30th Anniversary Alumni Spotlights
Alumni Spotlight: Wendy Martinez
Wendy Martinez-Calixto Teaching Fellow, 2018-2019 (Somerville Campus) Tell us about one way in which Breakthrough shaped your path? Breakthrough did not only help solidify my career path in becoming a high school teacher, but also allowed me to start developing my...
Alumni Spotlight: Chip Weber
A strong set of values can really help guide a community of young people in a positive direction through the ups and downs.
Student Testimonials
Celebrating 30 Years of Breakthroughs: Josh Gresham-Connor
Pausing to acknowledge Breakthrough’s 30th anniversary year is bittersweet. I am so incredibly proud of this program that has been such an important part of my life AND a little resentful of the reminder of just how old I am these days! I’ve been involved with Breakthrough since 1994 and have seen, first-hand, how this joyful, intentional, and transformative community impacts the lives of students and teachers.
Nayeli, Boston Campus Class of 2019
I truly believe I would not be in the position I am today if it had not been for Breakthrough. The profound impact they have had on my life has inspired me to one day create my own nonprofit organization for immigrant students.- Nayeli, Breakthrough Boston...
Thens, Boston Campus Class of 2019
My Breakthrough community has shown me how important and powerful it can be to have a group of supportive people around you long-term. I want to make sure other people have the support they need to overcome life’s challenges. – Thens, Breakthrough Boston Campus class of 2019
Elizabeth, Founding Breakthrough Somerville Student
Breakthrough is a positive, funny, loving community, and an amazing family. I now know that I’m going to succeed and make it to college, stay ahead in my classes, and make my Breakthrough family proud. - Elizabeth, Breakthrough Somerville Campus class of 2024 My...
Christopher Shimizu, Breakthrough Student
"I reflected on my life to try and find something I was passionate about, and I realized that while I did not know it at the time, Breakthrough has had a huge impact on my life." - Christopher Shimizu, Breakthrough Student Alum, Class of 2016 My name is Christopher...
Kevin Xiong Breakthrough Student
" After two summers, I grew from a quiet and soft-spoken middle school kid into a student with high expectations – for my teachers, for my peers, and for myself." - Kevin Xiong, Breakthrough Student Alum, Class of 2017 I often tell others that I became a part...
Thens Duviella, Breakthrough Student
"In school, you don’t always have a chance to communicate with lots of different people but in Breakthrough, everything we do is focused on how we all make up one strong community." - Thens Thens Duviella, Boston Campus, Class of 2019 My name is Thens Duviella and I...
Teacher Testimonials
Alumni Spotlight: Wendy Martinez
Wendy Martinez-Calixto Teaching Fellow, 2018-2019 (Somerville Campus) Tell us about one way in which Breakthrough shaped your path? Breakthrough did not only help solidify my career path in becoming a high school teacher, but also allowed me to start developing my...
Alumni Spotlight: Chip Weber
A strong set of values can really help guide a community of young people in a positive direction through the ups and downs.
Celebrating 30 Years of Breakthroughs: Josh Gresham-Connor
Pausing to acknowledge Breakthrough’s 30th anniversary year is bittersweet. I am so incredibly proud of this program that has been such an important part of my life AND a little resentful of the reminder of just how old I am these days! I’ve been involved with Breakthrough since 1994 and have seen, first-hand, how this joyful, intentional, and transformative community impacts the lives of students and teachers.
Teaching Fellow Spotlights: From Students to Teachers
Dewayne is a Cambridge student alum (class of 2017) and a current soon-to-be senior at Lesley University and will be joining us for his second year as a Teaching Fellow in Somerville. What are you looking forward to most about this summer?I’m most looking forward to...
Alexandra Chang, Teaching Fellow
"I had always loved school and teachers, but I was on the fence about a career in education. Joining Breakthrough was the catalyst. - Alexandra Chang, Founding Teaching and current Instructional Coach, Boston Campus Breakthrough’s Summer Program was filled with the...
Bria Watson, Teaching Fellow
“I talk about Breakthrough and every time, I cry…. because it has given me so much. I am starting a teaching career because of what I learned there, over the best summers of my life.” - Bria Watson, Founding Teaching Fellow, Somerville Campus When a classmate...
Kiara Boone, Breakthrough Teaching Fellow
"Breakthrough is a collection of memories and lessons that I carry into my classroom each year - a constant reminder of the community I wish to build and the relationships I desire to forge with students." - Kiara Boone, Breakthrough Teaching Fellow 2013 and 2014 In...
Anjali Nirmalan, Breakthrough Teaching Fellow
"At my interview, the program director asked me: how far are you willing to go for our kids? And I told her, I’ll put on a chicken suit if that’s what it takes to get them to learn. Later in the summer she told me that that was the moment when she hired me. And I...