Through this short session, the students became familiar with community resources by doing assignments that required them to develop and organize a Community Resource File featuring support services for the population of their choice.

After the class ended on Thursday, August 3rd, the students enjoyed a cultural feast as part of their last day. They prepared and shared food items from their cultures to enrich the palates of their colleagues and create a festive learning celebration. They served a multicultural menu featuring Dominican, Haitian, Puerto Rican, Pakistani, African American, and Irish and Italian foods.

NVCC’s Associate Dean of Liberal Arts/Behavioral & Social Sciences (LABSS), Lisa Dresdner, Ph.D., enthusiastically supported Professor of Human Services, Christine Cocchiola-Meyer, in her efforts to introduce the students to hands-on experiences of the program. “Such wonderful work, Christine! Thank you for providing such a dynamic introduction to a college course and the Human Services program to these students.”

The GEAR Up students are from local high schools including Crosby, Kennedy, Wilby, Waterbury Career Academy, Waterbury Arts Magnet, and Kaynor Technical High School.