January 24, 2025

For the young people at Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, positive adult role models are vital in helping them envision and build lasting independence and success. That’s why our annual Post-Secondary Options (PSO) Night, recently hosted by our Associate Board at both our boys and girls homes, was so significant.  The annual event always offers our young people a great opportunity to learn and gain valuable insights into different occupations, the education and training required, salary, and responsibilities.

“I think the committee put together a really nice program that the kids related to,” Mercy Home’s Director of Affiliated Constituencies Rita McGovern said. “It kept them engaged and the activities were fun, interesting, and challenging.”

Members of the Associate Board, a volunteer group of young professionals who share their time and talents to support programming at Mercy Home, spoke about their own career paths as well as broader occupations in which the youth might be interested. For many of our young people, it was their first exposure to careers that match their interests and strengths.

After each board member talked about a specific occupation, such as a construction worker, nurse, or chef, our young people participated in a fun activity modeled after that career. After a committee member explained the job of a nurse practitioner, for example, the girls played the classic board game Operation.

While Mercy Home has several boards that offer unique resources to support and encourage our young people, Associate Board members have something in common that makes programs like PSO Night particularly interactive.  

“The Associate Board is closer in age to our kids than our other boards and I think our kids can relate to them better, especially when it comes to talking about jobs,” McGovern said. “They can speak their language.”

Board member Mario LoVerde attended the event at our girls home and reminded the youth that there are plenty of opportunities available. While the youth benefited from LoVerde’s insights, the nearly seven-year Associate Board member felt rewarded by sharing his experience as well.

“My favorite part was the different activities,” LoVerde said. “When it’s this cold, it’s always nice to stretch your legs and spend time with people at Mercy Home and try to spark something for them.”

Mya Gamble, another Associate Board member, has been involved at Mercy Home with her family throughout most of her life. But she recently decided she wanted to connect more deeply and give back by joining the Associate Board. Tuesday was her first event as a member, and she is looking forward to the opportunities that are yet to come.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect,” Gamble said. “I oversee our Young Professionals Board at the American Heart Association. So, it’s nice to be on the other side of things and not having to plan but being able to participate. I came in with an open mind and getting to connect with the youth.”

Youth also participated in a relay race and a Lego-building activity, and generated ideas for a TikTok dance and video game.

“I liked creating the video game,” Ezekiel in Speh Home said. “It was fun.”

The event also gave youth the chance to interact and compete with their peers.  But most importantly, it gave them a glimpse into what their future could hold.

Gabriel Avalos, Mercy Home’s coordinator of post-secondary options & career resources, said the event was one of the best Post-Secondary Options Nights he has experienced at Mercy Home. “The kids were very engaged,” Avalos said. “The mentors and volunteers did a great job… The kids really enjoyed project-based learning.”

Thank you to our Associate Board for hosting such a wonderful event for our kids!