Latest news with #FosterCareAwarenessCampaign
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Greenfield professor receives 2025 Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship
GREENFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Greenfield Community College is celebrating a major academic honor as Associate Professor of History Alyssa Arnell has been awarded a 2025 Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship. The national award, granted by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), recognizes 45 doctoral students across the country who are breaking new ground in humanities and social sciences research. All Our Kids launches Foster Care Awareness Campaign during Foster Care Awareness Month Arnell's selection from a pool of nearly 900 applicants highlights the significance of her work, which examines the 1962 removal of Fazendeville–a historically Black community near New Orleans–to expand the Chalmette National Battlefield. Her dissertation focuses on how historical preservationists and political leaders invoked patriotic narratives to justify the displacement of a self-sustaining and politically active community, ultimately challenging conventional interpretations of democracy and historical memory in the U.S. 'We are incredibly proud of Alyssa's recognition and her contribution to both our academic community and historical scholarship,' said Dr. Michelle Schutt, President of Greenfield Community College. 'Her work embodies the college's commitment to equity and excellence in education.' The Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship was launched in 2023 with a mission to support scholars who are taking risks and introducing novel approaches in their dissertation research. In addition to a stipend, the fellowship provides funding for research expenses and professional development, enabling recipients to push boundaries in their academic fields. Alison Chang, ACLS Program Officer in US Programs, praised this year's cohort of fellows. 'ACLS is proud to support these fellows, who are poised to conduct groundbreaking dissertation research and broaden the audience for humanistic scholarship,' Chang said. Arnell, who serves as both Associate Professor of History and Chair of the History Department at GCC, is widely respected for her emphasis on inclusive historical inquiry. Under her leadership, the college has expanded its curriculum to include courses in civil rights history, Indigenous studies, and queer history. She is also a participant in the Mellon-funded Five Colleges Building Academic Leadership in the Humanities initiative. Her scholarly work and campus leadership have earned Arnell multiple accolades, including the African American Female Professor Award and GCC's Martin Luther King Jr. Living the Dream Award. For more information on the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship, visit Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
All Our Kids launches Foster Care Awareness Campaign during Foster Care Awareness Month
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – A foster child can need a family for days, months, or years, a process that can be difficult for someone becoming a foster parent. 'For one, you don't necessarily know the children in your care. So learning and understanding what their needs are and how to meet them is a huge challenge,' said Marianna Litovich, Founder & Executive Director, AOK in Holyoke. For some families, it can be unplanned or unexpected. 'We are called what's considered kinship foster care. So we came forward for a child specifically that was identified in our lives that needed placement,' said Wendy Provost, Foster Parent in Ludlow. In 2018, the Provost family fully immersed itself in adopting a child. Despite working alongside social workers for four years, they dealt with loneliness for several months. No one could share a similar experience with them. Things changed once 'All Our Kids invited families to a Christmas event in December. 'I'll never forget it, it made me cry at the event, because it was just like meeting the needs that I needed,' said Provost. Each year, the non-profit, All Our Kids, helps to serve more than 2000 individuals with the support of community donations. 'Unlike a very populated place like Boson or Worcester, our population is only like 7% of the state, but we have about a quarter of the kids in care and so its really important that we make sure we do everything we can to keep those families who are foster families involved and engaged and not lose them,' said Litovich. Which is why employees at PeoplesBank came together to donate $2,500 to the AOK's mission. 'We want to get the word out there, so people feel part of a community and not as isolated,' said Matthew Bannister, SVP of Marketing and Corporate Responsibility at PeoplesBank. Their donation is kicking off AOK's Foster Care Awareness Campaign to support the community center, referral services, and community closest. With no state funding, the organization hopes to raise about $100,000 by the end of the year. You can also support AOK by donating new and gently used items or by volunteering. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
