teams. This video on a DVD was sent to a variety of funding sources including Oprah Winfrey and Magic Johnson. This has helped SYTYS to receive additional funding.
Michael Nolan
Transitional Studies
04/06/2006 |