What People Are Saying About Stand & Deliver: Communication Tools for Tomorrow’s Leaders
". . . I know from experience that the Caucus Educational Corporation's
television programming and Stand & Deliver’s educational outreach
initiatives benefiting Newark youth are unprecedented."
- Newark Mayor Cory Booker
"This year was special because we have lost so many young people.
The group put so much effort into the project. They got very personal;
remembering their friend that was murdered last year gave them something
to draw from. They realized that life goes on, and, even in death, we
all still went on."
- Lynnette Noel, Stand & Deliver Workshop Leader, Communities
in Schools, Central High School
"Stand & Deliver provides the tools and leadership skills necessary
for Newark-area youth to make a difference in their community and confidently
meet the challenges they face.
- Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., Essex County Executive
"Great leaders are great communicators. This is of paramount importance
especially for inner-city youth because often times circumstances might
be stacked up against them. In order for them to be successful, they must
be able to stand and deliver…that’s what the Stand & Deliver
program is all about."
- Dr. Randal Pinkett, Founder, President and CEO, BCT Partners,
a Newark-based company, and 2005 Winner of "The Apprentice"
on NBC
"Thanks again to you and your staff for investing in the children
at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newark. The experience was tremendous,
and one that the children will undoubtedly appreciate even more as they
get older and realize the value of public speaking."
- Cynthia Banks, Director of Operations, Boys & Girls Clubs
of Newark
"The symposiums exposed the kids to what is going on in the world
and helped them realize the causes of violence. It got them talking to
people and it made them ask themselves "Am I going to be the leader?"
They had to step outside of themselves and come up with creative solutions."
- Jessicia Wellington, Workshop Leader, Malcolm X. Shabazz High
School
"The peacemaking initiative forced everyone to look at themselves.
It’s hard to take responsibility for your actions, and its hard
to not only say "I’m going to change" but to make it
happen, that’s up to YOU, and they definitely learned that."
- Isaiah Grauer, Workshop Leader, West Side 9th Grade Success
Academy
"The kids really pulled together to build their team. They really
brainstormed and worked together. They had different ideas but a common
goal. They agonized and argued over the ideas, but they finally came together
and got it done. That is what teamwork is all about. That’s life."
- Felicia Bateman, Site Coordinator, Malcolm X. Shabazz High School
"At Science High School, the students enjoyed the intimate and
relaxed atmosphere of the classes, where they were able to share their
views with their classmates and their workshop leader. They were not pressured
to perform, so they willingly and openly participated. Give a kid a stage,
even the tiniest of one, and he’s ready in costume for the curtain
to rise!"
- Donna Pellerito, Site Coordinator, Science High School
"Stand & Deliver provides our students an opportunity to speak
amongst their peers on various topics that are pertinent in their individual
lives. The forum of public speaking avails our students to non-threatening
critiques, which instills confidence that they will forever use. Stand
& Deliver gears our high school interns and college mentors the necessary
tools in the fast paced job market. The program is excellent and I strongly
feel it is a very important tool in our student’s lives."
- Cynthia Rojas, Program Director, North Ward Center Newark Youth
Leadership Project
"The kids came up with great ideas how to stop violence . . . a
lot was discovered about what is going on in their homes, this project
served to be a breakthrough."
- Genese Martin, Workshop Leader, TEAM Academy & Elizabeth
Boys & Girls Clubs
"They rightly say that Newark is a renaissance city. That renaissance
begins with the young people who will be the citizens and community leaders
of tomorrow. Stand & Deliver is a vital part in making that renaissance
happen."
- Marion Bolden, Newark Public Schools Superintendent
"It is imperative that young people learn to express themselves
clearly. The ability to communicate effectively continues to be a prerequisite
for all who seek to be successful in their professional and personal lives.
Stand & Deliver guides youth in obtaining these skills."
- Peter Ventimiglia, Vice President- External Affairs, Verizon
Communications
"The potential impact of Stand & Deliver is far reaching. Children
who have improved their speaking skills reflect an increase in self-confidence
and a higher level of control over their environment…The Stand &
Deliver program is designed to encourage and develop those skills in students."
- Patricia Kuchon, Ph.D., Director of Corporate & Public Communication
at Seton Hall University
"As a black and Latino man raised in the Bronx, I know first-hand
how people perceive those of us of color from the city. I also know how
important it is for minority youth to have the ability to communicate
effectively. Stand & Deliver is helping young people to gain those
skills and to ultimately succeed in life."
- Wilfredo Caraballo, NJ State Assemblyman and Seton Hall Law
Professor
"We would be pleased to participate with other selected schools
in your new initiative, Stand & Deliver, which promises real world
training in presentation skills for our student. Our students can benefit
from as much exposure as we can give them, in real experiences with real
consequences, to help them grasp the importance of working on the assorted
skills needed for effective personal presentations."
- Rev. Edwin Leahy, O.S.B., St. Benedict’s Preparatory School
"The Stand & Deliver program is truly what community building
is all about: the investment we as a community put into the leadership
of tomorrow…Herein lies the future of Newark, New Jersey, and the
nation."
- Maria Vizcarrondo, Director, Department of Child and Family
Well Being, Dept. of Health and Human Services, Newark, NJ
"Steve: I was blown away by what you have accomplished with these
kids. This should be a model program expanded to every city in NJ."
- Annette Catino, CEO, QualCare, Inc. and CEC Board Member
"Steve Adubato has struck a chord with Stand and Deliver. This
program reaches out to at-risk youngsters and gives them the skills and
confidence they need to reach their potential and realize their dreams.
The leadership that is being developed here will give us the bench strength
we need to help our cities and state do the same."
- Reggie Davis, GBG Northern Banking Group Head, Wachovia
"Stand & Deliver is an exceptional program that introduces
the importance of effective communication. Participants gain confidence
and learn how to articulate thoughts in a clear and succinct manner. Stand
& Deliver empowers students with many valuable skills essential for
success in the classroom as well as in the workplace."
- Michael C. Ford, MBNA, Senior Executive Vice President
"Stand & Deliver creates a camaraderie that downplays competition
while encouraging individual achievement. We've seen our shyest as well
as our most gregarious students grow with and through the experience.
We sincerely hope you will have the resources to continue this great work
next year in all the participating schools."
- Sister June Favata, Administrative Director, Saint Vincent Academy
What Youth Leaders Are Saying About Stand & Deliver: Communication Tools for Tomorrow’s Leaders
I use the techniques learned from the Stand & Deliver program when I go anywhere. I now have the tools I need to be an effective communicator.
Stand & Deliver has taught me how to listen. I plan to use what I have learned from the program in the future. It was a great experience.
I have applied what I have learned from Stand & Deliver in my other classes as well as in encounters with community leaders such as Cory Booker and Modia Butler.
I will use the tools I learned from the program to get a job, because you only have one chance to make a good impression.
Stand & Deliver has taught me to be more open-minded to others and their opinion on life and themselves.
I learned a lot from the Stand & Deliver program. Now I am more confident of myself and have improved my grades at school. For example, when I had to do a presentation for my English class, I applied the techniques I learned and it helped me to perform magnificently.
Because of the Stand & Deliver program, I can better prepare myself for job interviews and social occasions. I’m better equipped to handle confrontation than before and have more self confidence.
I use the skills I learned from Stand & Deliver every day. The tools I have learned not only better me as a person, but give me an advantage when interviews for activities and events.
I wish other students can experience the Stand & Deliver program!
The Stand & Deliver program has helped me to grow as a person.
Stand & Deliver has helped me when presenting in class and in job interviews. I had to conduct a senior class meeting, and my verbal skills from Stand & Deliver really helped.
One of the most important skills I learned from Stand & Deliver is how to pace myself and enunciate more. I am a fast speaker, and tend to garble my words and as a result am difficult to understand. With Stand & Deliver, I’ve improved on that and now when I speak publicly; my speech is slower, making it easier to understand.
I have used the techniques I have gained from Stand & Deliver in my everyday situations. I am confident I can succeed and accomplish my goals. I am now able to express myself in front of any amount of people.
At school, I am now able to speak my mind and feel I can be more open with people. That is something I truly need to continue to change, and with Stand & Deliver, that is coming true. Thank you!
Stand & Deliver is helping me overcome my nervousness of speaking in front of a crowd. With this help, I might be able to finally join my school’s speech team.
The tools I have received from Stand & Deliver showed me how to talk in any environment. It helped me in debate to use my voice along with evidence to persuade people.
I thank you for Stand & Deliver and for helping me to become a future leader of tomorrow.
With Stand & Deliver I gained a lot of confidence. I am a shy person and was scared to talk to a group of people. However, I have now learned to focus on a person in the audience and started to feel comfortable. Thank you Stand & Deliver and Ms. Noelle for making me feel confident.
