2024 Family Retreat: Insights from Fiver’s New Director of Youth Development

Hello Fiver community!

My name is Dorcas Amoah, and I’m excited to introduce myself as Fiver’s new Director of Youth Development. I’ve been here for nearly three months, and in my role, I’m focused on supporting our youth, families, and alumni through a variety of programs—from one-on-one support and career planning to community-building events. It’s been incredible to join a team that’s so dedicated to empowering our young people and fostering connections across our Fiver community.

This past September, we held our annual Family Retreat, and it was a wonderful example of Fiver’s mission in action. Families joined us at camp as summer turned to fall, and the weekend was all about bringing parents into the Fiver experience. One highlight was watching our young Fivers guide their parents around camp, proudly showing them the traditions and activities they’ve come to love—morning announcements, Thought of the Day, and even meeting Mr. P, our camp weatherman.

We also gave families more free time to enjoy the camp’s beautiful setting and connect with each other through activities like our Fiver relay. The energy was contagious, with parents and kids cheering each other on in a true display of teamwork. One of my favorite moments was seeing parents try kayaking for the first time. We had a group fall into the lake, but everyone laughed and quickly helped them back in. It was a perfect example of the supportive, fun-loving spirit that defines our Fiver community.

A vital part of the retreat was gathering family feedback about their experiences and needs. Parents shared their hopes for more support in areas like family counseling, parenting workshops, and even ESL classes. They also asked for more flexible scheduling for future events to better fit their lives. The Program Manager, Aislee Nieves, and I have started to explore external organizations that we can partner with to deliver the workshops that the families requested and are also beginning an initiative to create a system for providing resources and referrals to our families for counseling and other needs that support services that they are interested in. Listening to the voices of our families is helping us shape new programs and partnerships to serve our youth and their families better.

For me, this retreat was an affirmation of what makes Fiver so special—the sense of pride and connection that everyone feels here. It was inspiring to see parents, kids, and staff come together in a weekend of learning, fun, and support, and I’m excited to continue building on this experience as we move forward.

Thank you to everyone who made this retreat such a success, and I look forward to connecting with more of you in the months ahead!

Warmly,  

Dorcas Amoah  
Director of Youth Development