Our Town

Although Community Centers, Inc. has been serving the Greenwich community for more than fifty years, many people in town are still unaware of the good work it does. Located at 61 East Putnam Avenue in Greenwich, across from the YMCA, the non-profit agency, also known as CCI, offers educational and recreational programs for those who are economically marginalized, have special needs or are otherwise isolated from the mainstream. It also provides counseling services and engages in advocacy on behalf of the population it serves.

A United Way agency that is supported almost entirely by private contributions, CCI was founded in 1955 upon the recommendation of the United Way’s forerunner, the Greenwich Community Chest, in an effort to consolidate what were then three separate community centers funded by the Community Chest. The purpose of this newly created community center was to make sure that a range of educational and recreational opportunities, as well as counseling services, were available to all Greenwich residents, including the economically disadvantaged.

CCI Executive Director, Kathy Stillson, a social worker by training, emphasizes the importance of relationships when talking of the work the agency does. “It is important for us all to have a relationship with someone who believes in us,” she says.

Stillson and her full-time staff of four seek to develop relationships with their clients that are based on trust and mutual respect and that engender a sense of belonging. These caring staff members are Pamela Bell and Lauren Falconi, both social workers; Ron Berlingo,a gerontologist; and Ramon Lara, a program worker who is fluent in Spanish. They are assisted by aides and volunteers.

Stillson sees the agency’s strength as lying in the long-term relationships it builds, especially with town residents who live in subsidized housing.

Regularly scheduled CCI programs include homework clubs; after school activities for elementary, middle and high school children; an elementary school reading group; a before school ‘breakfast’ program at Julian Curtiss School; assistance with the Head Start program; drop-in centers at Armstrong Court, Wilbur Peck Court and Adams Garden; special needs groups; activities for seniors at Parsonage Cottage, Agnes Morley Heights, Quarry Knoll and McKinney Terrace; and a Citizenship and English Class. CCI also organizes family trips and special events and conducts a summer program for young people that includes recreation, tutoring and  the development of reading skills.

Currently, all CCI clients are in financial circumstances that meet HUD definitions of low, and very low, income. Last year, over 1,000 individuals took advantage of one, or another, of the programs and services that CCI offers. Of these, 37% were Latino, 32% African American, 28% Caucasian, 1% Asian and 2% were categorized as ‘other.’  The vast majority – 98% – of those participating in the agency’s recreational, educational and counseling programs live in subsidized housing on Greenwich Housing Authority properties.

As a new member of this non-profit agency’s Board of Directors, I have been trying to acquaint myself with its many activities, amazed by how much is done with a small staff and limited budget. Yesterday I attended the Elementary School Boys and Girls Group that meets Tuesday afternoons from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.  There were 11 boys and girls participating under the supervision of staff members Bell, Falconi and Lara. All are students at Julian Curtiss School, in grades 2 through 5. Most, perhaps all, live at Wilbur Peck Court.

The children were enthusiastic as they listened to a presentation by Duncan Lee and Allen Seaman. Lee, who grew up in Greenwich, is the branch manager of TD Bank on Greenwich Avenue. Seaman is the bank’s Customer Service Representative.The presentation was part of TD Bank’s WOW! ZONE initiative for children and teens K through 12.

While, from the bank’s point of view, WOW! ZONE is part of a business plan designed to promote TD Bank’s name, generate a positive image of the institution in the community and ultimately generate new customers, the program has a strong educational component. Lee describes it as a “fun way” to communicate with kids and teach them about money and banking.

“Who knows how money started?” Seaman asked the boys and girls.

“With the cave men!” exclaimed one of the children.

“Possibly,” Seaman said, explaining the circumstances which give rise to a need for a currency that replaces systems of bartering.

“What is money made of?” Seaman asked.

“Paper,” many children called out simultaneously  in response.

That was not the right answer. Linen is one of the main components of U.S. bills. But money has taken many different forms from tea leaves to sea shells.

“Do you know what a salary is?” Seaman continued asking the children questions.

“A paycheck,” several children said.

“And where does the word ‘salary’ come from?”

“From celery,” one child said.

“From salad,” another said.

“Actually,” said Seaman, “It comes from ‘salt,’ or ‘salarium,’ which was the currency with which Roman soldiers were paid.”

Seaman then talked to the children about the concept of a bank, savings, money lending and interest.

Four of the children raised their hands when asked if they have bank accounts. “A college account,” one girl said.

“We have a big jug at school,” another girl said, “To save money in to help Haiti.”

Seaman and Lee told the girl about TD Bank’s PENNY ARCADE, a machine that counts coins for free so that they can be turned into a more manageable form than coins.

“What about chocolate coins?” one child asks.

Chocolate coins won’t work, the children are told.

“How long does a dollar bill stay in circulation?” Seaman asked another question.

The guesses began with a 1000 years and kept going down until the lowest number of 12 years. The actual answer: 3 months.

What about coins?

This time, the guesses began low and worked their way up to 20 years. The actual answer: 30 years.

Then it was the children’s turn to question the bankers.

“How much money do you get?”

“How long have you worked in banking?”

“Where is the bank?”

“Is Bank of America your competition?”

The bank the children seemed most familiar with was Bank of America. Many of them thought TD Bank was where Bank of America is on Greenwich Avenue. The two banks are across the street from one another. One child mentioned Chase Bank.

“Actually,” said Seaman, “There are 42 different banks in Greenwich.”

The children’s questions continued.

“What if the bank gets robbed?”

“What if someone pretends to be you and takes out your money?”

Seaman and Lee told the children that their money is safe. They explained that it is insured by the federal government.

At the end of the presentation, Seaman and Lee gave all the children TD Bank WOW! ZONE gift bags containing a ruler, a calculator and $10 coupon valid for anyone 21 or under who opens a Young Savers account into which TD Bank will deposit the $10 gift. A clever business plan.

I was struck by how much fun the children were having as a group and by their general enthusiasm. Stillson told me that CCI tries to expose the elementary school group to many different kinds of experience and to get them to have a “stronger sense of themselves in every way.” Stillson hopes the group will “help them to have a sense of their own power” and engender respect for each other. “We believe in them,” she said.

NOTE: Although this blog is devoted to commentary on Greenwich people and Greenwich issues, with the intent of celebrating our town’s diversity, I will occasionally write on larger issues that affect us all, no matter where we live. I am here commenting on something that fits this description.

Last week, late on Tuesday afternoon, a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, creating a hell on earth for the people of this desperately poor nation. The whole world, touched by the shock of the earthquake, mobilized to send help and bring some measure of relief to a place in the throes of  unimaginable suffering.

The lack of infrastructure in Haiti continues to impede such efforts.

One of the first rescue operations to be up and running was that of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) team. Two Israeli jets arrived in Haiti last Friday, bringing a 220-person delegation that includes doctors, nurses, medics, police forces and an elite search and rescue team. These relief workers came with 10 tons of medical equipment.

By Monday, the search and rescue units had rescued 70 people, according to information from the Israeli Consulate in New York.

Television news reports on CNN, ABC, FOX, CBS and SKY showed the Israeli team operating a first class field hospital with sophisticated medical equipment in army tents on a Port-au-Prince soccer field near the airport. According to news reports, it is one of the only places in Port-au-Prince where Haitians can receive advanced medical treatment. Nathan Guttman, reporting from Port-au-Prince for the Forward, refers to “the stark contrast between the Israeli-operated hospital and any other medical facility in Port-au-Prince.”

The hospital, which was set up in 8 hours and can handle 500 people a day, includes an emergency room, intensive care unit, 2 operating rooms, a surgical department, pharmacy, children’s ward, radiology department, internal department and maternity ward. As of this writing, two babies had been delivered here – one a girl, born prematurely, who would otherwise have died along with her 25 year old mother. According to UNICEF, Haiti has the highest rate of infant and maternal mortality in the Western hemisphere. The other baby was a boy who was named Israel.

The Israeli government has a longstanding practice of assisting other countries in times of natural disaster.This is in keeping with fundamental Jewish values. “It is very important for us to save people, to save lives,” said a pediatrician interviewed in the FOX television report.

The IDF is highly experienced in responding to disasters that involve mass injuries. Its emergency response teams are the best in the world. This is because of Israel’s long history of enduring suicide bombings and other bombing and missile attacks.

Although Israel has always been engaged in humanitarian missions, and tikkun olam, or repair of the world, lies at the core of Jewish existence, it is sad to note that much of the world paints a very different picture of this country that still must fight for its very right to exist.

Hatred of the Jewish state is the new anti-Semitism. Anti-Israel sentiment is growing throughout Europe. Last month (December 2009), the University of Bielefeld in Germany released a new study on anti-Semitism in Germany and in Europe generally. According to Dr. Beate Kupper, a professor at the University of Bielefeld and one of the authors of the study, Europeans now use indirect ways to express their anti-Semitism by targeting Israel and claiming Jews exploit the Holocaust.

The study shows such expression of anti-Semitism increasing in Europe over the past year, although there are significant variations among countries. 37.4% of Europeans agree with the statement: “Considering Israel’s policy, I can understand why people do not like Jews.” 41.2% agree that Jews are exploiting the Holocaust to advance their own interests. And 45.7% agree with the statement: “Israel is conducting a war of extermination against the Palestinians.”

Although the Israeli humanitarian rescue effort in Haiti was not launched for this purpose, but rather because it is the right thing to do, many pro-Israel  groups perceive it as having a positive public relations effect.   They hope all the television coverage the Israeli field hospital in Haiti has had will help counter the negative image of Israel in the eyes of the world.

But this remains to be seen.

From a Biblical point of view, it is incumbent upon the Jewish people to strive to be a “light unto the nations.” This is an awesome responsibility, hard to live up to. Israel’s history of humanitarian missions as exemplified by the field hospital in Haiti is in keeping with such a calling. But if the Jewish people were intended for such a mission, Amalek, Israel’s first enemy who struck from behind after the Exodus from Egypt, from a Biblical point of view symbolizes the will to destroy the Jewish people. If the Jewish people are intended to be a light unto the nations, it is Amalek’s purpose to extinguish this light, in every generation.

Perhaps the field hospital on the soccer field in Port-au-Prince and other such past and future humanitarian endeavors are not enough to change Israel’s image in the eyes of the world. Perhaps public opinion will not change until the world recognizes that the actions for which it condemns Israel result from Israel’s fight to survive in the face of  forces that deny its very right to exist.

Meanwhile, Haitians being treated in the Israeli field hospital don’t care about these issues concerning Israel’s image.They are just thankful that the Israelis are there helping them in their own fight to survive this terrible devastation.

Greenwich kicked off the local events celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a program at the YWCA this past Thursday. I was honored to be part of this kick-off which featured an awards ceremony recognizing the achievements of two outstanding high school students. I was participating in my role as chair of the Greenwich Affirmative Action Advisory Committee, a committee that is advisory to the First Selectman.

YWCA President and CEO, Adrianne Singer, presented the 5th annual Greenwich Racial Justice Scholarships to Greenwich High School senior, Youstina Youseff and to Brunswick senior, Jason John. The scholarships, given in memory of Peter DiLeo, former YWCA Director of Communications and Racial Justice, are awarded to high school students in Greenwich who “have demonstrated special efforts to encourage people to respect differences, to promote equality, and to help eliminate all forms of bigotry, bias and racism.”

In her opening remarks, Singer said that a core mission of the YWCA is the elimination of racism. “Dr. King’s work is not yet done,” she told an audience of about 50, including Youseff and John family members. “The work of the YWCA is not yet done, and your work is not yet done.”

First Selectman, Peter Tesei, and Selectman, Drew Marzullo, joined Singer in her call to make justice a reality for all.

Marzullo noted that, while we have come a long way since Dr. King’s “I have a dream” speech delivered on the Washington Mall in August 1963, we must reflect on “how far we still need to go.” He asked that as we observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, we consider what we can do to further Dr. King’s message by translating words into action through volunteer service.

Tesei commended the two high school seniors for their achievements and said that this recognition of their work was an indication of progress in our fight against racism. Expressing his frustration with the stereotyped portrayals of Greenwich in the national media, and around the state, he said that “our strength is in our diversity.”

Youstina, who was born in Egypt and came to the United States when she was nine months old, is on the Greenwich High School NAMES Program Steering Committee, where she devotes her time to efforts heightening student awareness of prejudice and its effects. She is co-editor in chief of the Compass, the school yearbook. She is also active in the Iranian-American Club at the High School.

In an interview, Youstina told me that she considers it an honor to be recognized for something she loves to do. Living in two cultures and speaking Arabic at home, she is very aware of difference. Raising consciousness and sensitivity regarding racial and cultural differences is very important to her.

Jason, whose family comes from India, has a record of active involvement in racial justice activities. Currently president of Brunswick’s Diversity in Action program, he has participated in this program throughout high school, as he has in all the school’s Martin Luther King, Jr. assemblies. He is a facilitator for the NAMES program at Brunswick and is active with the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools’ Student Diversity Leadership Conference. He has also attended the National Association of Independent Schools’ People of Color Conference in New Orleans.

While commending the students and noting that their efforts contribute to the progress that is being made, Tesei also emphasized the need to do much more in combatting racism and bigotry. He announced that the Town of Greenwich will be in partnership with the YWCA in its new racial justice initiative.

The Greenwich YWCA, in conjunction with YWCA’s throughout the United States, is organizing a one-day event called “Stand Against Racism.” Tesei said that he would declare this day, April 26, “Stand Against Racism Day in Greenwich.”

Singer, noting that hatred is still part of our society and that the Southern Leadership Conference has documented a 54% rise in the number of hate groups in the United States over the past 8 years, said that the goal of “Stand Against Racism” is “to bring together people from all walks of life to raise awareness that racism still exists and to celebrate the richness of diversity.”

In this spirit of raising awareness, celebrating diversity and combatting bigotry of all sorts, I announced that the Greenwich Affirmative Action Advisory Committee is sponsoring a writing contest for high school students on the subject of diversity as part of the Town of Greenwich contribution to the YWCA racial justice initiative. The contest is open to all high school students in Greenwich schools, public and private. First, second and third prizes in the form of gift cards will be awarded in fiction and non-fiction categories. The submission deadline is March 26, and the winners will be announced on “Stand Against Racism Day in Greenwich.” Winning submissions will be published in the Greenwich Time, which is co-sponsoring the contest.

On this Martin Luther King Day, we take stock, as we do every year, of just how far we have come. In his remarks, Drew Marzullo called the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States a “turning point.” At the same time we must remind ourselves just how far we still must go to realize the dream Dr. King willed us, now already forty-seven years ago.