Despite how dramatically the world has changed over the past 150 years, the basic mission of the BP Learned Mission, established in 1859 to serve children from New London's lowest-income families, is pretty much the same.

"Our overall goal is to promote the academic, social, and emotional development of these kids and give them opportunities to succeed in areas that they may not be able to (be successful) without our program," said Groton resident Jennifer Messina, BP Learned Mission's site manager.

The focus is also on youth violence prevention, community service, and participation in arts programming, Messina explained.

Today the Mission provides a comprehensive after-school and vacation enrichment program for more than 50 students in grades 1-8 and beyond from all New London public schools.

Besides being licensed to provide childcare for working parents, "We take the time the children are with us really seriously," Messina said. "We teach them study skills and how important reading is - and we also try to serve the child as part of the whole family by providing family dinners and getting to know each family."

Serving the child, as part of the larger family unit, is a goal BP Learned Mission not surprisingly shares with the Child & Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut (CFA), whose history goes back even further in New London, to 1809. The two organizations merged in 2003 and CFA auxiliary members from Mystic/Stonington, New London/Groton, Lyme/Old Lyme, and Essex volunteer at the Mission, along with volunteers from Connecticut College and Waterford High School.

"We're lucky we've also been able to hire several full-time staff members - unlike many after school programs - and because of this we have a quality, educated, dedicated staff, and have had very low turnover rates," Messina said.

Messina worked at the Mission for two years before going back to school, receiving her Masters in education from Harvard University in 2001 with a specialty in risk and prevention. She continued to work part time at the Mission while in graduate school before becoming the site manager in 2009.

"I've always loved this job," she said. "The kids are very special."

This year, the Mission began a counselor-in-training program so that high school students could continue to attend.

"The older students come to the Mission to do their own homework and help younger kids with homework and reading and participate in our theater program," Messina said. "There's a strong culture of respect, of treating one another with kindness and the older kids (model) this for the younger kids. My hope is this is a place where they feel safe and where we can help promote positive behavior and academic success. They have a lot of hard stuff in their lives."

Messina is particularly proud of the theater program, made possible by the inclusion of a performing space in the 2006 renovation and expansion of the Shaw Street building, where the program has been located since 1964, and which also included a gymnasium, as well as a library, art room, and two larger classrooms.

"We do three shows a year that we write with input from the children," Messina said. "The kids help with all different aspects of the shows - costumes, creating sets and props, publicity, decorating. It's great for teaching literacy, cooperation, social skills, confidence, etc."

Each show runs about 30 minutes and is followed by a reception for families with refreshments. On April 7-9, the students will present "Shrek Saves Snow White," an original musical comedy.

"The kids become so disciplined, they come to rehearsals, sit right down, get out their scripts, and get right to work, working together," Messina said. "I've always loved theater and performing and see it as a great way to teach kids."

Messina said the most rewarding part of her job is seeing positive changes - even if they're small - every single day, such as a student who told her he ignored a bully on the bus, and moved to an other seat, instead of hitting back… or another child who said, "I feel so safe at BP because grownups are always watching me and nothing bad can happen here."

"These are some of the most resilient kids I've ever seen. They're welcoming and friendly, they smile and open the door for you - they're some of the kindest kids you'd ever want to meet," she said.

"We're giving them a chance to keep being kids."

For information about volunteer opportunities at BP Learned Mission, 40 Shaw St., New London, contact Jennifer Messina at (860) 442-1798, ext. 1501 or e-mail messinaj@cfapress.org.