For some students and families, limited access to culturally responsive mental health supports and enrichment opportunities can restrict educational engagement and long-term success. To address that need, we provided OnTECH with a $25,000 Community Grant to support its We Are Enough Summer Art Enrichment Program. The grant supported costs associated with literacy instruction, art supplies, mindfulness practices, and socio-emotional learning activities. We Are Enough was selected during our December 2024 Community Grantmaking round.
Written by: Ellen Eagen, Founder and Head of School at OnTECH Charter High School
Walking into the We Are Enough summer art enrichment program at OnTECH, you feel a hum of creativity and care – students writing, creating, and collaborating in a space where learning is both expressive and deeply human. Classrooms are alchemized into studios and circles, where stories are spoken and shaped, identities explored, and young people are met with the message that they belong exactly as they are. Most of all, you witness a transformation evolving – voices growing stronger, confidence taking root, and students beginning to see themselves not just as learners, but as authors of their own stories.
OnTECH Charter High School is a public, nonprofit, community charter high school serving students from the Greater Syracuse area. OnTECH was founded to support students who thrive in learning environments that look and feel different from traditional schools. OnTECH is designed for young people who benefit from hands-on learning, strong relationships, and real-world relevance. OnTECH offers personalized educational pathways that meet students where they are – supporting those who may have experienced interruptions in their education, felt disconnected from school, or are seeking a more engaging and meaningful learning experience.
At the heart of OnTECH’s instructional model is project-based learning informed by current research in neuroscience. Students learn by doing – working on authentic projects and collaborating with peers. The school serves as an incubator for forward-thinking educational practices drawn from some of the most effective 21st-century schools across the country. OnTECH is committed to helping every learner build skills, confidence, and a sense of purpose. Through individualized planning and a whole-child approach, the school supports students not only in earning a diploma, but in becoming curious, capable, and lifelong learners.
With a focus on innovation, career readiness, and whole-child development, OnTECH blends academics, technology, and social-emotional learning to support students who benefit from personalized pathways, strong relationships, and learning that feels relevant to their lives. At its core, OnTECH is committed to helping students discover who they are, how they learn, and how they can contribute meaningfully to their communities.
During the summer of 2025, that commitment came to life through We Are Enough, a six-week enrichment program made possible by a Community Grant from the Central New York Community Foundation. Students participated in an immersive experience that blended literacy, art, mindfulness, and socio-emotional skill-building. The program culminated in the creation of a student-designed Affirmation Card Deck, published in August 2025. More than a final product, the deck stands as a shared declaration of resilience, creativity, and belonging.
Rooted in OnTECH’s Innovative Design
OnTECH’s approach to learning recognizes that students do their best thinking when they feel safe, seen, and supported. Programs like We Are Enough reflect this belief by integrating socio-emotional learning, brain-based strategies, and the 16 Habits of Mind into everyday practice.
Throughout the program, students participated in literacy-rich and creative activities that connected thinking, feeling, and doing. Reflection, discussion, and art-making worked together to help students explore how emotions influence choices, how self-talk shapes confidence, and how creativity supports growth. Habits such as Persisting, Thinking Flexibly, Listening with Understanding and Empathy, and Creating, Imagining, and Innovating became shared language in the classroom – guiding how students collaborated, took risks, and supported one another.
“Integrating the 16 Habits of Mind transformed the classroom into a community of makers and thinkers. Students practiced persistence, empathy, and flexible thinking not just in their art, but in their relationships. What emerged was a culture of trust – where curiosity led, voices were respected, and growth was visible every day.” – Ms. Sam Vernold, Summer Arts Enrichment Coordinator
Meeting the Moment in Syracuse
Like many schools serving high-needs student populations, OnTECH students navigate real-life challenges that can affect focus, confidence, and connection to learning. We Are Enough was designed with this reality in mind – creating space for students to slow down, regulate, and engage in learning that honors their lived experiences.
Each session began with grounding and mindfulness practices to help students settle their nervous systems and arrive fully present. These moments of calm opened the door to deeper conversations, creative exploration, and authentic expression. Through writing, art, and dialogue, students were able to engage academically while also tending to their emotional well-being.
An added layer of impact came through OnTECH’s partnership with CNY Works, which allowed participating students to serve as Community Interns. This experience reinforced that their voices and ideas have value beyond the classroom.
“The We Are Enough program made us feel heard, loved and supported. It was a reminder that we all matter and we are all enough!” – Sam Allen, Student
An Empowerment Journey of Reflection, Creation and Connection
Across the program, students moved through a thoughtful arc of reflection, creation, and connection. Writing prompts invited them to explore identity, courage, belonging, and resilience. These themes surfaced again and again – in their daily Positive Self-Talk journals, their classroom conversations, and eventually in their original affirmation cards.
Classrooms transformed into creative studios as students paired words with visual expression. Weekly affirmation work helped students articulate strengths, challenge self-doubt, and imagine.
“The We Are Enough Affirmation Deck Project allowed me to try new ways to express myself, especially through the use of art. After the completion of this project, I feel like I have become a leader and helped others express themselves. I now still use art to calm myself when I am feeling stressed.” – Timari Harris, Student
The Affirmation Deck: Words as a Source of Strength
Over time, individual affirmations evolved into a collective We Are Enough Affirmation Deck. Each card features a student-written affirmation statement paired with original digital artwork created by the students using the digital art software, Canva. The affirmation deck represents a powerful truth: OnTECH students are authors, artists, and change-makers.
Affirmations such as “I can do hard things,” “My voice matters,” and “I am learning at my own pace” reflect moments of reframing – where uncertainty gave way to confidence. The process reinforced the idea that words shape identity and that positive self-talk is a skill that can be practiced and strengthened.
Today, the deck is used in classrooms and advisory spaces as a grounding and motivational tool. Students also go into the community sharing their card deck with members of the community in homeless shelters and local assisted living communities, extending its message of hope and connection beyond the school.
“Practicing positive self-talk meant the most to me because it is a better way to think during tough times. It helped me be more positive and change how I started my day. It also helped me bring positivity to the people around me through the inspiring cards. We became a community who inspired each other.” – Nazariah Smith, Student
From Page to Podcast: Amplifying Student Voice
In the final phase of the program, students expanded their storytelling through the We Are Enough Podcast.
Through creating this podcast episode, students shared and recorded their stories publicly – building communication skills while deepening their sense of agency and self-definition. The We Are Enough podcast reflects OnTECH’s belief that literacy, leadership, and voice are the key to innovative learning and real-world life skills application.
Listen to the We Are Enough Podcast here.
Measured Impact and Meaningful Change: Building Voice and Community
Teachers observed noticeable growth in student engagement, emotional expression, and collaboration. Students used richer language to describe feelings, participated more confidently in discussions, and demonstrated stronger peer support. Surveys reflected increased confidence and a stronger sense of belonging.
“Creating the affirmation deck helped me feel more confident in the things that I do. It helped me remember that I am kind and strong. And my peers felt supported and included when they received the affirmation deck we created. I still tell myself affirmations every day.” – Christopher Grover, Jr., Student
The program culminated in a community showcase where students presented their work to families and educators. Shadow boxes illuminated with LED lights displayed each student’s affirmation card – but the most powerful radiance came from the students themselves as they shared their voices with pride.
What began as an art and literacy project became a shared experience of affirmation and connection – one that reminded students, and the community, that they are enough. That together, We Are Enough!
Aligned with the Mission of the Central New York Community Foundation
The Central New York Community Foundation’s Community Fund Grant supports initiatives that foster creativity, connection, and opportunity. The We Are Enough program embodied this mission by offering students meaningful spaces to explore identity, build confidence, and strengthen community.
Through this partnership, students experienced what it means to be heard, valued, and empowered. Each affirmation written and each story shared became an act of belonging – reinforcing the belief that when young people are supported in telling their stories, they help shape a stronger, more connected future.
We Are Enough reflects what OnTECH believes at our core: when students are seen, heard, trusted, and invited to lead with their whole selves, learning becomes transformational – a journey of becoming rather than a checklist to complete. This program reminded us that education is not just about outcomes, but about identity, voice, and belonging. When students know they are enough, they begin to imagine, innovate and iterate what is possible. Confidence takes root, imagination is ignited, and young people begin to step forward as empowered authors of their futures. OnTECH is so appreciative of the generosity of the Central New York Community Foundation for making this summer programming possible.
