Newspaper article that I wrote for the NCC Voice.

"Life is like a book, each day is a new page."By NADIRA PANKEY




Steve Cohen comes from humble origins, working as a teachers assistant after living off of scholarships until graduate school. Cohen continued to work on his doctorate through the fall of 1982. He finished his coursework, including 15 credits in the teaching of writing (technically known as English Instruction), which he chose to take in addition to his required coursework. He passed his five major field exams and went on to begin researching and writing his dissertation proposal-he was interested in exploring Peer Tutor Training



During 1979-81, Cohen continued as a Teaching Assistant-this still allowed his graduate school tuition to be waived, and he also taught for the SUNY Buffalo evening division and the for the SUNY Fredonia State College summer session. He began working part-time, teaching reading, at D’Youville College in Buffalo, NY in the spring of 1981, and he moved to a full-time position as the College Reading Specialist in the fall of 1981. He married his first wife in August 1982.



He worked at ECSU in the grant program for years, his sons Seth and Noah were born in 1984 and 1988, respectively. The second sons’ birth made him more conscious of his financial security, so he decided to find a permanent job when his second son was in utero. In summer 1988, he was hired as an instructor of Developmental English/Reading at Norwalk Community College at the old Wilson Avenue campus. Cohen’s third son, Alon, was born in 1990. Cohen commuted from his home in Hebron, CT to NCC (83 miles each way, 95 minutes per one-way trip) until he and his wife separated in 1994. He lived in NYC back in the Bronx from 1994-96, and he moved to Norwalk in 1996. Between Cohen’s jobs, his kids, and finally his commute to NCC, he never finished his Ph.D. dissertation, so he never became Dr. Cohen.



During his years at NCC, Cohen was promoted to Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor, received tenure, was awarded a sabbatical leave, and served on various college committees.He has been faculty advisor to the NCC Gaming Club for over ten years. For seven years, he was elected to serve as the local chapter chair of the union representing the majority of faculty, counselors, librarians and administrators, the Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges (the 4C’s), and in 2007, he was elected state-wide 4C’s president. Cohen has a unique way of meeting his students at their level, and building them up to his level. He ask that his students address him as “Steve,” instead of Professor Cohen.



Cohen teaches his students how to read with comprehension. His skills help his students succeed in college-level classes. “Steve taught me how to read between the lines. He taught me how to think about and understand what I am reading. I remember we read a story called, Flowers for Algernon, and there was a doctor named, Dr. Quack. That was the author’s way of making fun of the doctor by naming him, Dr. Quack. Steve pointed that minor detail out to me. So Steve taught me little things like that to look out for. I would’ve never thought of that before his class,” said Valerie Boucard, former student. “One, I love helping others. I remember going to the grocery store with my mom on Friday afternoons when I was in morning (only) kindergarten. As she checked out, I’d stand at the front door and open it to let shoppers out with their carts and delivery men in with their hand trucks. (Those were the days before automatic opening doors,) said Cohen.



“Two, I loved school when I was a kid. Put these two together, and I guess it was natural for me to become a teacher,” said Cohen. Because of Cohen’s passion for teaching, passion for his students, and passion for life, many students like Boucard are on the road to success.

"Life is like a book, each day is a new page."

I am so grateful to GOD because HE is truely awesome. After much hard work, and long nights, my book is finally done!!!  I received my proof on March 8, 2010.  I finished reading my proof by March 10th.  I approved it and ordered my books. Also my books became for sale online.  Just click on the pic of my book cover to order.

My publishing date was on March 10. I am so excited. Thank U's to all my good friends who are motivating, and supporting me.  Thanks to everyone who bought a book and who is reading my story.

I hope that my story will touch and change someone's life.  I truely believe that is why God allowed me to go through and overcome so much hardship.

My thoughts while writing this memoir were, "I have to get this done.  Right now this is a little girl or boy in the world who is just like me when I was a child.  They are without hope." GOD told me to write this story so the children of today can have hope and know that there is a GOD.

I am a living miracle.  And, no it wasn't easy for me to get to where I am at today, mentally, spiritually, or emotionally, but I took baby step, and I MADE IT. 

There are children all over the world who are beiing abused and neglected.  Let's all work together to bring awareness and change.

Thanks for your support fam.

Warmly,
N.A.Z. Pankey

CLICK ON THIS LINK TO ORDER "EVERGREEN UPROOTED."

"Life is like a book, each day is a new page."

CLICK ON this link to order EVERGREEN UPROOTED.
https://www.createspace.com/3434936

Article I wrote about the Family Economic Security Program at Norwalk Community College

"Life is like a book, each day is a new page."


College launches new program to help single working parentsBy N.A.Z. Pankey


The Norwalk Community College Foundation launched the Family Economic Security Program (FESP) thirteen months ago, to help single working parents living below the poverty line succeed in college. The program is also made possible by The Fairfield County Community Foundation’s Fund for Women and Girls (FWG) and the Women’s Business Development Center.

A comprehensive study on the status of women and girls in Fairfield County was conducted in early 2007. The research concluded that the most critical need for women and girls in the region is economic security for low-and moderate-wage women, particularly single working women with dependents.

FWG published its findings in “Holding up Half the Sky: A report on the status of Women and Girls in Fairfield County.”

The findings concluded that in Fairfield County, 38,500 households are headed by women with children under 18. In order to just “get by,” a single parent with an infant and one school-aged child needs an income of at least $65,440 in Stamford and $70,200 in lower Fairfield County. Women who work full-time in Fairfield County earn around $47,000.

The FWG made a five-year $1.25 million commitment to support the FESP.

According to Bernice Marie-Daly, Ph.D. who is the director of the Fairfield County Women’s Center (FCWC) and the Achievement Coach for the FESP, “NCC is the only college in the country that has the FESP.”

The FESP program is designed to work for a group of 20 students per year, and the program is designed for 5 years. The program is cumulative, so for the first year, there are 20 students, the second year, 40 students, the third year, 60 students, and so forth. The number of students increases by 20 students each year. So far, the FESP has a group of 40 students.

The eligibility requirements are that students must be enrolled in a degree program at NCC, be in good academic standing, have completed 15 college credits with the intentions of obtaining a Bachelor’s degree, be working with a minimum income of $20K from the last calendar year, be primary earner in the household and have at least one dependent; and demonstrate financial need.

Kristina Testa-Buzzee, Director of the Family Economic Security Program, provides direct oversight and supervision for the FESP. This includes but is not limited to recruitment, selection of students to receive individualized coaching and financial support to help them meet their financial, career, personal and academic goals.

FESP also does general outreach to students who are trying to obtain their degree. Testa-Buzzee also interacts on a regular basis with the funders of the program to maintain and continue the financial support of their students. She also advocates for working parents through committee involvement and activities. FESP also utilizes some of the wonderful programs that already exist at NCC, such as, the Student Success Center, Co-op, Advising, etc.

Marie-Daly responsibilities as the Achievement Coach is to meet with each student in the FESP once a month to talk about providing services, resources, and support for them in their personal, academic, and career goals.

Marie-Daly gets to know each student by learning about their experiences and their challenges. She helps each student with decision making and problem-solving solutions so that they can improve their sustainability in effect for themselves and their families in Fairfield County.

The students are dedicated and serious about succeeding in college and they need support. Marie-Daly gives the students guidance in deciding their major, and in continuing their education. The plan is for every student in the FESP to ideally be going to a 4 year college, so that they can be in a career that is going to provide for them and their families.

“We strive to Create Individual Change by selecting a cohort of students to receive financial support for both personal and academic needs to earn an Associate’s degree at NCC and a Bachelor’s degree at a transfer institution,” said Testa-Buzzee.

Vennette Perez, NCC student and single mother of two boys is enrolled in the FESP. Last year Perez lost her place of residence.

Perez now lives in a room with her two sons. “If it wasn’t for the help that FESP gave me financially, I would have not been able to make it, with all the storage bills and other bills,” said Perez.

“FESP changed my life quite a bit. I can’t begin to tell you what an amazing group of women are running this program. They are here for us to vent, to cry, to support us, and so much more,” said Perez.

Perez plans on getting married next year after she graduates from NCC, and then going to a 4-year-college to get her Bachelor’s degree in Restaurant and Food Service Management.

Marie-Daly’s favorite aspect of FESP is being able to provide support. “The thing I see mostly evident at this point is in their personal lives. They feel supported, and many folks have never felt supported, by anybody. We become their extended family. They love us, and we love them,” said Marie-Daly.

“It is truly a blessing to be able to say you like ones job—I can say that unequivocally! This job has given me the opportunity to meet some amazing students who are doing amazing things. It is not always easy work, meaning sometimes we just can’t change someone’s personal circumstances over night, if at all, but we can at least try to hold a flashlight for them to see the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to their families economic stability,” said Testa-Buzzee.

The goals for the next five years are for 100 students to have participated in the FESP, earned their Associate degrees moves up to better paying jobs, or be enrolled in a 4-year-college.

FESP strives to create Institutional Change by closely monitoring and researching all those participating in the program. This is done to evaluate outcomes and to help suggest and promote institutional policies and programs that help working parents be academically and financially succesful.

INSIDE THE MIND OF CHILD MOLESTERS!!! TODAY ON THE OPRAH SHOW. CHECK IT OUT.

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Oprah-Talks-to-Child-Molesters-Part-1-Video


"Life is like a book, each day is a new page."

EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER TWO, TITLED, "WHEN EVERGREEN WAS NEVER GREEN."

As soon as I walked in and turned on the hallway lights, roaches would scatter everywhere. The first room I passed was the kitchen, which was to my left. Because its shape was long and narrow, Mommy could only fit a rectangular table. The table had black plastic legs and a white top, with two black chairs to match. There weren’t any pictures on the walls, just dirt and grease stains. I dared not go in there because if I did, I'd itch all night long. I’d keep the feeling of roaches dropping off the ceiling, all over my skin and hair. Going in the kitchen at night was a big NO! NO! Besides, there was never anything in there to eat.


After walking past the kitchen, using the distant dimmed light from the hallway to see, I would tiptoe on the squeaky hardwood floors until I reached the cluttered boxes filled with second-hand clothing and all sorts of junk mail. When I reached those boxes, I knew I was at the living room. I would stand at the door of the living room, which had been transformed into Mommy’s bedroom, and strain in the dark to see if she was home. My eyes always landed on her dresser first. She had enough medicine bottles on her dresser to supply a pediatric clinic. She had albuterol, nebulizers, pain reliever and fever reducer, amoxicillin, penicillin, calamine lotion, ringworm solution, chicken pox medicine, corn starch, diaper-rash ointment, A&D ointment, and empty methadone bottles that she had obtained from her drug rehab at the Lee Building in Harlem, with a little bit of orange juice mixed with methadone at the bottom. I have to admit I was often tempted to drink it, after being outside all day and having only water.

Her vanity display consisted of an eye-pencil, and a lipstick tube that was always half empty because it served as her lipstick, blush, and eye shadow. She used her pinky finger to dig it out. Next I would look at her many pocketbooks, filled with old food-stamp book backs and empty pill bottles. These hung down from the edge of the mirror that was located in the middle of the dresser. Then I would notice that, as usual, she wasn’t home.

Many nights I longed to take a bath after being outside all day, but most of the time the tub was overflowing with dirty clothes. Mommy would begin to wash the clothes by hand but would never finish. The laundry would sit there for days, creating a stench that filled the whole house, smelling like mildew and rotten fish mixed together. The clothes appeared to be floating on top of a dirty swamp with worms forming from the dampness.

The only lights that we had in our apartment were placed in the hallway, kitchen, and bathroom. We usually kept the bathroom door closed, because of the regular funk we were seeking to avoid. The apartment was always dark and depressing. My eyes were accustomed to seeing in the dark. So I would just go straight to me and my sisters' bedroom, climb in bed, and sleep – on sheets that were changed maybe six times a year.

The four walls in our room contained dirty footprints and magazine posters. The windows were decorated with sheets instead of curtains. I could look out our window and see the whole block. The dawning of a new day on the streets provided an escape from a dark and hopeless situation.

EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER ONE, TITLED, "THE STAIRWELL"

I stood there looking at what had appeared to be Mommy, but now seemed like a totally different person. She took a long pull and then she stared at me. It didn’t seem like she was looking at me, instead she gazed straight through me. It was as if something or someone was in the hallway behind me. I looked around and saw no one. It was just Mommy and I. Her whole personality changed in a matter of seconds. She turned into a zombie right before my eyes. Her eyes were wide open and her pupils dilated. She became anxious and seemed focused on something nonexistent. The woman whom I loved as Mommy was deviant. She became a stranger to me. She didn’t even look like Mommy anymore. I was a skinny kid, but she appeared to be just as skinny as me. She weighed around eighty-five pounds. Her skin was dry and discolored. Her face was so sunken that her eyes looked as though they were going to jump right out of her skull. As the long seconds passed by, I began to feel alone and afraid. After about a minute or two of staring at me, she offered me a hit.


“No thank you,” I said, shocked that my own mother was asking me, at nine years old, to smoke crack. I knew at that moment that her mind was really gone.

She tried again. "Come on, take a hit, smoke it.”

I looked her straight in the eyes. "No, Mommy, I don't want to.”

She looked into my eyes and moved the homemade pipe towards me. “Are you sure? It’s good.”

I looked down at the steps and whispered, “No, thank you.”

Suddenly, I realized our roles had reversed. I no longer could make excuses for Mommy or depend on her to protect me. I had to become an adult. I had to discover a means to guard my life, and to protect Mommy from herself. I turned to the streets, and the neighborhood was my dwelling.

Video of Evergreen, the block where my story takes place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AgPwtT-pDI

"Life is like a book, each day is a new page."