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Pathways thrives off your support!

Our program depends on our community of supporters. There are many ways you can donate, and anything you can do would be greatly appreciated!

Visit our website www.pathways-senderos.com to donate with a credit card or paypal. 

Donate through Venmo! Our username is PathwaysNB.

You can send check/cash/money order to The Pathways/Senderos Center, 43 Viets St., New Britain, CT 06053.

Thank you so much!

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Help Pathways by Shopping Amazon Smile!

For almost 25 years, the Greater New Britain Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Inc. has provided comprehensive, long-term services for New Britain's boys and girls. 

One of our recent graduates is currently enrolled at Southern Connecticut State University. The daughter of working class immigrants, Natsalla became one of our most reliable, hard-working, dedicated students throughout the seven years she came to the Center. She received numerous awards for her academics as well as her leadership. She is enjoying her first semester at Southern and doing well in her classes. 

Natsalla is one of our many graduates who have attended college; in fact, 80% of our graduates go on to some form of higher education. With the help of our incredible supporters and AmazonSmile, which provides an easy, quick platform to donate to our program, we are able to present all of our graduates with book stipends each semester they attend higher education. These stipends help students pay for books and other vital school supplies. Most of our graduates, although working while attending school, would not be able to afford many of these supplies without assistance.

This holiday season, when you shop for your loved ones online, be sure to go to smile.amazon.com/ch/06-1401224 to support Greater New Britain Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Inc. and help spread joy during the #SeasonOfSmiles !

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Support a worthy cause! Donate today!

At the Pathways/Senderos Center, our diversity is our strength. Our students represent different ethnicities, religions, genders, and orientations. However, they all have one thing in common: resilience. Most of our students are poverty-stricken and the majority live in single-parent households, but you would never know the struggles they face if you saw them at the Center. They are enthusiastic, welcoming, hard-working, and kind.

We're approaching our 25th anniversary next year, and our 8 high school seniors compose the biggest graduating class we've ever had. The majority of them started with us in our old building on Arch Street when they were in 6th or 7th grade. They have evolved along with the program. All of these young men and women have faced severe hardships in their lives. Two were homeless for a time and still face housing issues. Many were born to teen parents or have siblings who are teen parents, and they will be the first in their families to graduate high school. Despite these difficulties, they're dedicated to Pathways and to improving themselves, they're involved in sports and after school activities like Choir or the New Britain High School Madrigals, and several already have part-time jobs. They all have plans to go to college or get post-secondary certifications. We are extremely proud of each and every one. 

These students likely would have never reached this point without the long-term, comprehensive services we provide. Our goal is to continue providing for New Britain youth well into the future, as we have provided for these seniors and so many others. Unfortunately, our agency has already suffered severe budget cuts, and the state budget crisis means we will likely face more. Our core program was defunded by the state, meaning that we have had to cut back on services and we may have to cut back the number of students we serve. For many of our students, we are the only support system they have, and losing our program would have a severe, negative effect on their lives.

Now more than ever, we need your support. Your contributions truly make a difference. Together, we can continue to improve the lives of our participants and their families. Please consider a donation to the Pathways/Senderos today!

Visit our website www.pathways-senderos.com and click “Donate” for a simple way to help!

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The Pathways Family Spirit Shines

This past Friday, we hosted our annual Pathways Holiday Party. We spent the evening eating, singing, dancing, opening presents, and enjoying the company of all of our students and their families! This has been our favorite tradition for many years and we continue to be amazed at the outpouring of love and support from our families, friends, volunteers, and board members!

Parents brought incredible home-made dinners and desserts, and we also received some delicious food from Pagliacci’s Restaurant and Great Taste Restaurant. There was enough for everyone and then some! After we ate, we were treated to performances from some of our students: Erasmus played Christmas songs on his violin, Kassyana sang a carol while Trinity played the keyboard, and Anais sang a solo.

Then came everyone’s favorite special guest: Santa! This year he brought Mrs. Claus and their elves. They passed out gifts to younger siblings, then to all of our students. Watching our students’ faces light up as they get their presents never gets old!

Once everyone got their gifts, we said goodbye to Santa, and like any good family party, everyone helped clean up. We appreciate the efforts of our families; from bringing food for all to enjoy, to assisting with serving food and cleaning up, we couldn’t do it without them.

Our board is also vital to the success of the party. They ensure that all students have a full box of gifts, and many board members help out during the party as well (special thanks to our secret St. Nick!). We are incredibly appreciative to have such a supportive board.

We also appreciate the support of all our volunteers! Alexandra Ingleton has been volunteering with us for a while and helped prepare for the party over the past several weeks. Along with her mother Flo and her sister and former Pathways academic tutor, Ashley Ingleton, she helped decorate, serve food, and clean up as well. Sandra Soto and her son, Pathways graduate Tony Carrero, also provided essential assistance. Tony has helped us in the kitchen for several parties now, and Sandra has helped out a great deal since her son started our program many years ago.

The Pathways staff, in particular Eyda Calderon-Mantovani, took almost three months to prepare this celebration. Eyda puts in a lot of time and effort to make sure that all families are contacted and everything is prepared. The party would not go as smoothly (or be as festive!) without her motivation and dedication.

Once again, we thank St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church for their hospitality! We couldn’t think of a better setting for our favorite night of the year!

Our goal is to create a parallel family atmosphere at the Pathways/Senderos Center because children are more apt to learn and make good choices when they are in a comfortable environment and know that they are part of a caring community. This party helps to create that feeling of belonging and support that a family provides. Thank you to all of the individuals who dedicated their time and efforts during this busy season to ensure that it was a success!

Happy Holidays! 

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Only 15 days til the Pathways Holiday Party!

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Support Cost Saving Prevention!

Connecticut is facing serious budget issues, and once again, important social service programs like Pathways/Senderos are in jeopardy. The majority of our funding comes from the state; cutting our funding will have an immediate negative impact on 60 children and their families in New Britain, as well as the entire community.

We talk a lot about the importance of comprehensive, results-based teen pregnancy prevention, but it's important to keep in mind that it's not just an abstract concept. Real people's lives are affected by prevention programs. As a comprehensive, holistic, long-term program, Pathways/Senderos creates a bond with our participants that continues well past high school graduation. This bond is a lifeline for many of the poverty-stricken boys and girls that we serve. From providing vital academic assistance and school supplies, to providing career awareness sessions and opportunities to earn money, to simply providing a safe space for children to learn and grow, Pathways/Senderos helps students find a path to success. 

The success of our students has a positive effect on the entire community. Less teen births means less cost to Connecticut taxpayers, and when our participants eventually graduate and start their careers, that means more tax revenue for the state as well. The goal of our program is to ensure adult self-sufficiency so that our participants do not have to rely on government aid, saving the state even more money. Our program is a good investment on many levels. 

Investing in prevention saves money in the short and long term. Please show your support for Greater New Britain Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Inc.'s Pathways/Senderos Center by contacting your legislators and expressing the need to continue funding for our program!

Contact Your Legislator!

Please contact your legislator and express your support for Greater New Britain Teen Pregnancy Prevention! Click this link and find the contact information for your legislators! We truly appreciate your support and advocacy of our program! Sincerely, The Pathways/Senderos Family

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Addressing the rise in teen pregnancy in New Britain

Recently, the New Britain Herald wrote an article about the rise in teen pregnancies in New Britain from 2006 to 2013. We are saddened to see this increase; however, we are not completely surprised. Although there are several programs in New Britain doing great work to address this important issue, it is not enough.

At Pathways, we believe it is important for all of our participants to have medically accurate, common sense information about sex and their bodies so that they can make safe, informed choices. Although we promote abstinence as the safest choice, we understand the realities of the world and the fact is, abstinence-only education is not sufficient. Our successfully evaluated methodology has proven that teens will avoid risky behaviors when given the information, resources, and encouragement to do so. In our 23 year history, only three participants have gotten pregnant while in the program, and the last pregnancy occurred in 2006.

It is important to realize that sex education is not the only solution. The four main causes of teen pregnancy are: poverty, poor education, domestic abuse, and an inter-generational cycle of teen pregnancy.Poverty, in particular, is a pervasive issue that affects all aspects of a child's life. It takes a community wide effort and a comprehensive, long-term approach to deal with these issues. Unfortunately, we too often look to solve problems after they have occurred; it is our goal at Pathways to prevent problems before they occur. The old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and the motto at the Pathways/Senderos Center is Diplomas Before Diapers. It is vital to provide children with comprehensive education that allows them to make their own informed decisions; it is also vital to provide children with opportunities to engage in safe, positive activities within their communities as well as careers as they get older. 

Despite the rise in New Britain, it is important to remember that as a nation, we are currently at a historic low when it comes to teen pregnancy. There has been a 61% drop in teen pregnancy since the peak in 1991. In Connecticut, we have seen a 68% drop since that time. New Britain has consistently had a teen pregnancy rate twice as high as the state average. We face unique challenges as a city, but they are not insurmountable. 

Hope is a powerful motivating force; children need to maintain hope for a better life in order to avoid risky behaviors. It is a community's role to provide that hope for its youth. We are all in this together!

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This is a great video on the importance of comprehensive sex education and the dangers of abstinence-only sex education, especially when that abstinence-only education is not required to be scientifically accurate. Children and young adults deserve accurate information about their own bodies.

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This is our biggest event of the year! We hope to see you there!

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The Pathways Backpack Project begins!

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ICYMI: Internet hero of the week. (via the Huffington Post)

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Support Teen Pregnancy Prevention in Connecticut!

Now more than ever Pathways/Senderos needs your help. Funding for teen pregnancy prevention program is in serious jeopardy; in fact, it was completely removed from the Governor's proposed state budget. After hearing from the community, including our supporters, the Appropriations Committee decided to reinstate funding for teen pregnancy prevention programs.

We still need your support!

The decision by the Appropriations Committee was an important milestone in the legislative process, but we still need your help to ensure that the final budget adopted by the legislature includes funding for teen pregnancy prevention programs. Please continue to support this important issue by contacting your State Senator and State Representative (to find your local legislators, visit www.cga.ct.gov ) to ask them to include funding for teen pregnancy prevention programs in the state budget for 2015-2016 and 2016-2017.It is also important to contact legislative leaders in the House and Senate (listed below) and ask for their support: Representative Brendan Sharkey (Speaker of the House): Brendan.Sharkey@cga.ct.gov, 1-800-842-1902 Representative Themis Klarides (House Minority Leader): Themis.Klarides@cga.ct.gov, 1-800-842-1423 Senator Martin Looney (President Pro Tempore of the Senate): Martin.Looney@cga.ct.gov, 1-800-842-1420 Senator Len Fasano (Minority Leader of the Senate): Len.Fasano@cga.ct.gov, 1-800-842-1421 Your help truly makes a difference! Please feel free to contact us if you need additional information or have any questions.

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Pathways: The Smart Fiscal Choice

An independent economic evaluation of our program concluded that by young adulthood, the combined short and long-term economic benefits (from high school graduation) outweigh program costs. This study, conducted by Yale University School of Medicine and UConn School of Medicine found that when estimated economic benefits are accrued through young adulthood, social benefits outweighed social costs by age 20 and reached almost $10,500 per adolescent per year by age 30. These results clearly demonstrate the value of considering the long-range cost effectiveness of programs when planning and funding teen pregnancy prevention strategies!

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Letter From a Pathways Graduate part 2

To whom it may concern,

My name is Kasandra Burgos and Greater New Britain Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Inc.’s Pathways/Senderos Center changed my life.

Coming from a Hispanic household with a single mom and four kids can take a toll. In middle school, classes became hard for me and my grades were falling. Then one day I entered the doors of Pathways/Senderos.

My best friends attended the program and always told me about it. I thought it sounded great, especially the part about helping academically, since I was failing my freshman year of high school. So I asked my friend to take me to the program and I met with the Director. I told her exactly what I would do every day after school: go home, turn on the TV, then watch the Disney Channel until it was time to go to bed. I explained that if I came to Pathways/Senderos, it would be motivation to do my homework every day.

It turns out, I was right. The program gave us time to do our homework and tutored us if we needed any help. I can't stress enough how much I needed help with math homework. From the day I joined Pathways, I never saw a low grade again. The program not only changed my performance at school, but it kept me out of trouble, too. Pathways gave me a place to go, a place to meet new people who had the same goals as I did. Having a supervised environment to hang out with your peers is very necessary. Once a week we would also have Family Life and Sex Ed class. This was much more informative than the basic Health class in school. I learned about how to be safe and that it is okay to say no. I learned about the different kinds of birth control and how not to be afraid to talk to someone about personal issues.

The most important thing for me was that I learned all of this from people who are like family, who don't judge you, and who want what is best for you. Pathways/Senderos was, and still is, a second home to me and most of my family members. Since I started the program I enrolled all my sisters and as many of my little cousins as I could. I wanted them to have the same opportunities that I had.

Programs like Pathways/Senderos are very important to me and many others like me. Because of Pathways, I am who I am. I graduated high school, took classes at a community college, and I currently work two jobs.  If I never walked through those doors I don't know where my life would be. I owe it all to the Pathways/Senderos Center and all the staff who dedicated their time to my future.

Please continue funding teen pregnancy prevention programs and help save Pathways/Senderos!

Sincerely,

Kasandra Burgos

Pathways Class of ‘10

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A Letter From a Pathways Graduate!

To whom it may concern,

I am writing this letter to express my experience with the program Pathways Senderos, the importance of Pathways, and what Pathways means to me.

I can remember moving to New Britain, CT from New York at seven years old. At the time, I did not understand why my mother made the executive decision to move us from our home in New York. We were comfortable and had friends there. Life in New Britain was difficult because we did not have much money, resources, or friends. I attended school like every child and I was encouraged by my mother to succeed. Unfortunately, we were a large family of four children, two grandparents, and only one working adult, my mother. My mother was a single parent and worked seventy hours a week to provide us shelter, clothing, and food. She did not have time to help me with my homework or school projects. She also did not have time to help me with my book reports, or educational needs. My siblings and I were left to fend for ourselves and attend to our school needs on our own. Everything was a struggle, school, and home, because we did not have someone there guiding us. It was then at the age of nine I learned about the Pathways Senderos program through a cousin of mine.

Pathways was attractive because they had computer labs, school materials, and other students. Pathways presented the opportunity to meet others, make friends, and be a part of different activities. I was completely blown away when Pathways and its staff members became something else, they became family, a family I needed and one I still keep close to my heart today.  

At the age of ten I began fifth grade, but I was also accepted into the Pathways program. I was shy at first, because I was not use to adults asking to help me with my homework. At home, I was told what to do, not asked. My siblings and I were expected to do things right and not talk about anything, this included our responsibilities and school. At the program, we were encouraged to talk to other students, and the staff members. I was nervous, because I was required to attend computer classes, health conversations, and different interactional activities. These things, and the concept of sharing my thoughts, opinions, and ideas was also new to me. The idea of asking for help with homework or asking for advice was different for me, yet everyone at Pathways was warm, welcoming and kind.

It did not take long to feel loved at the Pathways. I was asked about school, about my day, and about my future goals. I was asked about home, and family, and was given hugs by every staff member. This meant so much to me, because I lived in a town where I knew no one. This left a permanent mark on me, because I felt I mattered. I came from a family whose main priority was surviving. There were no day to day discussions at the dinner table, there were no hugs, or extracurricular activities. There was only responsibilities, and the things that needed to get done. As a child hugs, attention, and having a listening ear are important, and I felt pathways cared about me. As a changing and growing teenager life is confusing, strange, and difficult. When I needed someone, Pathways was there for me.

Not only did I receive love, I was taught so many different things. The staff members taught us about healthy habits, exercising and eating healthy. The staff members taught us how to open, maintain a bank account, and fill out checks. I learned how to work with computers and different computer programs. I learned about creative writing, and photography. I learned how to write my first resume with Pathways. I learned how to apply for jobs with the help of Pathways. I learned about school requirements, school credits, and I learned about college preparation.

Furthermore, a pathways staff member helped me apply to a summer residency program at Wesleyan University where I studied General Fine Arts for six weeks. If it wasn’t for that staff member, I would have never learned of the Center for Creative Youth program, and received what turned out to be one of my most memorable learning experiences of my life.

In addition, it was Pathways Senderos that encouraged me to apply to college. It was the staff members who helped me with my first college application. It was the staff members at pathways that helped me write my college essays. It was Pathways who was there for me the day I graduated high school.  

Pathways is important because they provide love, attention, time, and education to the students of New Britain. It is very difficult belonging to a family that struggles with survival, and most New Britain families do. Often in such situations things like hugs, school, and opportunities are sacrificed. Pathways is about education, and providing opportunities for their students to learn, grow, and experience a life that is otherwise denied to them.

Without Pathways and the staff members who worked every day to encourage and guide me, I would have not succeeded as I have today. I would have not had the courage to apply to the Greater Hartford Academy of Arts, I would have not had the strength and skills to attend a college several states away. It is because of the love and life skills Pathways instilled in me that I was able to do all the things that I have done.

Today, I have become an educated and hardworking women. I am the first in my family to have earned a higher education. I have an Associate’s Degree, a Bachelors Degree, and on May 14th 2015, I will have earned my Master’s Degree. I will have worked as a Spanish, Art, and English teacher, and both times I have walked the stage I held Pathways, Rosanne, Nick, and Heather close to my heart. It is because of them that I am who I am today. They were there for me and they cared about me. Pathways accepted me and encouraged me to fight and work past my life obstacles, to preserver and succeed regardless of where I came from.

Because they believed in me, I believed in myself.

Pathways is more than a center that has computers, school materials or fun things to do. Pathways is a family that is there for you when you need one. Whether it is personal, life, or education based, Pathways is there. Pathways is a beacon of hope, love and strength that youth of New Britain needs.

When the day comes that I receive my Master’s Degree and my Ph.D. I will thank them, because once again, they continue to be there for me and they continue to believe in me.

I look forward to the day I can give back to Pathways as much as they have given me.

Thank you.  

Karina Lopez

Pathways Class of ‘08 (Karina is seated on the right)

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Testimonial 4

Good evening members of the Appropriations Committee.  My name is Geoff Elterich and I am the Community Education Coordinator of Greater New Britain Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Inc., also known as the Pathways/Senderos Center. I am here to respectfully request that teen pregnancy prevention funding, through the Department of Social Services, be reinstated into the state’s biennial budget.  Without this funding, numerous individuals, families, and entire communities will face devastating consequences.

The Pathways/Senderos Center is a comprehensive, long-term program with deep roots in New Britain. For 22 years, it has provided young boys and girls a safe haven, a place to build a support system, improve their academic performance, prepare for successful careers, and avoid the risky behaviors to which their peers and family members so often succumb. New Britain has the second highest teen pregnancy rate in the state, as well as one of the highest drop-out rates. If programs such as Pathways/Senderos don’t get funded, there is no doubt these rates will increase, causing a powerful blow to New Britain families, as well as all Connecticut citizens.

Teen pregnancy is not just a teen problem; it is a vicious cycle that affects us all. Children born to teen parents are more likely to live in poverty, fail in school, suffer increased rates of family violence and abuse, be incarcerated, and become teen parents themselves. Teen pregnancy increases the need for special educational, social and health services—more expense to school, city and state budgets. Teen childbearing in CT cost taxpayers at least $116 million in 2010 and between 1991 and 2010, teen births cost CT taxpayers $3.7 billion.

There are ways to combat these statistics, however, and programs like Pathways/Senderos are scientifically proven to do just that. With strong support, education, career preparation, work opportunities, health education, and counseling, adolescents are more likely to delay parenthood. Our participants are often the first in their families to avoid teen pregnancy, and most are the first in their families to graduate high school. They are facing uphill battles just to maintain a low-income, working class lifestyle. In order to reach even a middle income, middle-class lifestyle, they need assistance in the form of programs like Pathways/Senderos.

The statewide Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative targets the neediest communities in the state. DSS funded TPPI programs like Pathways/Senderos have economic benefits, for the children served and their communities, including higher future earnings. Preventing early parenthood also reduces long term social costs associated with teen births, such as public assistance programs and the participation in child welfare, criminal justice, and public health systems.

The state’s continuous support of this funding has guaranteed that at risk teens avoid early pregnancy, graduate high school, enroll in post-secondary education, and are prepared to obtain successful careers. Without state funding, these children will be left alone to face the myriad issues prevalent in their communities. I hope that we can count on your support to have these funds reinstated into the budget.

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Testimonial 3

Good evening members of the Appropriations Committee.  My name is Sarah Harris and I am the Principal of Vance Village Elementary School in New Britain. I am also on the Board of Directors of Greater New Britain Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Inc., better known as the Pathways/Senderos Center. I am here to respectfully request that teen pregnancy prevention funding, through the Department of Social Services, be reinstated into the state’s biennial budget. The state’s continuous support of this funding has guaranteed that at risk teens avoid early pregnancy, graduate from high school, enroll in post-secondary education, and are career ready.

The Pathways/Senderos Center is annually evaluated, and evidence shows that the program successfully steers young boys and girls away from risk-taking behaviors and improves their overall chances of success. 100% of participants who stay with the program graduate high school, and 75% of all graduates go on to some form of higher education.

I can also say from personal and professional experience that this program has a powerful long-term, positive impact on all of its participants. Many of my former students at Vance Elementary have benefited greatly from the Pathways/Senderos Center. They join the program at the end of fifth grade and stay until high school graduation. Most students enter the program with academic deficiencies, so it is vital that they receive academic assistance, and education is the key component of the Center. Participants learn that getting a quality education is the best way to achieve their goals and move out of the cycle of poverty and teen pregnancy that engulfs them.

Evidence shows that Pathways/Senderos is an effective program model for teen pregnancy prevention. It utilizes science-based best practices and is independently evaluated on an annual basis. I can say with confidence that this program has made a powerful impact on all of the individuals and families it serves.

Not only does Pathways have a positive effect on youngsters’ education, future career options, and self esteem, it also has economic benefits for the entire community. Better academic performance and high school completion, two results of the Pathways/Senderos program, lead to higher future earnings for all participants. 77% of all Pathways graduates are currently working, paying taxes, and giving back to their communities, all while attending higher education.

Programs like Pathways also reduce the long term social costs associated with teen births, costs that negatively affect Connecticut residents. Teen parents and their offspring are more likely to participate in public assistance programs, and more likely to enter into the child welfare, criminal justice, and public health systems. Pathways has proven its ability to help youngsters avoid these systems and become self-sufficient adults.

Without state funding we will be unable to offer the long-term, comprehensive services that have been so vital to so many families for over 20 years. I hope that we can count on your support to have these funds reinstated into the budget.