Parent Graduates in the Spotlight

Duncan Proffit graduated 2005, Duncan is now Children First Norwich Chair.  In 2006, Duncan did a photo shoot with his son for Backus Hospital on men’s health.  Duncan also produces the CFN hour public access TV show. Duncan has recently been hired as a community Liaison for Building Blocks.

Debbie Kievets and other graduates are still working to get a community center for Norwich by showing the need of a comminute Center.  Deb and other past graduates such as Shiela Hayes, Jackie Owens, Karyn Barrows, and Lori Bapties are working hard every first Friday as they hold a dance for the teens.

The S.P.R.O.U.T.S. - Special People Reaching Out Unconditionally To Students. This program is going strong and is in seven different schools.  Debbie Kivets has started this program with the Norwich Public Schools

Parent graduates are hard at work with the Anti-Bullying Coalition.  They have been working with local schools and public partners to help this coalition move forward and allow the entire community to address this problem. This group is going strong with Shiela Hayes, Jackie Owens, Debbie Kievits, Lori Bapties, and Karyn Barrows they are working with Rep. M Olson to change the law.

Lori Bapties and Debbie Kiviets are still doing their public access TV show “Community Friends”.

Pat & Richard Ferron, past graduates, have moved to RI but are keeping themselves busy starting a non-profit theater group in East Providence.

Local organizations honored a few of the parent graduates at the Norwich branch of the NAACP Annual Freedom Fund Banquet.  Jacqueline Caron received the Community Service Award.

Jackie Owens received the W.E.B. DuBoise Lifetime Achievement Award at the 40th Annual CT State Convention of the NAACP.

Sheila Hayes received the Hollister Gutridge Educational Achievement Award.

Miriam Thornburn was named the Director of Centro De La Communidad.

Debbie Kievits is on the Norwich Bulletin Advisory Board.

Parent graduates were active in getting 20 more residents registered to vote.  Part of their recruitment effort consisted of canvassing neighborhoods and encouraging parents to vote.

Kelly Cassidy is now a 4th grade teacher at St. Mary School in Jewett City.  She also sits on the School Readiness Board.

Parent graduates organized their annual Family Resource Night at Greeneville School, where 10 different agencies and organizations attended and provided information on their services, as well as family activities.