MWCC News & Events: What's Up at the Mount

MWCC's weekly e-newsletter

 

Friday, October 27, 2006

 

STUDENTS ORGANIZE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUMMIT

Six student interns working with Adjunct Professor Yvonne Stevens organized a Domestic Violence Summit at the college's Leominster campus Thursday, Oct. 26.

Nicholas Howe of Battered Women's Resources Inc. listens to a participant of the Domestic Violence Summit.

The students worked closely with Nicholas Howe, education coordinator at Battered Women's Resources in Leominster, developing a series of workshops: an overview of domestic violence given by BWRI Crisis Counselor Lysa Mosca; the effects of domestic violence on children by BWRI Education Coordinator Nicholas Howe; an interview with a survivor; healthy relationship boundaries by Stevens; and a mock trial and discussion by BWRI and the office of District Attorney John Conte.

A child’s exposure to domestic violence can start in the womb, Howe told the 20 participants of a morning presentation. For instance, he said, in about 25 percent of teen pregnancies, the mother experiences some form of domestic violence.

Overall, experts estimate 10 million children a year are exposed to domestic violence by either seeing it, hearing it, witnessing the aftermath of an incident or feeling the tension from it, Howe said. For this reason, BWRI has been helping area teachers and administrators learn how to teach traumatized children.

“These kids have legitimate post traumatic stress disorder,” he said.

Participants also heard a survivor’s story. The woman said her relationship with an abusive boyfriend began when she was a senior in high school and continued for several years. She left him for the last time when she realized that “all I had was my skeleton” and she wanted her former self back.

“The main thing I have learned is never shun your family,” the survivor said. “You have to stick with the people you know care for you.”

The summit was sponsored by the Center for Democracy and Humanity at MWCC, Battered Women’s Resources and the Montachusett Opportunity Council.

MWCC KICKS OFF ANNUAL COMECC CAMPAIGN

By Kimberly B. Caisse

College President Daniel M. Asquino pledged to match up to one-third of donations, up to $15,000, to this year’s Commonwealth of Massachusetts Employees Charitable Campaign (COMECC) during an annual kickoff luncheon Monday, Oct. 23. He also announced that this year’s goal is to raise $45,000.

HOPE Executive Director Maxine Schneider

Thirty-five percent of MWCC employees donated more than $48,000 last year, which exceeded the college's $40,000 goal. “That’s a major accomplishment for this college,” Asquino said. He is urging employees to reach 100 percent participation this year.

Donations can be made to the Community Impact Fund of the United Way of North Central Massachusetts or the MWCC Foundation. Those who donate $156 or more to the Community Impact Fund will receive a Caring Club Card. Cardholders will be eligible for discounts at participating local businesses on merchandise, food, entertainment and services.

The United Way works to address the underlying causes of societal problems, to create lasting change to keep those problems from occurring and to partner and collaborate with agencies working on these problems, according to Selena Johnson, campaign director at the United Way of North Central Massachusetts.

Executive Director of House of Peace and Education Maxine Schneider stressed the importance of the Community Impact Fund to local agencies. “When that is strong, all the United Way agencies are stronger,” she said.

COMECC pledge forms and a booklet describing COMECC agencies were sent to all employees on Oct. 13. Those who wish to contribute are asked to return their completed pledge form to Payroll/Benefits Manager Connie Helstowski in the Human Resources office by Thursday, Nov. 30.

SGA BEGINS ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE

The Student Government Association is accepting donations for their Thanksgiving Food Drive through Thursday,

Food students collected at Stop & Shop for the annual SGA Thanksgiving Food Drive is being kept in a storage closet.

Nov. 9. The collection will benefit needy MWCC students and the Gardner Community Action Committee food pantry.

There are two ways to help: Donate non-perishable food items and make a monetary donation. Grocery carts will be located on the first floor to collect the non-perishable food items.

Each selected student will receive a $20 gift certificate along with a basket filled with non-perishable food items. The gift certificate is meant to be used towards the purchase of a turkey and other perishable food items. After filling student baskets, remaining food items will be given to the CAC.

The SGA and other student clubs collected food donations at the Stop & Shop in Gardner on Saturday, Oct. 21.

For more information, contact Student Life Director Greg Clement at (978) 630-9252 or gclement@mwcc.mass.edu.

More MWCC News:

• By popular demand, Theatre at the Mount will perform its wild and wacky adaptation "Miss Nelson is Missing: The Musical" for an additional performance on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 3:30 p.m. The Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. performance is sold out. The award-winning musical, geared to children in grades K-6, is adapted from one of the books in the popular Miss Nelson series by Harry Allard and James Marshall. All tickets for “Miss Nelson is Missing” are $4 and can be purchased by calling the Theatre at the Mount box office at (978) 632-2403. Box office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

• The Center for Democracy and Humanity, Leominster Access Television and the Sentinel & Enterprise sponsored the candidates' debate between state Rep. Jennifer Flannagan and City Councilor Claire Freda Thursday, Oct. 26 at Leominster City Hall.

  Gateway to College, one of MWCC’s College Access and Preparation Programs, offers high-school dropouts and students on the verge of dropping out of high school an opportunity to earn a diploma in a college-like setting and earn college credits. Massachusetts residents who meet the program’s eligibility requirements may apply. Information sessions for the session that begins in January 2007 will be held on Monday, Nov. 6 and Monday, Dec. 4 from 1 to 4 p.m. To register for an information session or to request materials, call (978) 630-9481 or (978) 630-9450, or visit http://www.mwcc.edu/services/CAPP/default.html.
• Through Thursday, Nov. 9, the Student Government Association is holding its annual food drive. Members are collecting non-perishable food items for students in need and a local food pantry. Food items can be dropped off at the Student Life office, room 151, or in one of several designated baskets that are located around the first floor of the Gardner campus’ main building. For more information, contact Director of Student Life Greg Clement at (978) 630-9252 or gclement@mwcc.mass.edu.
• MWCC has launched the new Clinical Laboratory Science program. Students enrolled in this program will learn how to use sophisticated biomedical instrumentation and computers to analyze blood and other body specimens. Information sessions will take place Wednesdays Nov. 15 and Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. in the OBS Conference Room on the second floor of Heywood Hospital. Prospective students interested in attending the information session are asked to call the Admissions Office at (978) 630-9110 (TTY (978) 632-4916), or send an email to admissions@mwcc.mass.edu. Information about the new CLS program also is posted on the college Blackboard website called CLS Information Center. To access more information, go to https://bb.mwcc.edu and then enter “cls” as both the username and password.
• The First Connections Mothers Group’s weekly meetings are held every Friday. At the gatherings, which take place in the Children’s Room at Levi Heywood Memorial Library from 10:30 a.m. to noon, attendees discuss topics such as feeding, sibling rivalry, temper tantrums, appropriate toys, traveling with children and how to choose a daycare provider. All mothers and their babies are invited. For more information, contact Professor Nancy Duphily, the meeting facilitator, at duphi@yahoo.com or (978) 630-9233. Duphily will be assisted by MWCC nursing students as part of their service-learning project.
• The What’s Next Speaker Series will continue Friday, Nov. 17 with Jack Foley, founder of the Clark University Park Partnership in Worcester, giving the presentation “A Model to Address Poverty Among Disadvantaged Children.” The lecture will take place from noon to 2 p.m. at the Doyle Conservation Center in Leominster. A complimentary lunch will be provided. Pre-registration is required. Submit registrations to whatsnext@mwcc.mass.edu or (978) 630-9324. The event is sponsored by the Center for Democracy and Humanity, the Twin Cities Latino Coalition and the Trustees of Reservations.
• The Twin Cities Latino Coalition and the Trustees of Reservations will host a conversation with Dr. Peter Senge, author of “The Fifth Discipline” and world-renowned guru of the field of organizational change and leadership development, on Monday, Nov. 27 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Doyle Conservation Center, 464 Abbott Ave., Leominster. Senge will moderate the panel discussion entitled “Meeting the Changing Face of Our Future: Facing the Challenges of Changing Today in Response to the Emerging Future.” Pre-registration is requested. Register with Sayra Pinto, associate vice president of inclusion, by calling (978) 840-3221 ext. 207 or emailing spinto@mwcc.mass.edu.