Word: finn
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...These women are actively reaching out for help," says Theresa A. Finn '89, who heads the South Boston Outreach Tutoring Program for women aiming to earn a high school Graduate Equivalency Degree (GED). "And when there's individualized attention, we can really help them out with their problems...
...know what's necessary for the GED, but we also build a strong relationship with the students," says Finn. "That's something these women probably haven't ever had before, including in their past GED classes...
...Finn should be in a position to know. A South Boston native, or "Southie" as she puts it, Finn says, "Throughout my four years at school I've seen the Harvard community not truly understand South Boston. It's a very tight-knit community--people pull for each other--and that can have advantages and disadvantages. Either way, I just wish more Harvard people could see what it's really like...
...area that has suffered from stereotypes of tough neighborhoods and inner city problems, South Boston does face real difficulties. In the Outreach program, "the women are mostly single parents from their 20s to 40s, usually with kids, and from disadvantaged backgrounds," says Finn. "Like in a lot of urban areas, they're trapped in a cycle of poverty. Sometimes they've had alcohol or drug problems themselves or in their family; some have dropped out of Boston schools, which often fail to meet their needs...Life just hasn't dealt them a good situation...
Some focus heroically on the bright side. "It's exciting," says Monroe Scharff, a Bush neighbor. "How often do you find a beautiful place that is ; also the summer residence of the President of the United States?" And selectman Joe Finn trumpets, "We've been in the London Times and the Hong Kong Daily News...