News Updates

  • Summer 2020 Education Program Update

    FSHD is continuing to deliver services and keep the children who attend the Margaret Donnelly O’Connor Education Center on the track to success, despite the switch to remote learning that will likely continue into the 2020-2021 school year because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Experts are deeply concerned the shift to remote learning will widen persistent achievement disparities across income levels and between white students and students of Black and Latino heritage. Studies show that four out of 10 low-income children only accessed remote learning once a week. Our staff worked hard to ensure this didn’t happen.

    Published on August 11th, 2020 in Fair Share Housing Development | Read more »

  • Creating a Virtual Safe Space for Our Kids

    The staff at Margaret Donnelly O’Connor Education Center has been grappling with how to best support our children through the COVID-19 pandemic and the burgeoning 21st Century Civil Rights movement. Too often, we adults underestimate the impact of these challenging times on our youngest citizens. Students are being bombarded with news and information from TV and social media about serious topics including illness, social justice, and racism, yet they may be unable to process it all.

    Published on August 5th, 2020 in Margaret Donnelly O'Connor Education Center | Read more »

  • Jesuit Volunteers End Year of Service Working Remotely

    The year was very challenging for Jesuit Volunteers Scott Henderson and Kaitlyn DeVeydt, who had to end their 2019-2020 year of service remotely. “Working from home, particularly during a pandemic was not easy, but routine, list-making, and the smiling faces of MDOC staff and students (mostly virtual), has made the time both productive and rewarding,” said Kaitlyn DeVeydt. Scott is heading off to medical school, while Kaitlyn has accepted an opportunity to stay on at the Education Center as a full-time member of the team. We are so excited for both of these mission-driven young adults!

    Published on July 30th, 2020 in Margaret Donnelly O'Connor Education Center | Read more »

  • Where Are Our Grads Now?  New Database Will Track Educational Outcomes

    Something that we recognized as missing from our records here at Fair Share Housing was a comprehensive database of alumni who’ve attended our center. In order to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of both the challenges our families face as well as the triumphs experienced by our students, we have begun to contact parents of our student alumni. During these conversations, we ask our parents to share their childrens’ current employment, residence, educational pursuits, as well as their experience living in Ethel Lawrence Homes and the greater Mount Laurel community.

    Published on March 1st, 2020 in Fair Share Housing Development | Read more »

  • Jesuit Volunteer Reflection

    The children at the Education Center have captured my heart. When I met them last summer, I could not have imagined the amount of joy I would receive from all of the students. To be able to play even the smallest role in supporting our kids makes every day worthwhile. Whether it is helping a student understand how to add fractions or discussing acts of bullying going on at their school, I am grateful to be able to enter into that space with that child and simply be with them in those moments. Our kids radiate such light and energy into the world around them, and I cannot wait to continue to see them grow and flourish throughout the rest of my year here.

    Published on February 1st, 2020 in Fair Share Housing Development | Read more »