Liberty Rotary Supports SEE Project

Imagine taking nearly 40 teenagers, many of whom belong to opposing gangs who had never seen the ocean, on a deep sea fishing trip.  As much as that may sound like an unlikely scenario, that is exactly how Alan Weir and Joshua Jones began their first field trip which launched “The See Project”.    Weir explained that these street tough kids were required to turn in their gang colors, which transformed them into just a random bunch of teens from a number of school districts.  While on the trip, many were transformed into scared and bewildered kids.

    “The SEE Project” is a program designed to take students from Liberty, Fallsburg, and Monticello School Districts and expose them to opportunities that they would not have otherwise.  Students are recommended by school administrators and guidance counselors.  These students have been identified as those that are striving behaviorally and academically and who would benefit from exposure to culture, government, and the fine arts.  Trips have included The New York State Museum, The African Burial Grounds, The Bardovan, The Museum of Natural History, Huguenot Street in New Paltz, and a play on cultural tolerance.

            After Weir and Jones explained the good work that their program is doing, at a meeting on May 11, Liberty Rotary Club was eager to make a donation to help fund their efforts.  They then returned to our July 31st meeting with a group of students to thank us and let us hear from the kids that had attended some of the trips.  It was wonderful to have these young people share in our barbecue and reveal their thoughts on the program.  One young man’s favorite trip was to the African Burial Grounds and he explained how an excavation had revealed hundreds of graves of free and enslaved Africans who had been buried in Manhattan in the 17th and 18 centuries.  Another young lady told us about a play she had seen which paralleled the lives of “a slave living in a tree to a rapper on the street.”  An adult who accompanied the group pointed out that we are “enriching the lives of our youth and showing them a world that they do not know.  It was an extraordinary experience!”

According to SEE Program Coordinator, Alan Weir, “the generous donation from the Liberty Rotary Club will allow us to expose more young people to a vast array of cultural experiences that include the arts, sciences, history and government.”  The donation will help to sponsor upcoming trips to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Immigration Museum as well as the Liberty Science Center, which will be coordinated by Mr. Weir and Co-Program Coordinator Joshua Jones.

            Special thanks should be given to Yellow Taxi of Monticello that provides the vans for each trip at no cost to the group.  Additionally Second to None Restaurant of Liberty provides food for the experiences.

            The following quote was posted to “The See Project’s” Facebook Page. “Thanks to the Liberty Rotary Club for their generous donation to the SEE Project! It is very much appreciated! We look forward to working with you in the future for the betterment of our youth.”

            Liberty Rotary is proud to support the efforts of “The SEE Project”.  Their work with our youth is admirable and in spite of difficult economic times, the founders seem committed to providing for our community’s neediest students.  As well as enriching our youth, they are also creating bridges between school districts and fostering enduring friendships.  We wish them great success and look forward to hearing about their future adventures.

Photo and Press Release by Gary Siegel