Sunrise of Philadelphia

“In the words of Dr. Morgyn Yates, ‘We hope to teach the children that they should be advocates for themselves, never let their past dictate their future, and understand that whatever happened before in their lives should hold no bearing on their future.’ The BTG CHIP experience at Sunrise of Philadelphia allowed both of us to work closely with children ranging from second and third grade to middle school. Sunrise provided a platform for us to collaborate with staff from the Science Leadership Academy Middle School to create lesson plans focused on teaching essential life skills. In supporting these children, we recognized that while academic success is important, equipping students with life skills and the ability to adapt to change or new environments is equally vital. These lessons included topics such as hygiene (e.g., handwashing and toothbrushing), online safety, financial literacy, mental health, artistic expression, and professionalism. Sunrise of Philadelphia challenged us to think creatively about how we delivered these lessons. We created a fun and safe environment that encouraged students to build meaningful relationships and to feel invested in their own growth. Although the communities these children are born into may lack access to many resources, Sunrise serves as a radical advocate, working to help families see opportunity and growth. As we look to our future careers in healthcare, we aim to carry these same values forward by treating every individual with dignity and offering them the same clean slate that Sunrise extends to each student. This is because ‘whatever happened before in their lives should hold no bearing on their future.’”

Stephanie-Louise Agyemang & Catherine Turner