Students in the PLOT (Promise Leaders of Tomorrow) youth group at the Matthew Kuss Middle School worked on a Community Asset Mapping project on April 10, 2012. The exercise involved analyzing Fall River's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT). Students were challenged to think of their community in new ways and to think about ways that the community could be improved. The PLOT program run by Ellen Gillander, a Mass Promise Fellow is funded by Partners for a Healthier Community Inc., and runs out of Greater Fall River Recreation/CD Recreation. Ellen is involved in a number of projects, including running the PLOT program at Henry Lord, Talbot, and Kuss Middle Schools, HEAT (Healthy Eating Active Time) Club at Doran Elementary School, and the Fall River Youth Leadership Council based out of Durfee High School. Click here for a short video of the group at work. For more information about the program, contact Ellen Gillander at 508-679-0922.
 

(Top row) Promise Leaders of Tomorrow leader Ellen Gillander presents the class with an assignment to analyze Fall River along its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT). (Middle row, left) Students Dylan Alves, Alexis Rego and Mindi Ferreira work on the assignment. (Middle row, center) Cahea Kaaloa, Jinnae James, James Cardin, and Kiara Oliver work as a team. (Bottom row, center) Social studies teacher Mrs. Grande lends some assistance to Alexis Rego and Dylan Alves with the assignment.