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December 5, 2005
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Media Contact: |
Mike AndreiCheryl Bird, Executive Director |
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Daemen College-Seneca Babcock Partnership Celebrates with Second Annual Fall Children's Festival
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On Wednesday, December 7, 2005 at 5:30 p.m., the Daemen College-Seneca Babcock Partnership will hold a Children's Festival at the Seneca Babcock Community Center, 1168 Seneca Street. The purpose of the festival is to celebrate the accomplishments of the youth in the neighborhood who have participated in after-school enrichment activities and homework help with Daemen College students. Youth will display exhibits from their participation in clubs including painting and crafts, creative cards, support for seniors, ceramics, cooking, and drama. The preschool, dance club, and drama club will provide entertaining performances, a culmination of a semester of practice and rehearsals.
Since 1998, Daemen students and faculty have provided direct services to low-income youth in the Seneca Babcock neighborhood through The Daemen College-Seneca Babcock Partnership, a project of the Center for Sustainable Communities and Civic Engagement. The goals of the Partnership are to improve the well-being of families in this low-income community and to prepare graduates who are dedicated to the well-being of both our local and global communities. Daemen students offer homework help, enrichment and mentoring activities at three partner agencies: Seneca Street Church, Boys' & Girls' Club-Babcock Clubhouse and the Seneca Babcock Community Center. Last year, over 90 Daemen students assisted 120 students at the various sites. In the larger Babcock neighborhood, 41% of the individuals 25 years and over have not completed high school. 25% of the individuals live below poverty level. The collaboration has united and strengthened this community and has opened the doorway for the cash-strapped agencies to collaborate and better serve children. "The need for after-school enrichment programs and homework help for the youth in this neighborhood cannot be overstated," notes Cheryl Bird, Executive Director of the Center for Sustainable Communities and Civic Engagement. "The schools have faced cuts in remediation, athletics, music, art, libraries and school counselors. The after-school enrichment activities provide an exciting opportunity for youth to participate in activities they would not otherwise have the opportunity to do, and provides Daemen students the opportunity to be involved in the lives of some terrific kids." In addition to performing at the Children's Festival, the Daemen-College Seneca Babcock Drama Club will be showcasing their adaptation of the play "Beauty and the Beast" on Thursday, December 8th at 6:00 p.m. at Daemen College, Duns Scotus 34. A performance for the community will be presented on Saturday, December 10th at 2:00 p.m. at the Seneca Street Church, 1218 Seneca Street, Buffalo. Everyone is welcome and invited to attend these free events. Daemen College has been awarded funding for the Daemen College-Seneca Babcock Partnership by The John R. Oishei Foundation, KeyBank USA, The Buffalo Renaissance Foundation, The Junior League of Buffalo, and The Josephine Goodyear Foundation. On May 12, 2005, The Daemen College-Seneca Babcock Partnership was awarded the Civic Empowerment Award, presented by the Buffalo Niagara All-America City Committee. For more information, contact Cheryl Bird or call 839-8489. |