Good talk

Good talk

When Jack* arrived at Cunningham six years ago, he struggled with trust and building relationships with others. Many of our youth often find it difficult to develop connections due to past trauma, but over time through therapy and education, our kids begin to heal, learn and grow. And Ms. Jess, a longtime high school teacher in our Gerber education program, develops lesson plans in her social skills class that further this growth.

"Because our juniors and seniors are preparing to transition from high school, it is very important for them to practice conversational skills and gain confidence so they can be successful adults in their jobs and relationships," Ms. Jess said. "While having a conversation may come easy for us, that’s not always the case with our kids."

Students spent a few weeks talking about building healthy relationships and the importance of active listening and learning about others. Students were then given eight minutes with each of their classmates to practice conversation skills and turn taking. At the end of each eight minutes, the students had to write down one thing they learned about their peers. It was a fun exercise that proved to be beneficial, especially for Jack. 

"I am just so proud of Jack," Ms. Jess said. "He has come a long way. With hard work and the help of our social skills classes, Jack has gained confidence. He recently completed a job application and interview through the Gerber Vocational Program and is now working at the Urbana Free Library. He will graduate this school year with essential skills and is planning to work at a pet store and volunteer at the Humane Society." 

Thank you for being a part of our wonderful community. Please know your support is recognized and much appreciated by those we serve!

*Our story is real, but name has been changed to protect the privacy of our youth.