1. Dive Kulture Sponsored by the Latin American Health Institute1

2. Contents Program Mission Our Students 2008 Experience Success Stories
2009 Progress
Contributors
How You Can Help
Contact Information 2

3. Program Mission We Offer Reducing street violence through diving
Giving youth the opportunity to a brighter future
Focused on high-risk inner city teens
We Offer
Scuba Diving Certification
Environmental Education
Green Job Placement
5-Year After Care Services 3

4. Our Students
Student = SEAL = Scuba and Environmental Adolescent Learner
Inner city teens ages 13-21, mostly minorities
At risk or proven risk (CORIs)
Identified via:
Community Centers: Boys and Girls Club (BGCB), YMCA …
Department of Children and Families (DCF)
Department of Youth Services (DYS)
Courts
Non-profits that hire adolescents
Environmental agencies 4

5. 2008 Experience Trained 12 teens from BGCB
Chelsea and Dorchester
United Divers provided instruction
Over 8 weeks plus 2-day checkout dives
One adult certified diver per 2-3 teens
The BGCB donated pool time and subsidized the teens
Provided environmental education through field trips
Placed the teens in environmental agencies over the summer
Providing ongoing follow-up 5

6. Success Stories Josh: the “scientist” Marissa: the “artist”
Aaliyah: the “computer genius”
Lekeith: the “brave one”
Basima: the “ environmentalist”
The Chelsea Girls: the “cool girls” 6

7. 2009 Progress
Funds donated by contributors established at Boston Sea Rovers are being used to train three young adults from the Department of Youth Services (we are also investigating placing some as commercial diving apprentices).
The Adolescent Network For Today, a Latin-American Health Institute (LHI) program supporting chronically ill youth, is sponsoring five of their participants.
United Divers has provided storage for donated gear.
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay invited our 2008 graduates (and their community) to a Marine Mammal Safari around the Boston Islands on April 18.
Submitted four grant proposals to private foundations and the State of Massachusetts.
Will be diving with United Divers of Central Mass club on June 7 and July 12 (Chick’s Day). 7

8. Current Contributors Training and Placement Diving Other
The New England Aquarium
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay
The Boston Nature Center
Hull Lifesaving Museum
Psychiatrist as senior advisor
Diving
United Divers
Boston Harbor Diving
Custom Diving
United Divers of Central Mass
Other
Boston Sea Rovers (fundraising)
Iceline Consulting (website) 8

9. How You Can Help Adopt ($500) or foster ($100) a SEAL
Suggestions for part-time Summer jobs
Donate equipment or supplies for training and marketing
Assist with:
Scuba classes and open water dives
Fundraising and grant writing
Field trips
Activity coordination
Underwater pictures and videos
Program development (newsletters, brochures, websites, articles, banners, posters, environmental education)
Spread the word
Any other ideas? 9

10. Contact Information
Website:
Laura Medrano, founder and director
(617)
Silvia Pighin, scuba instructor & program coordinator
(617)
Jay Ganson, program development
Jorge Pighin, website development 10

11. THANK YOU! 11