MEETING NOTES

Fellow Rotarian Ann Puzzello introduced Jennifer Knapp-Beudert as our program speaker.  Jennifer is the director of the Robinson Community Learning Center located on Eddy Street, just off Notre Dame’s campus.  Although Notre Dame owns the building, the Robinson Center is just one of over 50 community partners to offer its vast array of programs and services to people from age 6 months to 96 years.  The Robinson Center has been in service for 15 years and its success is attributed to its motto:  “Changing lives one relationship at a time.”  In its programs the Center emphasizes consistency of setting, teachers, and mentors.  This gives the participants in such programs as English as a New Language the same teachers and tutors throughout their program.  The Robinson Center has high expectations for its participants such as its Shakespeare program, which engages students from grades 3 – 12 in 2 of the Bards plays each year in Elizabethan English.  The students also present to area schools and drama clubs.  The third aspect of the Robinson Center is their ongoing evaluation of their programs.  These include Advanced Skills & Entrepreneurship for middle and high school students.  Their current business is operating parking lots for Notre Dame home games and their award-winning Robotics program.  All told, the Robinson Center engages 400 volunteers from Notre Dame and the community, which serves over 3000 local youths.