Friday, December 14, 2007

 

SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS TACKLE GLOBAL WARMING, CHILD OBESITY

By Janice O'Connor

As the fall 2007 semester wraps up, area families and the planet are beneficiaries of two notable service learning projects that focused on childhood obesity and global warming.

Global Warming

Students in Professor Julie Capozzi’s Introduction to Sociology class tackled global warming in a multi-faceted service learning project that emphasized educating the public on the causes of global warming, and simple measures everyone can take to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“This took on a life of its own,” Capozzi said. “The students really became involved.”

Among the highlights of the months-long project, a number of students have joined a national effort calling for municipal leaders to sign the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. The students, who enlisted volunteers from among faculty and staff, will be encouraging the mayors of Gardner, Fitchburg and Leominster to sign the agreement.

Student Julie Bishop learned of the Mayors agreement through her research. The initiative was launched in 2005 by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. More than 780 mayors across the country, including 21 from Massachusetts, have already signed on. The agreement asks mayors to commit to reduce greenhouse emissions in their cities to seven percent below 1990 levels by the year 2012 by adopting a series of measures.

According to the Mayors Climate Projection Center, cities throughout the country are starting to take a more proactive approach to reducing global warming pollution by increasing the use of vehicles that use alternative fuels or hybrid-electric technology, employing clean energy sources at power plants, switching to energy-efficient lighting and constructing or renovating buildings that are environmentally-sustainable. The agreement also urges Congress to pass bi-partisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation and asks cities to strive to meet or exceed the Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing global warming pollution in municipal operations and communities.

The sociology class showcased the project last week on campus and distributed a wide variety of educational materials. More than 20 students, faculty and staff signed up to bring the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement to the attention of their municipal leaders. An even greater number signed a Mount Wachusett Community College Pledge Against Global Warming, a personal pledge of action that was created by the class members. It encourages students to help reduce greenhouse gases by taking such actions as replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, turning down the thermostat, washing clothes in cold water, recycling and keeping tires properly inflated.

 “Just doing the project really empowered me to feel as though I can speak on this topic and have an informed opinion that is more than a gut feeling,” Bishop said. “It made me realize there are changes I can make in my own home that I wasn’t aware of, and after talking with the mayors, I realized that we can bring this to light with our politicians to help our communities.”

Childhood Obesity

Student Kate Miller presented information about nutrition for children during a Healthy Choices fair this week. The fair was organized by students in Professor William Lefrancois' Anatomy & Physiology and Human Biology courses as a service learning project, in conjunction with the Molly Bish Institute for Child Health and Safety.

Students in Professor William Lefrancois' Human Biology and Anatomy & Physiology classes joined forces with the Molly Bish Institute for Child Health and Safety to raise awareness about childhood obesity and healthy lifestyle choices. The students delved into the topic during the semester and presented a forum featuring free food samples, recipes, information on nutrition, exercise and fun family activities during a Healthy Choices fair Monday evening. The fair allowed students to demonstrate the results of their personal research in the area of healthy lifestyles.

"I'm very impressed with the amount of work that they did," Lefrancois said. "It was a tremendous effort. We're thinking of doing it again next semester and tying it in with Kid Expo."

Research compiled by the science students from various medical sources show that the epidemic of childhood obesity presents a large and growing threat to our nation's health. Increasingly, children are suffering from diseases that typically affect adults, and childhood obesity is linked to greater incidences of disease in adulthood such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

According to the American Obesity Association, more than 17 percent of American children ages 2 to 19 are obese. Literature presented by the students at the health fair provided a variety of recommendations including annual assements of Body Mass Index (BMI) of all children ages 2 to 18 and qualitative assessments of dietary patterns and lifestyle habits at each yearly physical. The assessments should include tracking the frequency of eating meals outside the home at restaurants and fast food franchises, consumption of sweeteners, portion sizes, fruit and vegetable consumption, snacking habits, level of physical activity and sedentary behaviors. Guidelines for healthy childhood activity includes 60 minutes of exercise each day and a limit of two hours in front of the television or video games each day.

Tammy Robles, a pre-nursing major, prepared an enormous bowl of low-fat banana pudding to share with attendees, and also distributed a packet of healthy recipes. "I want to work in prediatrics, so this subject really interested me. I researched the different nutrients a child should have, and found recipes that are low fat and low calorie that also taste good. This was a great service learning project because we were able to take what we learned in class and apply it to real-life situations. The end goal was to teach parents how important it is to monitor their child's nutrient intake and to provide their children with healthy choices of food to eat."

Kate Miller, who also is working toward a degree in nursing, said she has been trying out some of the healthy recipes - including brownies made with pureed black beans - on her younger siblings. "They're interested in some of them, but I don't think I'll tell them there are beans in the brownies."

 

MWCC's radKIDS PROGRAM EMPOWERS AREA CHILDREN WITH SAFETY SKILLS

By Janice O'Connor

The radKIDS program at MWCC provides children with the tools, knowledge and power they need to recognize and avoid danger. An attempted abduction of two Fitchburg children in October emphasized the need for such training, and prompted community leaders to bring the comprehensive safety education program to city children this month.

The Molly Bish Institute for Child Health and Safety hosted the radKIDS training in Fitchburg's Elm Street area in partnership with MWCC campus police, the Twin Cities Latino Coalition and the Elm Street Congregational Church. Over 30 children enrolled in the hands-on training to learn how to protect themselves. The Rev. Stephen D. Mayo, pastor of the church, requested the program after two children from the neighborhood were approached by a potential abductor who got out of his car and tried to lure the children to drive off with him. The children were able to run several blocks to safety. "We really thank the Molly Bish Institue, the college and coalition for stepping up and bringing this program here. We're a small church, so to be able to offer this to our children, who are in need, was greatly appreciated. I was impressed with the way everything went."

MWCC's radKIDS program teaches children how to recognize and avoid danger as well as to resist and protect themselves from physical abuse. It focuses on seven core areas including: home safety, school safety, out-and-about safety, vehicle safety, stranger tricks (including physical defense against abduction) personal safety and self-realization of personal power.

MWCC Police Officers Chad Roger and Melissa Croteau taught two groups of Fitchburg children, ages 5 to 7 and 8 to 12. "Both age groups do comprehend it and they do recall what they learn," Croteau said. "We have them go home and practice what we taught them for self-defense moves." radKIDS, a national program, was implemented by MWCC's campus police in 2004. Since then, more than 200 children have been educated through the classes and thousands more have seen demonstrations at the college's annual Kid Expo. The goal is to continue to bring the program out into the community, as well as provide more training programs on campus, Croteau said. This spring, officers plan to conduct a self defense program for women.

"If anyone tries to take me, I would know how to get away, even in a store," remarked one little girl in the class.

Along with educating children about safety techniques, the program provides a positive interaction with police officers. "The kids participating in the radKIDS training have walked away with tangible solutions they will be able to use in a possible harmful situation," said Andrea Hart de Gravelle, coordinator of civic engagement for MWCC's Center for Democracy and Humanity. "The radKIDS program and our Mount Wachusett Community College police officers were able to reinforce to the children that law enforcement is there to help and not hurt. This was so powerful for the parents and children to experience."

In addition to providing the two weeks of training, the Molly Bish Institute sponsored a healthy dinner for the Wednesday Night Jam Session at the church, which attracts 40 to 60 children each week.

More MWCC News:

• The Greater Gardner Community Choir will present a Holiday Concert at MWCC on Sunday, Dec. 16 at 4 p.m. in the theatre. The concert will feature a wide variety of holiday fare including selections by Vivaldi, Handel and Mozart and traditional favorites. The choir, under the direction of Mary Chapin Durling, features 65 members from Gardner and the surrounding communities. Janet Paoletti is the accompanist. Tickets are $5 and are available at the Theatre at the Mount box office or by calling 978-632-2403. Box office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

• Tickets are now on sale for 2008 season of plays presented by Theatre at the Mount. The music of legendary rock and roller Buddy Holly takes center stage as the season kicks off. Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, featuring over 20 hit songs such as Peggy Sue, Chantilly Lace and That'll Be the Day, will run on Feb. 22, 23, 29 and March 1 at 8 p.m., and March 2 at 2 p.m. Summer heats up with the powerful musical Ragtime, painting a portrait fo the melting pot of America at the turn of the 20th century. Performances of Ragtime are June 20, 21, 27 and 28 at 8 p.m. and June 29 at 2 p.m. the Disney Channel's smash hit movie High School Musical comes to life in August. This amazing blockbuster will be performed on Aug. 8, 9, 13, 15 and 16 at 8 p.m., and Aug. 10 and 17 at 2 p.m. Dan Goggins' Nunsensations: The Nunsense Vegas Revue brings the zany Sisters of Hoboken back to the stage. In this all-new, sixth eidtion of the Nunsense series, a parishioner has promised the Little Sisters of Hoboken $10,000 for their school if they go to Las Vegas and perform at a friend's showplace. Show dates for Nunsensations are Oct. 3, 4, 10 and 11 at 8 p.m., and Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. Home for the Holidays will conclude the 2008 season. This Christmas spectacular promises to put audiences in the festive spirit with dazzling sets, stunning costumes, Broadway-style dancing, traditional holiday songs and a visit from Santa. Home for the Holidays runs Nov. 28, 29, Dec. 5 and Dec. 6 at 8 p.m., and Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. To purchase tickets or request a season brochure, call the TAM box office at 978-632-2403. Tickets also may be purchased online at http://theatre.mwcc.edu

• The enrollment center is offering Information Sessions on a number of academic programs. Upcoming sessions will take place on the following dates: Clinical Laboratory Science: Jan. 16 and Feb. 13 from 3 to 4:30 p.m., Heywood Hospital, Dining Room B; Biotechnology/Biomanufacturing: Jan. 8 from 6 to 7 p.m., at the Gardner campus, room 341, Jan. 10 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Leominster campus and Feb. 21 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner Campus, room 341; A.S. Nursing: Jan. 8 and Feb. 12 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, room 12; Practical Nursing Certificate program: Jan. 17 and Feb. 21 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, room 12; Complementary Health Care: Jan. 28 and Feb. 25 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, room 12; Dental Hygiene: Jan. 9 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Burbank campus in Fitchburg and Feb. 6 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Gardner campus, Wetmore Wing, Room 12. Prospective students interested in attending an information session are asked to call the enrollment center at (978) 630-9110 (TTY (978) 632-4916), or send an email to admissions@mwcc.mass.edu

• Stressed? Why not schedule a relaxation massage to ease your tension? The MWCC Student Massage Therapy Clinic provides relaxation massage at a reduced rate to the public, faculty, staff and students. One-hour sessions with student massage therapists enrolled in MWCC's Massage Therapy Program are just $15 for students and MWCC employees and $30 for the general public. Many people have already discovered the advantages of this service as a way to relax and reduce stress. To schedule an appointment, call (978) 630-9212.