Women’s Center Marks 10th Year
By Larece Galer
News-Herald
Lakeland Community College’s Women’s Center began with a single part-time employee program developer, and was under the Community Education Department. But, just recently the center celebrated its 10th year of existence at the Kirtland-based college.
The center is the only one of its kind in Lake County and only one of a few college-affiliated centers in Northeast Ohio. Since 1990 the center has grown to offer more than 250 classes, workshops and special events for women quarterly. The center’s purpose is to encourage and support women in overcoming barriers and to help women advance in critical areas.
“We have supported and assisted a lot of women to figure out what they wanted to do and then given them a plan to do it,” said center Director Merry Ring. “We have found that women do better in groups than individually. They assist one another.”
Now a part of the Counseling and academic Services, the center serves in community outreach and provides programs, courses and activities geared toward education, economic and community life for women in the area. The center is a structured self-help place for women who need the help.
“The survival skills classes are for single parents who need help. They now have college degrees and good jobs, “ said Ring. “Education is the way out for people.”
“We have recently merged with the Women Business Owners group and have formed the “Professional Women’s Institute,” to help women in business,” Ring said.
March was designated Women’s History Month and festivities at the center not only included the celebration of its 10th anniversary but also the annual Women of Achievement Awards. This year three special women were recognized in three categories: Education, Economic Life and Community Life.
Susan H. Turben, Ph.D., was selected in the Education category for her work in the field of infant education and early intervention. She’s the president of her own local firm that provides child development and parenting services for adults with young children. Turben conducts more than 30 seminars and workshops every year.
Donna McNamee, who is confined to a wheelchair, is the Economic Life award winner. She has for the past 15 years been limited by how much she can work and still receive government health benefits. But through her efforts, McNamee worked to change this injustice, and this past winter the center was invited to witness the signing of a law by President Clinton. The law allows disabled workers to buy into Medicare and enables them to seek employment. Her stamina and endurance have created not only more opportunities for herself but for the many workers who are the able disabled.
Sharon Kish, the Community Life recipient, is the executive director of Neighboring Mental Health Services and a dedicated mental health advocate. For the past 25 years, she has helped the agency grow into one that can handle the many needs of mental health clients, their families and the community.
At the recent awards ceremony the Women’s Center recognized the three award winners. The reception in their honor included not only the awards presentation but a performance by a member of “Women in History,’ Madelyn M. Sanders, who portrayed Mahalia Jackson and Bessie Smith during the ceremony.
Sanders joined the “Women in History” organization four years ago. She is the Supervisor of the Product Information Center a Parker Hannifin’s Corporation headquarters. Sanders is also the director of the Shaw High School Marketing Class Mentoring Program and Director of the East Cleveland Kirk Middle School mentoring Program. Both programs are sponsored by Parker Hannifin.
“It’s a reconnecting time for women,” said Libba Halavey, Coordinator of the Options Program and host of the Center: radio program on WELW (1330AM) at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.
For more information on the Women’s Center or its programs call (440-953-7322).
