Students Give Jubilee Kids a Carnival Day

Kids from the Jubilee Center, which provides after-school care for children in Hoboken's public housing, were treated to a fun carnival day on Friday afternoon, thanks to students at Stevens Institute of Technology.

Brothers of Lambda Upsilon Lambda (a national fraternity for Latino men) partnered with Alpha Phi Omega (an international service fraternity) the Stevens Christian Fellowship, Five Elements (a club on campus to promote hip-hop) and STEP (Stevens Technical Enrichment Program), to throw a carnival for the kids, complete with music, balloons, pizza and even a "moon bounce" house.

"I went to an after school program when I was in elementary school, and I know what it's like," said Juan Carlos Coronel, president of Stevens chapter of Lambda Upsilon Lambda, and one of the main organizers of the carnival. Working with sponsors and local vendors, they managed to have all food and crafts donated.

"We loved the idea, and we really wanted our kids to come across Washington Street … and see that it's not all public housing. Hopefully they can see themselves coming to Stevens, or some other higher education," said Craig Mainor, Program Director at the Jubilee Center.

For each child to participate in the carnival, he or she had to "keep up with their homework for three weeks, have great behavior, great participation," said Mainor.

Inside the Shadek Athletic Training Center, Ashley Hazelwood of STEP welcomed the children and set down a few ground rules for play. Then, the DJ started and all of the little feet were on the floor, dancing to the music or chasing balloons.

Rebecca Hall and Bobby Truppner of Alpha Phi Omega manned a craft table where kids could make beaded bracelets. Diane Bruzzese, of the same organization, helped the children make Thanksgiving-themed turkeys from cut out foam shapes.

"We were all for helping out. I love kids and doing crafts," said Bruzzese as she worked with Musique Lee, 5, affixing sparkly accents to her turkey.

"Can I keep it?" Lee asks, and goes wide-eyed when Bruzzese nods.

Students from Stevens Christian Fellowship set up a table where they did portraits of the kids.

"One of our leaders volunteers, and we offered to help sketch," said Simbi Munjoma.

Mia Gilyard, 5, smiled as she help up her portrait.

"It really turned out great," said Eryk Urrego, Community Service Chair and Secretary for Lambda Upsilon Lambda. "It shows the kids that instead of doing nothing, they can be something when they grow up."

Barney Alvarez, vice president of Stevens Lambda Upsilon Lambda chapter, was on the dancefloor most of the afternoon, leading the kids in hip-hop moves.

"They're really good and they're, like, six!" he laughed. As a member of Five Elements, he regularly teaches breakdancing to other students, but when the little kids get the moves right, "they feel good about themselves."

"I used to volunteer at daycare, and I have little brothers. When they see you doing good, it inspires them," said Alvarez.

Ashley Hazelwood, of STEP, which provides cultural, social, career and professional development to underrepresented students, said they teamed up with Lambda Upsilon Lambda, because many of them were STEP students.

"This is going really well, with a great turnout. We want to make it an annual thing," she said. "When the kids (from the Jubilee Center) see people that look like them at college, it makes it attainable for them."

From the grins on their faces as the children lined up for pizza and ice cream, it seemed like all of the volunteers' work paid off. The kids had their special day.