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LEWISTON — Julia Sleeper-Whiting, founder and director of Lewiston’s Tree Street Youth Center, was named one of the country’s 100 Difference Makers by the pension fund TIAA.
Sleeper-Whiting was the only recipient in the state of Maine to be named to the honor for which over 4,000 nationwide were nominated.
In recognizing the recipients, TIAA celebrates extraordinary people who are devoting their lives to improving the world and shaping a brighter future. To mark its centennial year, the fund contributes a total of $1 million dollars, and awards $10,000 to each of the 100 recipients’ non-profit organizations as part of the recognition.
With no-cost programs spanning from after-school homework help and college prep, to mentoring and arts activities, Tree Street aims to serve the youth of the city of Lewiston. Each day 120 to 150 pre-K to 12th-grade students visit the Center. Nearly all of the center’s clients live below the poverty line, and 65 percent are from newly arrived immigrant or refugee families.
“Since Julia began the after-school programs centered at Tree Street Youth in Lewiston, 95% of the Center’s seniors participating in the BRANCHES college prep program are accepted to college. Additionally, an alternative youth program located at the Center has contributed to a 35% decrease in juvenile arrests across the city.,” according to Paula Marcus-Platz, chair of the organization’s Board of Directors.
“We are beyond excited that Julia and Tree Street have received this national attention for our programming approach” she said. “And we look forward to sharing our accomplishments and successes beyond the walls of the Center.”
A Maine native, Sleeper-Whiting was inspired to work with immigrant youth after a college experience teaching in a middle school English Language Learning classroom. “I realized that witnessing the power of youth learning or doing something new for the first time was my passion,” she said. “Creating the Tree Street Youth Center allowed me to constantly witness these moments — and make a difference.”
TIAA was founded in 1918, by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie to provide those who dedicated their lives to teaching with security in retirement. Through his foundation, Carnegie established Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association, a fully funded pension to provide professors with income for life.
Since then, TIAA has grown to serve more 5 million people working in the academic, research, medical and cultural fields and is among the largest pension programs in the country.
Created in 2011 by two Bates College alumnae, Tree Street Youth grew from a local homework help program to its present mission which supports the youth of Lewiston-Auburn through programs rooted in academics, the arts, and athletics in a safe space that encourages healthy physical, social, emotional, and academic development while building unity across lines of difference. Located at 144 Howe St., the Tree Street Youth Center recently completed a major $1.3 million expansion.
For more information visit treestreetyouth.org or call 207-577-6386
