HCC Staff Offer "Real Talk" College Forum At Trumbull Garden
DATE: July 6, 2017
Contact: Cheryl Forbes - 203-332-8531
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HCC Staff Offer “Real Talk” College Forum At Trumbull Gardens
BRIDGEPORT, CT - Housatonic Community College (HCC) faculty and staff tutors are bringing the message of life transformation and personal development to the streets. The group was invited and will be the featured guests and sponsors of: “Education: Why We Need It” and Trumbull Gardens’ College Fair on, Tuesday, July 18, 2017 from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the Trumbull Gardens Community Center, 715 Trumbull Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06606. The event is free and open to the public.
For HCC faculty and staff, Trumbull Gardens is familiar territory. That’s because since October 2016, volunteers from the college representing departments from Admissions, and Academic Support, to Library, Information Technology, and Science have been consistently volunteering three days a week to provide tutoring to 15 eager students.
According to HCC’s Assistant Professor of Biology/Molecular Biology Robin Avant, “While some people commonly think an event such as this is only for high school students, it’s extremely important that parents are involved as well. Education is a lifelong process simply because the world is constantly changing. To keep up, parents need to continue to update their knowledge and skills. That way, they’re better prepared to help their children with homework, or support them in finding helpful resources. It’s about personal and community development. It begins with the individual and can have widespread positive effects.” For Avant, this isn’t merely an academic discussion. She lives in and grew up in Bridgeport, and knows the benefits of having a solid academic foundation as a stepping stone for career advancement and personal success.
Avant is also HCC’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) Coordinator, and a graduate of Housatonic Community College as well as Central Connecticut State University. Following graduation, she had a 6-year stint as a Manufacturing Associate at 454 Life Sciences, before returning to her alma mater to assist others in starting and continuing their educational journeys.
“It doesn’t matter who you are or how long it’s been since you’ve taken a class. Housatonic can get you where you want to go” says HCC Admissions Director, Trumbull Gardens tutor and program visionary Earl Graham. “By working together, we can come up with a plan that fits you and what you want to do. If you have the desire and are willing to work toward your goals, HCC’s environment allows you to succeed. I’ve seen it happen time and time again.”
Graham, is flanked by a dedicated corps of colleague-tutors with deep roots in the community. Kofi Adomako-Ayisi, Robin Avant, Anna Cruz, James Curry, Peter Everett, Andrew Pelletier, Michael Tapper, and Terry Walden use their skills while giving students the help they need to improve learning and get better grades.
Walden, HCC Admissions Counselor and long-time Bridgeport resident, is often seen around the city and campus, chatting with students about the possibilities of making their dreams real. Walden reveals, “Working with students and helping them find their path is what I love to do. I’ve chosen this work, because it keeps me connected. It allows me to share what I know to help someone else find their way. I’m pretty sure my colleagues feel the same.”