Photo Courtesy of Connecticut College Enrich
Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, the faces of the students at Bennie Dover Jackson Multi-Magnet Middle School (BDJ) light up as they engage in exciting programming with Connecticut College student mentors. The Enrich Mentorship Program gives middle school students the chance to decompress and have fun at the end of the school day, and Conn students the opportunity to form meaningful relationships with those students by leading and participating in various activities. According to an article from the Conn website’s news archives, Enrich began in New London in 2013 after the school district was selected “to receive funding from the Ford Foundation and the National Center on Time & Learning to pilot extended school day programs.” The program has thrived for the past nine years as it formed an important and mutually beneficial partnership between Conn and BDJ.
May Kotsen ‘23 has participated in Enrich since her first year at Conn. She became a Team Leader as a sophomore and is now the Enrich Student Coordinator for her second year in a row. Kotsen shared, “I initially applied to Enrich because I was interested in getting to know the broader New London community and had previously done mentorship programs. The summer before I started Enrich, I worked with New London youth at a summer camp at the New London County Historical Society and I was interested in staying involved with the students I had met.” She is passionate about serving as a support system for younger students and building community. Jenn Bloom ‘24 is an Enrich mentor for the first time this year: “I applied for Enrich as my community placement for my PICA Junior Community Learning Seminar this semester. It felt the most fitting and relevant to the work I’m passionate about, as my PICA area of interest is the impact of youth services and organizations on children’s well-being.” In Bloom’s case, Enrich provides her with practical experience for her academic center while also sparking her interest in community programs for youth.
On Tuesday afternoons, Conn student mentors lead activities at the middle school, and on Thursdays, they bring the students to Conn’s campus or on a trip in the surrounding area. “Every week, we participate in different activities (campus-wide scavenger hunt, apple picking, ice skating) with students from Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School. These fun environments allow the mentors and mentees to make really natural and easy-going connections with each other,” Bloom explained. Sophia Hosford ‘26 chose to work as an Enrich mentor for the community learning requirement in her Education and Human Development classes. “I enjoy the different kinds of activities we plan and participate in and learning about the student’s interests. There are a few students in particular who I look forward to seeing every week. It’s also refreshing to see how excited they are by the activities the mentors plan,” Hosford expressed. Mentor Sarah Goodman Duffy ‘26 shared, “Especially as a freshman, [Enrich is] a super cool way to get to know the New London community.”
The middle school years are very formative – and sometimes tumultuous –for young adolescents, and programs like Enrich provide a necessary support system and expressive outlet for them. Kotsen explained, “A lot of the students we mentor at Enrich are in the New Arrivals program, so many of them are just learning English. It is exhausting for them to have to navigate in a primarily English school and so having the space to allow them to relax and chat with their friends in the language they are comfortable with allows them to put their guard down even though we are still in a school setting.” Similarly, Bloom described the importance of Enrich: “I believe that having time and space to exert energy, try new things, and decompress is important for children’s well-being. I hope Enrich can serve as a positive outlet for the mentees and excite them amidst the business of the school week.”
According to Kotsen, the Enrich Mentorship Program “fosters a reciprocal relationship between Conn and the city of New London.” Through the Holleran Center for Community Action, Conn has many partnerships with local schools, organizations, and businesses; BDJ Middle School is just one of these connections. All Conn students are able to take advantage of these partnerships and work/volunteer in the New London community if they wish. Bloom said, “I really appreciate how [Enrich is] a community-based program and lets the Conn campus meaningfully engage with local students – it’s a fulfilling and rewarding experience to be a part of.”
Having mentors who go to college in their home city is especially inspirational for the middle schoolers. “I think that Enrich is really powerful because it allows younger students to envision and dream of what they could become and learn about opportunities that exist on a collegiate level,” expressed Kotsen. Kotsen spent nearly her whole college experience working with Enrich and gaining different leadership positions because she wanted more of a say in the way the program was run. She reflected, “Over the last few years with Enrich, I have seen incredible growth in a lot of the mentees. Mentees who barely spoke any English last year are now taking leadership roles in activities and excitedly translating for their friends. Seeing how much more confidence they have is extremely worthwhile.”
Enrich is currently accepting applications for Conn students who would like to mentor in the Spring 2023 semester! To take advantage of this opportunity, find the application form link in the bio of @enrichconncoll on Instagram or reach out to May Kotsen (ekotsen@conncoll.edu) for more information.
