The Framework

Outcomes and Framework

The Monthly Meetings are the Gatherings and the Foundation to Build Strong Bonds

Fourth grade, through Middle school, to High school, College, Medical school, Resident and Intern Physicians all the way to Attending Physicians…all members of The Ladder.

  • Fun two hours gatherings every second Saturday of the month, 12 meetings each year.
  • At least 20 in school presentations of health and wellness (Ready, Set, Fit and Tar Wars) by the post high school members of the Ladder, lead by the Community Health rotation Resident physicians.(Longitudinal, in addition to core meetings)
  • Mentorship program connecting Resident physicians members with middle school age members. (Longitudinal, in addition to core meetings)
  • CPR and BLS hands on training
  • Age appropriate, First responder training, including AEDs
  • How to take a Blood Pressure training and practice
  • Ready, Set, Fit health and wellness training in the core meetings
  • Longitudinal Vocabulary enrichment training in the core meeting
  • One large annual Service learning project selected designed and executed by the members of the Ladder in the North Minneapolis Community
  • Character and Leadership training integrated into the framework of medical career development, concentrated leadership training for high schoolers  (Longitudinal, in addition to core meetings)
  • College Application preparation program, (Longitudinal, in addition to core meetings)

Concurrent Longitudinal Reinforcing Programs within the Ladder

Mentorship program
Perhaps the most vulnerable time in the educational life of a school age child’s success is in the middle school years. The peak time for suspensions occur in the grades six through eight and 24% of all Black U.S. born students in North Minneapolis had been suspended from school at least once, in 2009. In addition to the cascading mentorship from one member to another integrated into the structure of the Ladder, The Ladder will facilitate linkages for individual mentorship for middle school aged members.

Mentorship has been shown to be one of the effective tools in encouraging career and academic success. The Ladder provides middle school students a longitudinal relationship with Resident Physician Mentors.  The Goal would be at least once a month time spent with mentor in addition to the Monthly Ladder meetings.

The Leadership Curriculum
Character and Leadership training is integrated into the framework of medical career development, and in addition there will be concentrated leadership training for high schoolers as they will be the core of the decision making leadership for the direction of the club. They will be supported in their responsibility to set agendas for meetings and and development of the annual community service project. The high schoolers will be provided individual coaching by the resident physicians who will advise, not devise on strategies and logistics for the Ladder.

The Ladder in Schools

Our older Ladder members with the support and participation of the school age members, will present at least 20 in school presentations of health and wellness (Ready, Set, Fit and Tar Wars) by the post high school members of the Ladder. The College Students, Medical Students, and Resident physicians and interns Ladder members, will be visible models within the Public schools for the younger members of the Ladder by presenting multiple health and wellness programs within the Public Schools of North Minneapolis. The American Academy  of Family Medicine has two very well structured curriculum for healthy behaviors that will be used as the structure for these presentations, e.g. “Ready, Set, Fit” and “Tar Wars”. We hope that this will further build linkage with the members of the Ladder and the Community and strengthen the bonds of the members of the Ladder with each other.

College Application Preparation program
During the course of the school year High Schoolers will be helped in their development and submission of college applications by the older members. They will learn how to establish a timeline for submission of applications, ask for letters of recommendation, prepare personal essays and we would eventually want to have integrated SAT prep as a part of the Ladder’s mission.

The Meeting Timeline of “The Ladder”

Start time 12:30 Second Saturday each month

  1. Welcome Large Group Check in, review last meeting and review today’s agenda  10 minutes, Post Quote of the Day. Then”Build the Ladder” and count off…

  2. Grab some food and break into small “eating groups” (inter-generational) for check in and Character appreciation (Introduce self and discuss referenced quote, e.g. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”…) 25 minutes

  3. Fun, Hands on Activity Learning prepared by Resident Physicians (e.g. CPR, BLS training or “this week casting and splinting,  wear shorts!”) 45-60 minutes

  4. Announce activities for next meeting and sign off with The Pledge. 5 minutes

Approximately 2 hours

The Monthly Meetings are the Gatherings and the Foundation to Build Strong Bonds. Fourth grade, through Middle school, to High school, College, Medical school, Resident and Intern Physicians all the way to Attending Physicians…all members of The Ladder.

“Lift as you Climb, Build as you Grow”

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