Domestic Abuse Resources on the South Shore

By Brooke Stuhr

The pandemic brought a lot of things into light, one of those is the rise in domestic abuse.  According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, in 2020, there is an average of more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic abuse hotlines on a typical day.

 

“The most important thing for victims to know is that they are believed.  We believe them” said Sandra Blatchford, Director at the South Shore Women’s Resource Center.

 

There are around seven organizations in the greater Brockton area that offer domestic abuse services, including, Health Imperatives which sponsors Penelope’s Place.  Penelope’s Place 
offers services to those looking to flee domestic violence or need someone to walk them through a transitional phase.

 

Getting out of an abusive situation can be difficult.  “We never tell a victim to leave their abuser.  Often times the relationship is complex and there are times where there is love” said Blatchford. “Reaching out to us does not mean you have to leave that individual” 

 

“When you’re in situations when you are ready to move on and ready to flee it’s important to know that there are options and help is waiting for you” said Quianna S, a relief staff member at Penelope’s Place.  “We will walk them through a safety plan and support them when they flee.”

 

Other organizations in the area are The Women’s Center in New Bedford, A New Hope in Attleboro, A New Day in Brockton, and The South Shore Women’s Resource Center in Plymouth.

 

Abuse isn’t just physical.  Abuse can be emotional, verbal, financial, and sexual.  

 

“Psychological abuse can be the source of battered women syndrome.  A lot of women were physically abused…but more are emotionally abused” said Dana Curhan, an appellate attorney who specializes in joint venture cases.  “Reach out for help and be try to be cooperative as possible because it will help the court process” said Katie Currul-Dykeman, a Criminology Professor at Stonehill College who specializes in domestic violence cases.

 

According to specialists like Blatchford and Curhan, if you are questioning whether you are in an abusive relationship, chances are that you are in some way.  Ask yourself the question “what would happen if you did something your partner didn’t want you to do?” or “are there times you’ve questioned what you have seen or said?”

 

 “Calling a 24/7 help hotline can be a great step in the right direction” said a receptor at the 24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline which can be reached at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).  The first step is to acknowledge that you need help.  

 

 

 

 

 

New England's Soupman Helps the Homeless

By Camryn Brosnan 

    Bridgewater’s Soupman has been helping New England’s homeless and providing hope for years now. 

    When Travis Kelleher died in 2016 after a battle with drug addiction, his father launched a mission to help the homeless in the young man’s honor. 

    Peter Kelleher is now known as the Soupman and travels across New England to provide necessary services for the homeless, such as clothing, food, and mobile showers. 

    According to Kelleher’s website, Support the Soupman, the organization hopes to foster “dignity, respect, hope, and connection” among volunteers and the homeless. This is done through providing those basic amenities and treating the homeless like you would treat your family or friends, because they are someone else’s family member or friend. Kelleher’s organization strives to remember where these people came from and why they are experiencing homelessness. 

    The National Alliance to End Homelessness confirms that in 2019, “Seventeen out of every 10,000 people in the United States were experiencing homelessness on a single night.” In Massachusetts, according to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, there were almost 20,000 people experiencing homelessness. With the COVID-19 pandemic, these numbers may have risen due to recent economic struggles. 

    Beyond homelessness alone, The National Coalition for the Homeless reported to have “found that 38% of homeless people are alcohol dependent, and 26% are dependent on other harmful chemicals.” 

    The Soupman’s cause relies heavily on volunteers and donations of all kinds. 

    Joanna McCarthy began volunteering with the Soupman more than a year ago after her father died. She uses social media to promote the work and encourage others to get involved. 

    “A lot of people think that you should teach homeless people how to not be homeless. Peter meets people where they are and fills their immediate needs. Peter’s good work changes perspectives and inspires people to be better humans in simple ways,” McCarthy said. 

    Rachel Vetstein, of Bridgewater, also volunteered with the Soupman regularly but once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she turned her work to social media to promote the effort. She often reposts the Soupman’s social media posts that call for volunteers. 

    “This right here is giving back,” Vetstein said. 

    Sandy Durand, of Abington, donated to Kelleher’s organization in honor of her late brother, Robert Conrad, who died in early 2020 after struggling with mental illness and other issues. Durand said she wanted to find an organization that would help those in situations similar to the ones her brother faced. After seeing Kelleher’s story featured on WCVB’s Chronicle, she knew his organization would be the best choice. 

    “I saw his story on Chronicle and after Robert’s death I wanted to make a donation in his memory. I thought that donating to an organization that helps people who are dealing with homelessness, especially during the pandemic, would be a special way to honor his memory,” Durand said. 

    Dave Durand, Sandy’s husband, was also touched by Kelleher’s work. 

    “Being able to make a donation, in memory of a man who was faced with many challenges, to a cause that tries to alleviate those challenges for others was healing for us after my brother-in-law’s death,” Durand said.

Hugs By Way of Handmade Blankets

By Camryn Brosnan 

    Annie’s Kindness Blankets has been giving out hugs by way of handmade blankets for almost six years now. 

  

    It all began in late 2015 as a way to honor Anne Marie Varney, an Abington mother, following her suicide on March 30, 2015. Varney’s daughters Angela, Christina, and Mia, along with their aunt Barbara Buckley, took a step forward in their grief and decided what they wanted most was to help others, the way Annie would have wanted them to. 

    

    “We will never put her behind us, she is always in front of us. She has a message and we are delivering it, in the form of hugs.” Barbara Buckley said, of Annie. 

    Their ultimate goal is to be a light in a world that is too often shrouded in darkness, spreading kindness and letting people know that they are never alone. According to the CDC, in 2018 alone, more than 48,000 people living in the United States passed away from suicide. Annie’s Kindness Blankets wants to help end the stigma around mental illness, while giving blankets to people touched by trauma, illness, or any other struggles. 

    The campaign started out small, but has grown over the years since its’ inception. 

    “We started with a goal of 35 blankets, we are now at about 10,000.” Angela Varney said. 

    This led to the organization being honored by TLC and being included in Lady Gaga’s book Channel Kindness. 

    “My proudest moment within the organization would have to be attending the TLC “Give A Little” awards show. Being given the chance to talk about this amazing journey we have taken to get here and reflecting on how many people we touched across the world- it was surreal.” Varney said. 

    The COVID-19 pandemic provided new challenges, as the organization relies heavily on group gatherings. The need for blankets appears to be greater now too, in the midst of a pandemic. 

    “The biggest change is not getting together for blanket making events. The blanket making events were enormously popular and allowed people to come into a safe place and talk about whatever they want.” Buckley said. 

    The group recently teamed up with YourFleece.com, which according to Varney, has allowed for “making and giving out blankets safely, effectively, and from the comfort of your own home.” 

    The organization is now looking to reach even more people. Varney said she has personal goals for the organization. 

    “Something that I have been thinking about is implementing our organization into a school setting. Our purpose is to get people talking about mental health and recognizing the effect mental illness has on our society. I believe if we start talking about mental health to our children then this would give them an opportunity to speak freely about what they’re feeling in a safe and comfortable way.” 

    Buckley sees growth for the organization too. 

    “I envision an AKB being a staple across many platforms, from police officers having one ready to wrap someone in, to ambulance drivers, mental health facilities, foster care, homeless shelters, cancer centers, hospitals, nursing homes, and so much more. We just touched the tip of the iceberg of where these could help.” she said. 

    To learn more about Annie’s Kindness Blankets and their mission, visit annieskindnessblankets.org or find them on Facebook and Instagram. They are always looking for volunteers and for anyone who feels like they need an “everlasting hug.”

Activism Brewing on College Campuses

 By Paige Fitzpatrick

College campuses are now at the forefront of fighting for racial justice and equality. Students and faculty are working towards developing a diverse and inclusive curriculum taught by well-rounded professors.

 

Stonehill College and Wheaton College launched plans to serve students from a variety of backgrounds to encourage changes amongst the staff and curriculum. 

 

In 2020, a number of colleges made efforts to offer an inclusive educational space for everyone. According to a 2019 report from the American Council on Education (ACE), the students that are enrolled in higher education are more diverse than ever. The number of students who identify as any race other than white has increased by 30% - 45% over the last 20 years. 

 

While student bodies have diversified over time, colleges racial and ethnic makeup of full-time faculty and staff have remained “predominantly white.” Thus, leaving gaps in colleges ability to serve students of color, according to the Association of American Colleges and Universities.

 

During Stonehill College’s fall semester of 2020, a sit in was held by a group known as Student’s in Action (SIA), who discussed plans about diversity efforts and how it would be implemented, after the release of a letter written by a group of professors was criticized by many for its racially insensitive content.

 

While the letter was a catalyst for change on Stonehill’s campus, “it gave us an opportunity to speak up about all the other struggles that students are having,” said one of SIA lead representatives, Tahj Valentine. 

 

At the sit in, which drew nearly 300 students, faculty and staff on the quad with an additional 260 members that were present via Zoom the group demanded changes from the institution. 

 

The demands included:

·      More safe spaces on campus

·      The creation of a student committee involved in the faculty hiring process

·      More communication from the college’s leadership and administration to students regarding potential changes to the general education curriculum

 

Pauline Dobrowski, Stonehill Vice President for Student Affairs, said the committee is working to find spaces around campus and hopes to have one identified by the end of this spring semester. Stonehill also recently received a financial gift to establish a Center for Race, Ethnicity and Social Justice.

 

The Center was proposed in Stonehill’s 2020 Provost Bold Ideas Initiative with the intention to serve as a home for teaching, research, and dialogue that hopes to diversify the campus and create opportunities for interdisciplinary work. 

 

“I hope that it can eventually be a place for students who don’t normally feel like they have any comfortable spaces, so they can go there and feel comfortable, whether that be socially or educationally,” SIA lead representative, Sayvion Jones said.

 

In addition to the creation of a safe space, the committee asked for student involvement in faculty hiring processes and more communication regarding the college’s general education curriculum.

 

SIA recently put together an appendix of how they will work with the Faculty Senate when it comes to faculty hiring and creating a diverse curriculum. 

 

“We are trying to create strict policies and guidelines, so that in the future when I’m gone there will still be strict policies that new teachers can go back to and follow,” Valentine said, “As a student you want to make sure the people who are teaching you are qualified and have the right backgrounds to be able to teach all students.” 

 

Pamerson Ifill, who teaches at both Suffolk University and Stonehill College, served as a board member at Massasoit Community College, and received degrees from both Massasoit and Stonehill, said the recent push for diversity and inclusion is highly encouraged. 

 

When Ifill graduated from Stonehill in 1992 there were five students of color. He recalls there being talk of doing work in diversity at that time, but it never resulted in the types of conversations we are having now. He said having a diverse faculty is important. 

 

“The power of self-identification is seeing people that look like you that are successful, people that can speak to you who have lived the same experiences - all of these are an essential part of any college or educational setting,” Ifill said, “Students want to see other professionals or faculty and staff that look like them, not just the custodians and grounds keepers.”

 

He recalls feeling isolated at times because he never had a professor of color while at Stonehill from 1989-1992. He said the diversity of the faculty and the diversity of the material being taught at any educational level is important.

 

“It doesn’t make sense to bring more kids of color on campus and only teach them about old Roman Catholicism,” Ifill said. “So, I think expanding the curriculum to represent those interests and spark interests, but also have the students see themselves reflected in the material will be an important part around the DEI domain.”

 

Wheaton College has also been working towards a more diverse faculty and curriculum over the past few years. 

 

In the fall of 2018, DEAL (Diversity, Equity & Access Leadership) was created in order to ensure Wheaton’s progress in areas of DEI and form a structure to move their DEI priorities ahead in the institution. 

 

DEAL formed a 10-step action plan in 2020 to fulfill the colleges’ goal of institutional equity. The program collaborates with all offices from across the campus as well as two students per class year to meet monthly to speak on DEI initiatives in each department. 

 

The 10 steps lay out the foundation for what Dean of the Marshall Center for Intercultural Learning, Raquel Ramos, calls what a “Rockstar Wheaton would look like in terms of DEI.”

 

The steps are broken up into four categories: institutional leadership, institutional accountability, institutional learning, and institutional reckoning. 

 

Both steps of the institutional leadership category have been fulfilled and they are in the process of continuing their work. The first step of institutional accountability asks for each department, academic and staff, to create an anti-racism action plan by the end of the semester to be implemented in the next academic year.

 

“We’ve retained an outside consultant and we’ve engaged faculty and staff senior managers in working with their departments,” said Associate Vice President for Institution Equity and Belonging, Shaya Gregory Poku. These action plans have “tangible and measurable action steps,” she said.

 

She said, Wheaton’s library has been gathering archival data to understand all higher education institutions roots in white supremacy and contributions to institutional racism. They plan to use this information to acknowledge their history in order to become an anti-racist institution. 

The DJ Henry Dream Fund Allowing Kids to Stay in Sports

 By Paige Fitzpatrick

*Published in South Shore Community Magazine*

DJ Henry

While many children enjoy the benefits that come with being involved in sports, nearly 43% of children’s families cannot afford the extra costs that add up from these activities.

 

Enter the DJ Henry Dream Fund. The fund’s goal is to help keep kids who can’t afford the costs to stay involved.

 

The Henry family knows how important sports can be for kids. Angella and Danroy Henry Sr. lost their son Danroy “DJ” Henry Jr. in 2010 when he was shot and killed by a police officer while he was sitting in his car outside of a night club in New York. He was a football player at Pace University at the time. 

 

DJ loved sports and after DJ’s passing, many of his teammates throughout the years came forward to share stories of how DJ impacted their lives. 

 

“If a teammate’s track shoes weren’t fitting, he gave them his shoes. If they needed shoulder pads, he gave them his shoulder pads, and the list goes on,” Angella Henry said. 

 

DJ’s parents and siblings, Kyle and Amber, are following DJ’s example of helping others to make a difference.

 

In 2011, the Henry family created the DJ Henry Dream Fund to provide young athletes with opportunities to participate in community-based programs and preforming arts programs. 

 

“We realized there was a big gap for kids who wanted to participate in sports, but their families couldn’t afford it,” Angella Henry said. “We wanted to provide funding, so these kids can have access to these programs.”

 

Each year their goal is to raise $100,000 for scholarships for kids ages 5-18 in Massachusetts. 

 

To raise money for the fund, the Henry family relies on the generosity of others and holds a fundraising gala around DJ’s birthday in October. The Henry family is also extremely grateful from the continued support they receive from HarborOne Bank, The Goddard Foundation, and W.B. Mason, she said. 

 

Dance Scholarship Recipient

With the money raised at the gala and the generosity of others, the DJ Henry Dream Fund has helped kids enroll in nearly 200 programs in Massachusetts.

 

“It's always wonderful to hear from parents,” Angella Henry said “One parent emailed me this message”, ‘My daughter has made some amazing friends and grew not only in her athletic ability but in her self-confidence and determination. Without a DJ Henry Dream Fund scholarship, we would not have been able to participate, and I am so thankful for this.’

 

The DJ Henry Fund has made a great impact in many children’s lives, especially in communities that may need it most, she said.

 

“Wherever there’s a need that is where we want to be,” Angella Henry said. 

 

Individuals can apply for a DJ Henry Fund scholarship at djdreamfund.org/apply.

Online Learning is the New Normal

By Nicole Bagala

            Online learning. It’s a concept that didn’t seem fathomable for students and

parents in the past. But after COVID-19 hit the United States last March, online learning

has become the new normal.

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics’ Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, more than 35.3% of students in the US were enrolled in distance education courses at degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the fall of 2018.

And since then, the number of students who use online learning has skyrocketed.

According to a Wiley Education Services survey, 2020 Online College Students Comprehensive Data on Demands and Preferences, 78% of online students who have learned in a face-to-face setting feel their online experience was the same or better than their classroom experience. And about 79% of those who completed their online degree agree or strongly agree that it was worth the cost.

So in light of the pandemic, schools have taken action to prevent COVID from spreading to their students. A number of schools have turned to distance learning, and online learning is expected to grow and expand to new platforms.

Stonehill College Associate Professor of Education Stephen Pinzari said online learning can come in different forms. It can be done using Google Classroom and Zoom, where assignments are posted, and the students meet with their teacher and classmates.

Another way to teach online learning through a Discussion Board format, which 

provides an opportunity for students to respond to the material, to each other, and it 

gives the instructor the chance to interact with each student in a more individualized fashion.

“This [Discussion Board] is especially helpful for the more reserved students who are typically too shy to respond during in-class discussions,” Pinzari said. “Students are actively engaged in discussion that takes the form of writing, which research has shown to result in better retention of information since students get caught up in the discussion, making them more motivated to consider the material.”

One survey from the Learning House and Education Dynamics, Online College 

Students 2019: Comprehensive Data on Demands and Preferences, found that online 

students believe they have acquired skills employers look for from using the online

learning format.

The participants of this study believed their critical thinking and problem-solving

skills improved significantly because of their online learning, but also felt that their

teamwork and oral communication skills were the least improved because of online

learning.

And that doesn’t mean online learning is the best way to educate students.

Stonehill College’s Associate Professor and Education Studies Department Chair,

Dr. Margaret E. Pierce, is the mother of a child with a disability who has experienced online

learning. She has heard that some students who struggle with anxiety thrive in remote

schooling, but she does not feel it is helping her child.

“I had to homeschool my child because he could not access online learning. That was

in addition to fulfilling the responsibilities of my full-time job,” Pierce said. “Parents have to 

supervise their children or find childcare in a difficult climate. I don’t know how to cope

with the stresses of online learning.”

My Brother's Keeper Rises to the Challenge

By Jordyn Forte

Published in South Shore Community magazine, Spring 2021

2020 was a year of hardship that no one could have possibly predicted. That, however, did not stop those at My Brother’s Keeper – a local Christian ministry dedicated to service – from, “bring[ing] the love and hope of Jesus Christ to those [they] serve.” 

According to their website, My Brother’s Keeper, “helped more people in 2020 than at any other time in [their] 33-year history,” assisting 62,947 people, valued at approximately $4,122,547. 

 

Founded in 1988 by Jim and Terry Orcutt, My Brother’s Keeper was born out of the Orcutt’s basement in Taunton, Orcutt said.

The Orcutt’s began helping others by collecting and donating clothing to those in need. However, Orcutt said, they quickly realized their community – particularly young individuals in challenging situations – would be better served if they received assistance in obtaining furniture. 

And so, My Brother’s Keeper shifted gears and their furniture program was born, Orcutt said. 

Over the years, both My Brother’s Keeper’s food and furniture programs have grown and expanded.

 

In 2020, My Brother’s Keeper adapted their ministry to succeed, even despite facing pandemic-imposed challenges, by re-imagining the service model they had followed for decades. 

Erich Miller, the president of My Brother’s Keeper, said that much of the ministry’s success, particularly in this past year, can be attributed to the organization’s flexibility.

“To adapt to the needs of the pandemic, we shifted our programs around,” Miller said.

 

Where My Brother’s Keeper normally dedicates 75% of its manpower to its furniture program and 25% of its manpower to its food program, Miller said these figured changed drastically throughout the course of the pandemic. 

Eventually, when COVID-19 case numbers rose, My Brother’s Keeper temporarily suspended their furniture pick-up and delivery program, instead pouring all of their manpower and efforts into their food program, Miller said. 

 

Though critically important, the reallocation of resources within the ministry was not the sole cause of the success My Brother’s Keeper saw in 2020. 

 

For safety reasons, My Brother’s Keeper had to limit the number of individuals it opened its doors to on a weekly basis. 

While the ministry typically worked with around 300 volunteers per week, this number was reduced down to 30 volunteers per week throughout 2020, Miller said. 

This also impacted the number of vendors that My Brother’s Keeper worked with, which was ultimately reduced down to just three primary companies, Miller said. 

 

And thus, this is where kindness and generosity greatly assisted My Brother’s Keeper. 

Though My Brother’s Keeper had less physical volunteers in 2020 than in years past, there were a number of other ways in which the community still assisted the ministry, Miller said, noting that many of those who were unable to physically volunteer instead opted to donate money, food, or other helpful resources to the organization. 

Furthermore, My Brother’s Keeper was generously offered assistance from Red Line Freight Systems, Inc., who transported food from the Greater Boston Food Bank back to the ministry’s Dartmouth and Easton facilities five times a week using commercial trucks, Miller said.

The frequency of these pick-ups and the size of the trucks that the ministry was able to utilize thus greatly aided My Brother’s Keeper in helping out as many individuals in need as possible, Miller said.

“People always step up,” Miller said, “[and] people have been especially generous during COVID-19.”