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"Nothing is given; Eveything is Earned"
SISU Basketball uses organized and drop in basketball programming to connect with 5th through 10th graders in Lawrence, both boys and girls, involved with the juvenile justice system or at risk for gang recruitment. SISU Basketball provides young people, who might not otherwise have the opportunity, the ability to play as part of a team. SISU Basketball focuses on life skills, leadership, and social emotional supports as well as targeted academic assistance and parent outreach. Participants are assessed by the SISU Basketball staff on a weekly basis based on their attendance, participation, skills, motivation, and drive. Participants may be selected to participate in local and regional travel and tournament teams. In addition to basketball, participants engage with programming offered at the SISU Center. SISU Case Managers and Outreach Staff conduct an evidence based life skills curriculum with all eligible participants
SISU Basketball provides skills and drills training for boys and girls in grades 5 through 8; and travel and intramural league play for high school aged boys and girls. On Saturdays and Sundays, SISU Basketball provdes intramural league play for all 5th through 8th grade players. Coached by currnet and former standout Lawrence high school and college basketbal players, the SISU Basketball program instills the SISU Way and teaches young people to be good athletes and better people both on and off the court.
SISU Basketball practices in gyms at 580 Haverhill Street and 400 Haverhill Street in Lawrence
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SISU Boys Basketball
Mondays and Wednesdays
High School Boys Practice : 4:00 to 6:00 (580)
5th and 6th Grade Boys Skills and Drills: 6:30 to 7:30 (400)
7th and 8th Grade Boys Skills and Drills: 6:30 to 7:30 (580)Tuesdays
Team Practices: 6pm-8pm (400 & 580)Wednesday
High School Boys Practice : 4:00 to 6:00 (580)
5th and 6th Grade Boys Skills and Drills: 6:30 to 7:30 (400)
7th and 8th Grade Boys Skills and Drills: 6:30 to 7:30 (580)Fridays
High School Boys Practice: 4:00 to 6:00
Team Practices: 5:30 to 10:30
High School Boys SISU League Games: 5:30 to 9:30Saturdays
SISU League Play: 8:30 to 6:00Sundays
SISU League Play: 11:00 to 5:30 -
SISU Girls Basketball
Mondays and Wednesdays
5th and 6th Girls Skills and Drills: 5:30pm to 6:30pm (400)
7th and 8th Grade Girls Skills and Drills: 6:30 to 7:30 (580)
High School Girls Practice: 7:30 to 9:00 (580)Tuesdays
Team Practice: 6pm-8pm (400 & 580)Wednesdays
5th and 6th Girls Skills and Drills: 5:30pm to 6:30pm (400)
7th and 8th Grade Girls Skills and Drills: 6:30 to 7:30 (580)
High School Girls Practice: 6:00 to 8:00 (W) (580)Thursdays
High School Girls Practice: 6:00 to 8:00 (580)Fridays
Team Practice: 5:30 to 10:30
High School Girls SISU League Games: 5:30 to 9:30Saturdays
SISU League Play: 8:30 to 6:00Sundays
SISU League Play: 11:00 to 5:30
SISU Basketball begins in the late fall with tryouts and goes to mid-June.
For more information on the SISU Basketball Program, email Luis Perez at or Rocio Diaz at .
SISU Basketball is funded in part by the Commonwealth of Massachusett's Executive Office Housing and Economic Development's Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Program
“Music can change the world because it can change people.” - Bono
SISU recognizes the power of music and the role that it plays in youth culture. Music can give a voice to the voiceless and a platform to the overlooked.
Statistically, only .4% of artists are able to make a living off of their own music. However, those artists rely on other trained professionals to help them create their music, their style, and their brand. SISU BEATZ encourages young people to share their voice and their lived experience while providing them with the skills to present a professional packaged product to the world. The SISU BEATZ program encompasses three focus areas: artist development, sound engineering and production, and podcasting.
SISU BEATZ is operated out of the SISU Center's state of the art media center. Experienced music industry professionals work with SISU to provide the SISU BEATZ curriculum and prepare young people to operate in both sides of the recording booth.
SISU BEATZ Curriculum
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Introduction to Audio Engineering
- Overview of the audio production process
- Overview of Pro Tools software and its importance in audio engineering
- Basic sound theory and acoustics
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Setting up a Studio and Equipment
- Studio design and acoustics
- Overview of audio equipment including microphones, preamps, and audio interfaces
- Connecting and configuring hardware and software in Pro Tools
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Recording Techniques and Microphone Placement
- Understanding microphone types and their applications
- Microphone placement techniques for different instruments and sources
- Recording and tracking techniques in Pro Tools
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Mixing Fundamentals
- Overview of the mixing process
- Understanding equalization, compression, and effects
- Mixing techniques in Pro Tools, including automation and routing
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Mastering Techniques
- Overview of the mastering process
- Understanding the purpose of mastering and its importance in audio production
- Mastering techniques in Pro Tools, including finalizing a mix and creating masters for different formats
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Audio Editing and Post-Production
- Overview of audio editing and post-production techniques
- Audio editing in Pro Tools, including trimming, cutting, and arranging
- Overview of the post-production process and its importance in audio engineering
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Project-Based Learning
- Hands-on projects to reinforce the skills learned in each unit
- Opportunity to work on real-world audio production projects
- Final project that allows students to showcase their skills and create a complete audio production
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Summary
- Summary of the key concepts learned in the course
- Discussion of career opportunities in audio engineering
- Final thoughts and feedback for future growth and development.
HOLA Podcast
During 2022, the SISU program launched season 1 of the HOLA (Honest Opinions with a Lawrence Attitude) podcast. HOLA provides young people the opportunity to create content that is important and relevant in their community. Young people the opportuntiy to book guests, write interview questions, act as on air talent, and mix and produce a final product.
SISU hopes to launch season 2 of HOLA during the summer of 2023.
SISU CUTZ is the SISU Center in-house Massachusetts Licensed Barber and Cosmetology Shop. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, a local licensed barber and a local licensedcosmetologist provide offer haircuts, braiding, and coloring free of charge for SISU young adults.
SISU CUTZ operates as both an outreach tool and a program incentive . Young adults may earn a visit to the SISU CUTZ Shop through a positive Case Management and/or Outreach referral.
Since Lawrence Prospera began offering young adult program in the mid-1990s, construction and carpentry have been at the heart of that programming. To date, Lawrence Prospera's construction and carpentry program has built and sold 10 houses in partnership with the City of Lawrence's Affordable and First Time Homeowners program.
In the SISU Builds shop, young adults continue to learn basic construction and carpenty skills. In addition to Lawrence Prospera's house building projects, participants learn to use wood and tools to construct items to improve their (and your) homes and communities. In addition to learning the proper use of common handheld and power tools, SISU BUILDS offers young adults the opportunity to learn and operate a CNC Machine.
SISU Builds provides the opportunity for young adults to complete the OSHA 10 certification and the National Center for Construction Education and Research pre-apprenticeship training.
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OSHA 10 Requirements
- Orientation
- Introduction
- Labels and SDS
- Module 1: Introduction to OSHA
- Module 2: Walking & Working Surfaces, including Fall Protection
- Module 3: Exit Routes, Emergency Action Plans, Fire Prevention Plans and Fire Protection
- Module 4: Electrical
- Module 5: Personal Protective Equipment
- Module 6: Hazard Communication
- Module 7: Machine Guarding Safety
- Module 8: Ergonomics
- Module 9: Recordkeeping & Reporting
- Module 10: Hazwoper
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Skills and Competencies
- Basic Building and Construction Overview
- Building Trades Safety
- Construction Math
- Reading Blueprints
- Tools and Construction Materials
- Green Construction
- Carpentry
- Lumber Identification and Uses
- Construction Codes
- Licensing Requirements
- Trade Fundamentals
- Related Trades
- The Inspection Process
- Career Opportunities
SISU BUILDS can construct adorondak chairs, picnic tables, curio shelves, little free library boxes, and domino tables/chess boards.
As one of the first YouthBuild sites in Massachusetts, Lawrence Prospera has over 25 years of experience assisting young people complete their education and achieve economic self-sufficiency through empowerment and leadership skills, vocational training, career development, support services, post-secondary education and/or job placement in meaningful employment.
Today, Lawrence Prospera offers young adults, ages 16 to 24 years old, the opportunity to work towards completing their General Education Development Test (GED) at the SISU Center. Students work daily in a classroom setting with SISU's Academic Instructor gaining the skills and the knowledge to not only pass the GED, but also to be successful in secondary education and/or future employment.
The GED program meets Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 to 12:00 at the SISU Center. The academic day begins with breakfast at 8:30 and ends with lunch at 12:00. Students traditionally spend the afternoon working in one of SISU's vocational training shops.
To Learn More about the YouthBuild Lawrence program at the SISU Center, you can email the SISU Operations Manager at or the SISU Vocational Coordinator at .
The GED Test is made up of 4 subjects broken into separate exams. You don’t have to take all 4 tests at once - you can space them out however it suits you and go at your own pace.
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Mathematical Reasoning
Test Topics include
Basic Math
Geometry
Basic Algebra
Graphs and FunctionsMultiple choice and other question types (drag and drop, fill-in-the-blank, select an area, and drop down)
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Reasoning Through Language Arts
Test Topics
Reading for Meaning
Identifying and Creating Arguments
Grammar and Language3 sections; 1 written essay (extended response); Multiple choice and other question types (drag and drop, select an area, and drop down)
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Social Studies
Test Topics
Reading for Meaning in Social Studies
Analyzing Historical Events and Arguments in Social Studies
Using Numbers and Graphs in Social StudiesMultiple choice and other question types (drag and drop, fill in the blank, select an area, and drop down)
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Science
Test Topics
Reading for Meaning in Science
Designing and Interpreting Science Experiments
Using Numbers and Graphics in ScienceMultiple choice and other question types (fill in the blank, drag and drop, select an area, and drop down)
My experience at SISU was the best experience I have had in any school I’ve ever been to.
All of the staff and teachers there were the best help and guidance for me. In my first five months, I already passed my GED. I have been going through a lot this past year, but the staff at SISU pushed me to go to school and fight through it. They have also helped me with things for my kids when I haven’t been able to afford it. They have given me diapers and clothes, and they saved me this Christmas.
If there is any program you can go to and feel welcome and accomplish your goals, it is SISU.
Jacob passed his GED in February of 2023