Author: Kira LaFosse-Baker

Managing change on site

Kira LaFosse-Baker Features , , , , , , , ,

BOSTON — “It didn’t take long before he wanted to come home with me,” said Kelly Furtado, site manager for Jumpstart at Suffolk University, who met four-year-old Kevin in Rochester, N.Y. “He would cling to my legs and I would try to explain, ‘I live in a dorm, I don’t have any toys.’ He said he didn’t care. He told me he would sleep in my bathtub.” It was then that Furtado realized the rest of her life would be spent helping children, and trying to make a change.

Furtado, now 27, was majoring in English at the University of Rochester in N.Y. when she began working as a corps member for Jumpstart, a national early childhood education organization for at-risk preschool students. Here, she began working with Kevin, who had been taken away from his abusive mother. “He needed someone that he could trust,” said Furtado. “It took awhile but eventually I became that someone for Kevin.” Continue reading →

The discovery of The Road

Kira LaFosse-Baker Entertainment, Reviews , , , , ,

BOSTON — Somewhere in a log cabin in the southwestern part of this country, a strange old man sat down and dreamed up a tale to tell. He wasn’t quite looking for inspiration but rather letting the inspiration find him and through this odd process of subconscious unearthing, Cormac McCarthy discovered The Road. It’s a simple story; in an ambiguously decrepit world a man and a boy go on a journey to find a safe haven. Their resources are scarce, their vigor is fading and of the few people they encounter, the only ones they can trust are each other. Continue reading →

Suffolk students get ready for November 4

Kira LaFosse-Baker Politics , , , , , , ,

BOSTON — As the calendar inches closer to Nov. 4, American citizens are preparing themselves for a historical presidential election. With such diversity amongst the candidates and their running mates, college students are getting more involved than ever. In Boston, Mass., students at Suffolk University are finding new and unique ways to participate in this year’s campaigns and elections.

Suffolk University’s government department offers students several opportunities to become involved with the presidential election. One opportunity in particular is the University Pollworkers Project (UPP) directed by Rachael Cobb, professor of government. The UPP has teamed up with MassVote and Boston area schools to recruit students to serve as poll workers for the upcoming election. Continue reading →

Students, Bruins, fans raise money for kids

Kira LaFosse-Baker Community , , , , , ,

BOSTON­ — While many Boston-area college students likely spent Nov. 1 supporting the Boston Bruins as they faced the Dallas Stars at TD Banknorth Garden, one group decided to support a different kind of cause. Throughout that night’s game, 20 student volunteers raised money and awareness for Jumpstart, a national early childhood education organization that helps at-risk preschool students gain language, literacy and social skills to succeed in future schooling.

“The Boston Bruins Foundation has been a supporter of Jumpstart and Jumpstart’s Read for the Record for the past three years,” said Mark Green, director of development for Jumpstart’s northeast region. “We are in constant contact with them about ways that we can partner to support their work as well as our work. Because of their recent participation in Read for the Record on Oct. 2, 2008, they wanted to do something with us.” Continue reading →