May18
Category Archives: Our Volunteers
May18
The Carver Community Center’s New Entrance
King Industries, Inc. is making all the arrangements and contributions to make this new entrance to the Carver Community Center possible! Look for the makeover soon! Thank you, King Industries, Carver’s Community Builder Honoree for 2013!
May18
YWCA Honors Darien, Norwalk Women Of Distinction | The Darien Daily Voice
Honorees at the Darien/Norwalk Women of Distinction luncheon were: (front, left to right) Katie Farren, Babs White and Susan Schorr and back (left to right) Ciara Thurlow, Rita Ferri, Louise Berry and Novelette Peterkin. Photo Credit: Cathleen Stack
YWCA Honors Darien, Norwalk Women Of Distinction | The Darien Daily Voice.
The event honored and celebrated the achievements of women who stand out in the community for their efforts to make a difference. The women honored embody the ideals held by the YWCA organization of eliminating racism and empowering women and recognize their accomplishments as role models, leaders, pioneers and mentors, the group said. Ellen Kirby, executive director of the YWCA Darien/Norwalk, welcomed more than 300 business, community and family members to the luncheon. Dawn Crouch, Kristin Calve and Erin McMurray-Killealea were co-chairs for the event. Jeanne Yurman and Julie Forsyth presented the honorees.
Carver Executive Director, Novelette Peterkin, is among the honorees.
May10
St. Luke’s School’s 8th grade class spends the day playing with Carver kids
May7
New leader (a Carver tutor) poised to take DAR to revolutionary heights – Norwalk Citizen
New leader poised to take DAR to revolutionary heights – Norwalk Citizen.
Rev. Lindsay Curtis, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Norwalk, praises Autier Craft at her induction ceremony Saturday. Photo: Contributed Photo / Sharon Cadde
Craft on Saturday became only the second African-American leader of a DAR chapter in Connecticut. The first was Gloria Williams, who was leader of the DAR’s Cheshire chapter and who attended Craft’s induction.
Craft, a 20-year Norwalk resident, works for the Norwalk Housing Authority as an early childhood program manager and tutors at the George Washington Carver Community Center. She is married to Jerry Craft, a syndicated artist who writes the cartoon “Mama’s Boyz,” and her two children, ages 15 and 13, are members of a regional chapter of the Children of the American Revolution.
May4
Noroton Presbyterian Church volunteers organize Mother’s Day celebration for Carver families
Pastor Stuart Smith, Debbie Lang and Kathryn Lang, event organizers
Debbie Lang
The love for Carver’s “Mothers & Others” is expressed in the event details
Apr26
Norwalk Chamber of Commerce names Carver “Nonprofit of the Year”
Norwalk Chamber of Commerce will name the Carver Foundation of Norwalk the 2013 Nonprofit of the Year
on the occasion of the Chamber’s 2013 Small Business Awards Luncheon
Sponsored by TD Bank and James P. Murphy & Associates
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Norwalk Inn & Conference Center, 99 East Avenue
WITH GUEST SPEAKER
Stew Leonard, Jr., President and CEO, Stew Leonard’s
Hosted by the Small Business Council, this special occasion serves to honor and recognize distinguished local small businesses and organizations for their entrepreneurial spirit, growth, and commitment to the community.
Apr18
Brian garners Girl Scout Gold teaching photography at Norwalk center | The Ridgefield Press
Brian garners Girl Scout Gold teaching photography at Norwalk center | The Ridgefield Press.
The Gold Award is an award achieved by only the most highly motivated of Girl Scouts, in which they dedicate their time to improving their community and the people in it. Carrie Brian, Ridgefield High School Class of 2014, completed her project over the course of six months.
Carrie decided to take a creative approach to her project. She had always been interested in the arts, and she wanted to choose a project that reflected her interests.
“I wanted to do something for the community that involved photography,” she said.
The project consisted of developing a photography course for the Carver Center in Norwalk. Carrie needed to collect donations to fund the purchase of 10 digital cameras.
Apr16
Carver College Tour: Shaw University, by Tamara Williams, Junior, Norwalk High School
Shaw University
By Tamara Williams – Junior at Norwalk High School
The cloudy overcast sky could not dampen the spirits at Shaw University. Shaw was the first school on the schedule for the Carver Foundation of Norwalk’s 43rd annual college tour. We were greeted by Marcus McElveen, son of Mark McElveen who coaches our rival Brien McMahon varsity girl’s basketball team. I also learned that his uncle is the Recreation Coordinator for the Carver Foundation of Norwalk. Marcus who is more than six feet tall ran into our chartered coach bus to greet us and welcome us to Shaw. Sports must run deep in the McElveen family because Marcus is an Assistant Coach of the Shaw University Football team. Marcus credits Miss Novelette Peterkin for introducing him to Shaw University eight years ago when he was one of the students on the college tour.
The history behind this college is remarkable! Shaw University was founded in 1865 by Henry Martin Topper. Shaw was the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the South and is among the oldest in our Nation. There are many firsts associated with this HBCU. It was the first college in the nation to offer a four-year medical program for African-Americans, the first four-year medical school in North Carolina, the first HBCU in the nation to open its doors to women, the first HBCU in North Carolina to be granted an “A” rating by the State Department of Public Instruction. Tyler Hall was the first hospital in the south for African Americans. Leonard Hall was the first Pharmacy, and it now holds the ethics and divinity classes. Ella Baker was a founder of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee.
Shaw is a Baptist school and chapel is mandatory once per week. The Shaw attire is also a must for students. For gentlemen it’s a Blue Blazer, a tie and a grey pants. Ladies must wear a Garnett scarf and grey skirts. Greek life is rich among the 2,200 students. The average class size is thirty-three students and the tuition for all students is $22,000 per year. Admission requires an 1100 on the SAT exam. The mass communication and medical programs are well respected. The student to teacher ratio is 16:1.
I was surprised to learn that there are three Norwalk students at Shaw University. All three, Robert Stringfellow, Kwazee Rice and Brandon Rembert, who are all football players, greeted us and candidly shared their experience at Shaw. Robert Stringfellow proudly shared that he earned a 4.0 while balancing academic and sports! Carver staff was so proud! Shaw University is a division 2 school and from the trophies and banners they are very successful competitors. We all noticed the huge NCAA Division 2 girls and boys basketball championship brackets which were prominently featured in the foyer of their recreation facility. This is a proud accomplishment for the school, since both teams clichéd the championship.
Shaw is a private school and so it offers a more personal and close relationship with others. These are especially important criteria in my school selection. I don’t want to be just another face in the crowd to my professors. I want a strong relationship with my professors and the comfort of knowing that they are committed to my success. I value diversity and people with open minds. That is exactly what Shaw University offers plus much more. Shaw is top on my list!
Tamara Williams, author of article
Marcus McElveen, Shaw student and Carver alumnus ,
Apr16
Novelette Peterkin chosen as “Woman of Distinction” by the YMCA Darien/Norwalk
The YMCA Darien/Norwalk chose Novelette to be included among their Women of Distinction 2013!
Please consider joining in the celebration on May 16 at Woodway Country Club in Darien. Here is the save-the-date for this wonderful event.
In the words of the YMCA:
Who is a Woman of Distinction? Consider the many women in Darien and Norwalk who have inspired others with their work to improve our local, national or global community. They think outside of the box and break down barriers. They are our mothers, wives, friends and neighbors. They set an example for our daughters, granddaughters and ourselves.
A Woman of Distinction has made a significant and unique contribution in her community by showing vision, creativity, determination and initiative. She is a leader, role model, agent for change, mentor and/or inspiration to others. She has demonstrated exceptional skills in breaking new ground or old barriers and made a difference in her workplace, school or nonprofit.
Novelette standing with Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia at a recent reception at City Hall hosted by the mayor to celebrate Carver’s 75th anniversary.
