John D. O'Bryant Community Education Center (JDO)

The RMSC John D. O’Bryant Community Education Center (JDO) offers programs that both improve the skills and enrich the lives of both youth and adult community residents. Programs and resources available through the JDO include academic enrichment, computer and financial literacy, college and career planning, financial aid counseling, scholarship information, life skills and social development.

Programs at the JDO Community Education Center provide support links to all RMSC programs. For example, a satellite technology lab at the RMSC Family House enables guests to receive computer literacy and internet access to information and additional services. The John D. O’Bryant Community Education Center’s goal is to engage children, youth, adults and families in integrated, multi- phased, collaborative learning activities that enrich, support and advance their quality of life, and unify our community.

The JDO offers programs and services to residents of all ages with a special emphasis on programs and activities that encourage families to learn the benefits of technology and internet access.

Timothy Smith Computer Learning and Education Center

The Timothy Smith Computer Learning and Education Center strives to help enhance community resident’s technological skills, and provide them with, the knowledge and confidence required to be successful in a society driven by information and technology. The RMSC’s Timothy Smith Center is housed at the JDO and maintains the latest technology. The program receives support for technology upgrades from the Timothy Smith Fund through 2019. For information on course dates and times visit www.timothysmithnetwork.org.

Signature Programs at the JDO Include:

Technology Goes Home

Technology Goes Home (TGH) allows up to 15 families to participate in an intense, 12-week technology class. Families learn about hardware and Microsoft Office. While learning, parents get to spend quality time with their children as well as networking with other families within their community. While enrolled in the TGH each family has the opportunity to purchase a computer through a Bank of America no interest loan program and attend financial literacy classes. A recent addition to the TGH program has been the launch of the Boston Wireless Initiative. The alumni of the Technology Goes Home program are the first families to participate in the Dudley Square/ Grove Hall Wireless Pilot as Beta testers.

Community-Based Educational Learning Labs (C.E.L.Ls)

C.E.L.Ls (Community – Based Educational Learning Labs) is a signature program incubated at RMSC, to address a growing need for vital social, educational, and developmental programs for youth, ages 10 to 15 years. C.E.L.Ls are structural, functional units of experiential learning activities that provoke building blocks of life’s lessons. C.E.L.Ls are designed in partnership with school personnel, student support teams, educators, parents and/or under innovative state funded programs to address several different abilities and needs of youth. The program consists of four main labs that are traditionally offered in school or in specified out-of-school programs.

These include:

1.) Computer Literacy - geared towards increasing participant’s awareness of fundamental computer skills and internet safety.

2.) Teambuilding - supports participant learning by increasing their level of leadership, group involvement and ability to deal with conflicts.

3.) Decision Making Skills - develops participant’s ability to identify and demonstrate positive life choices.

4.) Financial Literacy - helps increase participants ability to become financially independent through the introduction of traditional investment practices and strategies.

Astronomy Youth Apprenticeship

Harbor Visions Crew

Through a partnership with the National Park Service and other environmental organizations, RMSC hires youth (ages 14-18) for an intensive 8 – week summer, Work Earn Learn Leadership (WELL) program. Youth learn about the environment, history, and biodiversity of the Boston Harbor Islands, while engaging in exploratory learning and on-island projects. During the school year, youth are involved in environmental after-school programs that include a number of literacy/science research projects. Youth are encouraged to become proficient in the areas of science, technology, environmental, engineering, and math.

about us  |  programs  |  services  |  get involved
contact us  |  site map  |  home

Roxbury Multi-Service Center
317 Blue Hill Avenue  Dorchester, MA 02121
 Phone: 617.427.4470 Fax: 617.427.0461