Mission

To build the character and confidence of Danbury Students to achieve personal and academic success through business and community partnership.

Values

Mentoring as a relationship leveraging experience and knowledge of caring individuals assisting in the growth and development of students.

1. Collaboration between public schools, businesses & the community;

2. Positive role models;

3. Student achievement, personal and academic;

4. Confidence, character and self-esteem as vehicles to success;

5. Successful transition into post-secondary education, workforce and society;

6. Encouraging life-long learning; and,

7. Volunteerism.

History

DSABC is a 501c3 non-profit organization, founded in 1990, formed as a collaborative community organization between Danbury Public Schools and local corporations. The initial purpose of DSABC was to foster cooperation among businesses, the community and the Danbury Public Schools to promote lifelong learning and the successful transition of youth into society and the workforce.

The organization enlisted volunteers from business and industry in programs such job shadowing, career fairs, project mentoring, with the cornerstone program being its school based mentoring program. The school based mentoring program began with 40 mentor-student matches.

Currently, DSABC’s primary programs are the school based mentoring programs, providing approximately 200 mentors to students in the Danbury Public Schools as well as Henry Abbott Regional Technical School. Mentors for the program are recruited primarily through area corporations/businesses and the community at large.

Staff

Alexis Koukos, Executive Director

koukoa@danbury.k12.ct.us

Board of Directors

Executive Committee

Jen Tomaino; Chair - Union Savings Bank

Taylor O’Brien; Vice Chair - City of Danbury

Jim Moretti; Treasurer

Sarah Bollert; Secretary - Bristol Global Mobility

Board Members at Large

Partners

Companies can invest in youth mentoring by encouraging their employee’s participation and through financial support. In return for these investments, businesses have seen increased employee productivity and improved morale. Business engagement in youth mentoring helps to prepare the future workforce.