Children are expensive. So whenever a deal comes around to cut some corners with expenses, it can be a lifesaver. Well, if you’re a resident of Boston, Ali Soofi might be able to assist you with that.
Soofi is one of the managers of Countdown to Kindergarten and Boston Saves, both programs in the Boston Public Schools system supporting families that are looking towards childhood education.
Before coming to his current position, Soofi worked as a teacher on a farm, hoping to inspire the youth to not only grow fresh and healthy foods but to also be more aware of their environments. “My dream, it’s not a unique dream really, but it was to get outdoor education and maybe preschool, kindergarten, and maybe even second grade to get outdoor classrooms.” While the job wasn’t exactly what he envisioned, he still found it extremely rewarding.
Outside of his work for Countdown to Kindergarten and Boston Saves, Soofi adventures outside, as per his holistic lifestyle. If you spent your time skateboarding, hiking, or passing by a home that has the smell of a barbeque that’s just started, don’t be surprised if you find Soofi there. You might find him “in the woods, under the trees, on the beach. I love biking. I like to do things with my hands. I’m super active.”
Soofi’s love for farming and the outdoors is not only evident in his out-of-work activities but also through how he views life. “I always think of things in reference to farming, because farming is one of those professions where…what you put in you get back.” This mentality was the one which eventually pushed him to pursue his roles in BPS.
As one of the Countdown to Kindergarten managers, his goal is to create and plan events where families with pre-kindergarten children can interact with each other. One of those events, Family Playgroups, is based on the mindset that children learn best through play. These play groups are held two hours once per week, bringing together families from all around Boston to not only inform parents and guardians about pre-existing resources but to also let their children experience being in a social learning environment for the first time and provide a foundation for the children in shapes, colors, and numbers for when they enter kindergarten. This program “[lets] them get ready for school, showing them what it means to be in the same circle and to be respectable in a classroom setting.”
Following the educational and social values of his roles at Countdown to Kindergarten, his managerial position at Boston Saves provides families with the opportunity to accumulate money throughout their child’s years in BPS till sixth grade. The organization provides incentives throughout a child’s time in BPS that parents can take advantage of every year to earn money. Parents or guardians get a base $50 that they can let grow. They can get additional money by doing such things as reading with their child and recording it. This money can go into a variety of checking or savings accounts, a popular choice being the 529 college savings plan. The money put in the 529 is through mutual funds which lets the guardian save money in a tax advantages account which they are able to spend on qualified education expenses later.
According to Soofi, “My main job is to be present for families and their kids but also administrators and teachers [and] anyone inquiring about either program. And just being approachable.” He sees himself as someone who works in a form of customer service as well as being an organizer and coordinator for events. For families that need information on their children’s education, how to plan for the future, or any events that could help them financially, Soofi is there and ready to support whoever needs him.
At the conclusion of my conversation with Soofi, he said, “The biggest thing at the end of the day, position aside, I want people to remember me as somebody who takes the thoughts and minds of young people, whether they’re in kindergarten or high school, wherever they are, really seriously.” For him, the youth are the ones who will change the foreseeable future. So for a sapling to flourish into an enormous oak, it must be nourished at its foundation.
