Happy Labor Day from The REAL Program!

#REAL VOLUNTEER INTERN Madeline with #REAL STUDENT Angely
Summer at The REAL Program featured interns from near and far from all over the world to work with children and families in Lynn.

#REAL Announcement

Join us on Friday, 8/28/15 at 9:15 am for the #REAL fancy ribbon cutting ceremony at Lynncommunityhealth​ center as we install a @real_lynn #LITTLEFREELIBRARY in the waiting room of the OB-GYN department. GET #FREE #books and #refreshments.

The REAL Program is proud to be part of the #community

What We Did This Summer At The REAL Program!

We had visits from authors and illustrators!
We gave out books at the Lynn Farmer's Market
We went on a bus to the Book Shop of Beverly Farms and St. John's Episcopal Church where we had a snack on the lawn and had a teddy bear picnic at the shop.
We bought our own brand new book!
We had music with Dara van Remoortel
We created art, more art, even more art with Svenja, Pat and Melody

We gave out books at Lynn Farmers Market in a tribute to Mason Silva.
Thank you to the family of Mason Silva for collecting all the books
for children.

We created a raised box garden and planted vegetables and flowers
We made water walls with Victoria Hackett
We played chess, checkers, mancala, HeadBandz
We went to Red Rock Park
We met friends from Govs Plus
We met friends from Spain, Germany and ALL OVER THE US!
We played Four Square!
We had English classes.
We read books!
We wrote stories.
We did our summer reading for school
We visited Salem State University! What a great library!
We took a train from Lynn to Salem and we went to the Peabody Essex Museum!

The REAL Program- Mission to improve Literacy

After three and a half weeks of The REAL Program this summer we have had the good fortune of working with highly dedicated and enthusiastic people of all ages. Here is how it has worked for us this year:  The children that attend The REAL Program now identify themselves as students. The teens who have volunteered now identify themselves as interns. The "more experienced" teachers refer to themselves as mentors. We have built new vocabularies, new communities and relationships and we have learned about people from all over the world and all over the country. All of this has been working on projects that have an underlying theme of literacy.

The high school aged interns have come to us from our own communities of Lynn, Beverly and Swampscott. Other high school students have come from a Rotary Exchange from Germany; a personal family exchange from Spain, New York state and from a Youth Works that brought us mentors and interns from Pennsylvania, Iowa, Ohio, Louisiana and Connecticut. College aged mentors come from Ohio University, North Shore Community College and Bridgewater State University.

The REAL Program recently honored Mason Silva on a REAL book Give away at the Lynn Farmer's Market. Mason 's family was there to receive flowers and gratitude for helping other children have access to beautiful new children's books.
We gave out nearly 2000 children's books in two hours. 

First 3 Weeks of Summer at The REAL Program 2015

Making their own "Pajamas of My Dreams" projects with help from teen interns. Author/illustrator visit by Laurie Collins and Margie Florini provided a wonderful presentation and inspiration. 

Youth Works Willie and REAL Eduardo resting up for the next activity at The REAL Program

REAL students engineering a water wall with recyclables inspired by Victoria Hackett

Youth Works John and REAL student, Nilton, share in a story.

REAL moms help plant flowers 

Emily, William, Jonathan, Stephanie, Zekai share a book

Angelli reading to Madison

Piper at Farmer's Market, Lynn

Youth Works volunteer, Emily, shares a story

The REAL Program at Farmer's Market giving out BOOKS

Tribute to Mason SIlva Book Give Away with The REAL Program in Lynn

Recently, the family of Mason Silva delivered the most incredible gift of beautiful new children's books to The REAL Program as a tribute to their little boy whose life was cut short by childhood cancer. Mason's family orchestrated a collection of children's books to share Mason's love for having someone read to him.
This Thursday, 7/23, please join us at the Lynn Farmer's Market in Central Square at 11:00 for the Tribute to Mason's Free Book Give Away. The REAL Program is honored to help this family give away nearly 2,000 children's books. The REAL Program and Lynn READS are giving away books at the Farmer's Market every Thursday and at St. Stephen's Food Pantry every Friday.
The Lynn Farmer's Market and The Food Project is open from 11:00-3:00.

Please join us!

Stars and Stripes Forever!

The REAL Program wishes you 

and your loved ones a wonderful 

Fourth of July Weekend!