Mercy Learning Center
News & Events Archives

99 and Counting!
In early May, Mercy Learning Center celebrated its 99th graduate – Lonice, a woman who worked diligently to complete her high school education in the National External Diploma Program at MLC. At the annual Recognition Reception, Lonice received her diploma amid much applause from the audience!

MLC’s 99th Graduate, Lonice, who received her diploma at the Recognition Reception

Beyond the Garden – A Garden Tour Like No Other
A spectacular garden tour to raise awareness for the need for literacy education and raise funds for Mercy Learning Center took place at six private homes in Westport on Sunday, May 29. Friends of Mercy Learning Center opened their private gardens on a warm sunny day for this fundraiser called Beyond the Garden. All of the gardens were uniquely exquisite and offered more than just gardening – there were two guest speakers – Sydney Eddison and Steve Silk, a beekeeping demonstration, a Mar Jennings TV show taping, guest chef John Barricelli of the Sono Baking Company and Café and more. One of the gardens on the tour was home to Martha Stewart, a former Westport celebrity who filmed her television show on the grounds.

Co-chaired by Jaci Coleman of Fairfield and Jackie Cutrone of Westport, the committee members included Nancy Baker of Trumbull, Susan Burstein of Fairfield, Beth Davis of Fairfield, Arlene Field of Monroe, Donna Woods Orazio of Fairfield, and Cathy Ritch of Trumbull.

Homeowner Jenny Clerkin in her garden which served as the lunch venue and an added attraction to the tour

Beyond the Garden Co-Chair and MLC’s Board of Directors Chairperson Jaci Coleman assists a tour attendee at one of the gardens

Beyond the Garden’s Rose Sponsor Michael Shea of Connecticut Business Systems and his wife Becky enjoy the Turkey Hill Road garden

Tour attendees Pam and John Fortuna of Southport and Jennifer and Paul Maloney of Fairfield are greeted by Beyond the Garden volunteer Gerry Kuroghlian of Fairfield at a garden on Turkey Hill Road

Congratulations to MLC's Two Recent Graduates!
Hats off to GED student Diane and NEDP student Lisa who received their high school diplomas in March 2011!

Diane passed the GED exam in February and is now a high school graduate. She dropped out of the 10th grade at a Bridgeport high school. After holding a string of minimum wage jobs in factories, offices, and fast food restaurants, she knew she needed to complete her high school education in order to get a better job and support herself and her nine-year-old daughter. After securing a better job, Diane wants to attend college part-time starting in September.

Using her life experiences and work experiences, Lisa was a perfect candidate for MLC's National External Diploma Program (NEDP), an alternative route to earning a high school diploma. Lisa was born in Bridgeport and raised in Derby, where she left high school in the 10th grade due to personal issues. Having tried other adult education programs, she found MLC to be most helpful because of the one-to-one attention she received. The progress she made with her tutors, Amy and Chris, prepared her to independently finish her high school degree through the NEDP at MLC. She is proud that she completed her diploma in February 2011. Her goal is to continue to work and pursue a career as a dental or medical assistant.

We are so proud of our latest graduates and wish them a lifetime of success!

Lisa with MLC's NEDP Facilitator Lynn Davies		Diane with her GED teacher Ann Szczesny

MLC Hosts 4th Annual Essay Contest
To underscore the importance of writing skills, Mercy Learning Center hosts an essay contest each year for the adult learners enrolled it its literacy programs. Students at the Center were encouraged to participate in the contest by submitting an essay about "What Does Mercy Learning Center Mean to Me?" The guest speaker at a recent reception honoring the participants and announcing the finalists was Dr. Betsy Bowen, Professor of English at Fairfield University who also serves as Associate Director of the Connecticut Writing Project/Fairfield University and was named 2010 Connecticut Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation. She applauded their desire to use their experiences to write their unique stories, saying "You, the women at Mercy Learning Center, are claiming your own voices and learning the skills you need to write effectively at work, at school, for yourself and for your families. You are expressing the truths that you know through your writing, and you are making people listen. You are claiming the power that is rightfully yours to express yourself, tell your stories, and advocate for your own needs and others'." (To read Dr. Bowen's entire inspiration speech, click here.)

Organized by MLC's Tutoring Coordinator, Diane Holmes, this was the fourth annual essay contest. "Each year, the essay contest momentum among the students, teachers, and tutors builds. This friendly competition becomes an opportunity to celebrate our students' inspirational stories of success as a result of education," remarked Holmes. "We received more than 140 entries this year, each of them special in their own way."

A panel of judges comprised of MLC volunteer tutors included Beth Kelly of Southport, Prill Boyle of Westport, Mary Burlinson of Easton, Gail Feldman of Fairfield, Ginny Gesh of Fairfield, Bridget Hickey of Bridgeport, Allison Noel-Alva of Westport, Annette Shawah of Easton, and Chris Zavada of Fairfield. After reading through the essays, winners were chosen from each of the Center's four full-time classes and four levels of instruction in its tutoring program. From those eight finalists, a grand prize winner was selected. Each winner received a bouquet of flowers and a gift card.

MLC Essay Contest Winners with their Teachers/Tutors (l to r) - front row:MLC Students Lucile, Danjuan, Carina, Paula, Mondeline, Binti, Lydia, and Deilya. Back row: MLC ESL Instructor Marilyn Burgeson of Stratford, Tutor Sherisse Abrams of Westport, Tutor Melissa Marlowe of Westport, Tutor David Kernis of Trumbull, MLC Instructor Mary Beth Clayton of Fairfield, MLC Instructor Linda Johnston of Westport, Tutor Mary Burlinson of Easton, Tutor Dr. Betsy Bowen of Fairfield, Tutor Wanda Steinke of Weston, and MLC Instructor Ann Szczesny of Monroe.

MLC Essay Contest Grand Prize Winner, Binti B. of Somalia, with her Tutor Mary Burlinson of Easton		MLC Essay Contest Guest Speaker Dr. Betsy Bowen of Fairfield

MLC Gets a Fresh Look
A very special thanks to a generous family who made an anonymous donation to have the entire interior of Mercy Learning Center painted! The classrooms, computer lab, kitchen, offices, library and children's rooms look clean and bright. Our students, staff, and volunteers are enjoying this fresh look!

MLC Tutor Garners "Pay It Forward" Recognition
Ed Buckmir has been a volunteer math tutor at Mercy Learning Center for the past 10 years. He was recently selected to be highlighted on local radio station, WEBE 108, as part of their "Pay It Forward" volunteer recognition segment.

Ed lives in Stratford with his wife and children and is the Director of Operations at Merit Insurance in Bridgeport and, every Thursday, during his lunch hour, he comes to the Center to meet one-on -one with a young woman to help her improve her math skills. In addition to tutoring, Ed has shared love for sports with the adult learners at MLC by offering "Sports Workshops" so our adult students can learn about soccer, baseball, football, etc. And they, in turn, share their knowledge with their children and families. Ed has also participated in our Family Literacy Programs during school breaks. Last year, he taught the six- to 12-year-olds about the game of soccer - not only the rules and regulations, but the fun you can have playing with friends. Ed is not afraid to get his hands dirty - when Mercy Learning Center asked for volunteers to assist with a basement renovation project last spring, he enthusiastically volunteered. Ed Buckmir is among 500 treasured volunteers at MLC who has made a positive impact on the lives of many women since 2001.

Congratulations to Ed for this well-deserved recognition in the community!

Ed Buckmir tutoring his student