Cynthia

Cynthia Chisolm speaks with a resonant and powerful voice, that of both the choir singer that she has been and the respected, no-nonsense leader that she is now.

Starting as a Parent Volunteer

Cynthia started her nearly decade-long career with SCAN as a Parent Volunteer in 1999. Two of her own children were involved in the SCAN pilot after-school dance workshop at PS 53 in their Bronx neighborhood, and Cynthia volunteered to secure the auditorium during the workshops. The following year, Cynthia was hired as a SCAN Parent Mentor, a role designed in part to forge greater community ties with the school and increase parental involvement in their children’s education. On an initial stipend of $50 per week, she assisted SCAN Group Leaders shepherding the children through their afterschool activities. Sharing a passion and putting a personal stamp on her SCAN role, she also started the Chorus Club.

In 2003, Cynthia became a Group Leader herself and a year later was promoted to Parent Liaison at PS230, performing the key role of mediating issues between the kids, their parents and school and SCAN officials. Cynthia now holds one of the most important positions in the SCAN school-based program. Today, as SCAN Program Coordinator, she is responsible for overseeing the smooth running of all of SCAN’s afterschool programs at Intermediate School 313.

Looking for and Finding Respect

Cynthia recalls that, as a single, stay-at-home mom, she has been at the bottom. She says she is now working her way to the top. “I was looking for an outlet so my kids would respect me and I could find stimulation… I want my kids to see that Mommy has moved up.”

Cynthia’s got the right “life skills” for her job. She knows the neighborhood, she’s lived there and she recognizes and truly understands the problems and issues. “I was a mother and a parent, so I know. Life knocks it out of you. But if you can move forward, it empowers you to be stronger. People at SCAN believed in me, and that is what propelled me. And that is what I teach my staff.”