Effort to Combat Stereotypical Views of Women Gains Support

When the University of Hartford’s Women for Change student organization unveiled their new calendar - geared toward promoting women’s self-esteem - last week, they announced that sales will benefit CTGirlcott, the new initiative led by Charter Oak Cultural Center and a collaboration of Hartford-area organizations. This year's calendar is the largest to date, featuring 45 women, including students, staff, faculty, alumnae, and community leaders. The annual calendars are designed to combat stereotypical images of women. To create the calendar, Women for Change asked women to write about what they are “free to..” be, do, think, live, etc, and submit a photo to accompany the write-up.  Mala Matacin, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology, founded Women For Change three years ago, which has grown to more than 150 members. In previous years the calendars have sold hundreds and received national attention.

The theme dovetailed perfectly with Girlcott, a locally-inspired initiative of women willing to go makeup free for a portion of  March 2013 (Women’s History Month) and donate the money usually spent on cosmetics to organizations that benefit women and girls in Connecticut and around the world, raising awareness about the relationship between women and the makeup they wear, issues of body image, self-esteem, gender roles and more.

CTGirlcott is being organized by the Charter Oak Cultural Center, YWCA Hartford Region, Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, and The Women’s Education and Leadership Fund.  A website has been developed, featuring additional information and photographs.

Last week, organizers of CTGirlcott appeared on WFSB-TV Channel 3’s Better Connecticut program, where host Kara Sundlun was make-up free, in keeping with the theme of the initiative.  Organizers are seeking other prominent people – as well as women from all walks of life – to participate as a means of highlighting the importance of self-image among girls and women.

In the run-up to March, a series of panel discussions, movies, and other events are being held to raise awareness for the effort.

Acapella Music Thrives at Colleges in Connecticut; Sing-Off Winner from CCSU

Interest in acapella singing on college campuses – clearly on the upswing in recent years - shows no signs of slowing down, if the standing-room-only crowd at the second annual Connecticut Collegiate Sing-off is any indication.  Hosted by Eastern Connecticut State University, the friendly competition included seven groups from four colleges – UConn, Central Connecticut, Western Connecticut, and Connecticut College. A Cappella is a way of singing that does not include being accompanied by musical instruments. (In Italian it means in the "style of the church or chapel".)  In recent years, the musical style has been featured in a number of network television programs, most notably in Glee.  The vocal performances come in many styles, including Doo Wop, Beatboxing and even some modern rock and popular music, often with a dash of good-natured humor.

The competition for best ensemble was won by CCSU’s Too Good For Instruments (TGFI), the university’s 14-member all-women group, based on the votes of audience members.  The roster of performers included:

• UConn Extreme Measures
• CCSU AcaBellas
• WCSU Parallel Fifths
• UConn Rolling Tones
• Connecticut College ConnChords
• CCSU Divisi
• CCSU TGFI

Each of the groups heard comments, compliments and critiques from a panel of judges immediately following their performances, prior to the audience vote at the end of the evening.  Eastern’s three groups - Fallin' Flat, 6 Ways to B Natural and Key of She – also performed, but stayed out of the competition so as not to use their home field advantage.

A capella music has been the basis and inspiration for many top musical acts on the charts from Motown to Boyz to Men. In recent years, it has been the focus of national tournaments and exploded in popularity on college campuses all over the country. Where there were once just over 200 groups nationwide, their numbers are now estimated to be in the thousands, with many campuses having multiple groups.

The A cappella movement is believed to have its roots here in Connecticut beginning a century ago, in 1909, when part of the Yale Glee Club broke off and formed the Yale Whiffenpoofs, the first collegiate a cappella group. It has been reported that entertainers including John Legend, Anne Hathaway, Cole Porter and Art Garfunkel sang in a capella groups when they were in college.

High Cost of SAT-Prep Classes Hurt Low Income Students Aiming for College

When high school students take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), their shot at a college career often hangs in the balance.  Recognizing the importance of the standardized exam, many students take private preparatory classes that explain how the SAT differs from exams students are accustomed to taking in class. To succeed at the SAT, it is essential to understand test-taking strategies that are specific to this test, in addition to the subject area content.  But some students can’t afford the cost of the preparatory classes, and their results often suffer.

Connecticut’s 2011 Teacher of the Year is not happy about that.  Kristen Record, a Physics Teacher at Bunnell High School in Stratford, told an education forum in Hartford recently that her district previously offered all students an SAT-prep course, but dropped it as part of budget reductions.  Record noted that many families in Stratford – as in other Connecticut towns and cities, especially lower-income communities – cannot afford the fees of the private prep classes.

“Students take their first SAT in October of their senior year, cold, with no preparation, no guidance, no previous SAT-test taking experience.  It’s no wonder that many of them score below the state average,” she said.  Even when students retake the test a month later, it is often without any “intervention or guidance,” unfortunately leading to similar disappointing results - with potentially devastating consequences.

"In the classroom, teachers want to see attempts to answer every question," she said.  On the SAT, attempting to answer every question can be counterproductive.  “It can be the difference between being accepted to (college) or not being accepted,” Record said.

The state of Georgia offers high school students free access to the SAT Online Prep Course developed by the College Board, the organization that administers the SAT. The free SAT Online Prep Course is open to all Georgia high school students – public, private and home schooled.  In 2008, among Georgia's 2008 graduating seniors, the students who used the free SAT Prep Course scored, on average, a total of 48 points higher than those who did not.

In Roanoke, VA, Roanoke City Schools go even further, offering free SAT Prep Courses.  The district web site announces “these courses are free.  They are administered by Princeton Review.  If you were to pay for these courses on your own, it would cost you well over $600.”

Some local school districts in Connecticut continue to offer SAT prep courses, but for a fee.  In Hamden, the SAT prep course fee is $525.  In Stratford, it is $210.  In Branford it costs students $185, and in Danbury, $135.  The frequency and duration of the classes vary.

“Taking an SAT is different than taking a test in school,” Record said at the Oct. 22 forum sponsored by CT Mirror.   When students don’t know that going in, they often end up with scores that misrepresent their true ability – and lessen their chances of admission to college.

As Connecticut looks to close the achievement gap and prepare more students for college, the state’s Teacher of the Year is shining a bright light on another disparity in need of remedy – preparing students adequately  to take an exam that may determine whether a college admission office says yes, or no, to their application.

Targeting Financial Fraud Against Senior Citizens in CT

Attorney General George Jepsen is encouraging members of the public and social service agencies that work with seniors to attend the annual Connecticut Triad conference to learn more about financial exploitation and ways to protect against such abuse. The conference will be Thursday, Nov. 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Riverfront Community Center, 300 Welles Street in Glastonbury. In addition to the Attorney General, featured speakers include Hubert H. Humphrey III, of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office of Financial Protection for Older Americans; Special Agent Anna Ferreira-Pandolfi of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General and Dr. Linda Eagle of the Global Bankers Institute.

Assistant Attorney General Phillip Rosario, head of the OAG’s Consumer Protection unit, will moderate a panel discussion by representatives of the Glastonbury Police Department, the state Department of Banking, the state Department of Social Services, People’s Bank Fraud Unit and the Probate Court.

The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited and those attending are asked to reserve a space by e-mailing gjames@swcaa.org, or by calling 203-814-3620, on or before Friday, Oct. 26.

Triad is a national initiative of law enforcement agencies and community groups working together to reduce crimes against seniors. There are more than 60 local Triad chapters in Connecticut. Current members of the CT Triad Advisory Board include: The Office of the Attorney General, The Department of Social Services Aging Services Division, People’s United Bank, The CHOICES Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Healthcare Fraud and Abuse Project, AARP Connecticut and the Connecticut Area Agencies on Aging.

David B. Fein, U.S. Attorney in Connecticut, hosted the first of the six summits nationwide focusing on financial fraud earlier this month. He says between 2008 and 2011, FBI statistics show at 136 percent increase in investor fraud schemes. At an event in Stamford on October 1, speakers discussed an increase in scams involving reverse mortgages, the failure of victims to have done any due diligence on those they trust their money to, and a lack of skepticism when an "investment counselor" asks for funds to be paid directly to them.  Since last year, the U.S. Department of Justice says, it has charged, brought to trial, taken pleas or received sentences for more than 800 defendants in investor fraud cases. The amount taken from victims exceeds $20 billion.

Earlier this week, a Wells Fargo survey found that a growing number of middle-class Americans plan to postpone their golden years until they are in their 80's.  CNN reported that nearly one-third, or 30%, now plan to work until they are 80 or older -- up from 25% a year ago, according to the survey of 1,000 adults with income less than $100,000.   Overall, 70% of respondents plan to work during retirement, many of whom plan to do so because they simply won't be able to afford to retire full time.

Student Debt Levels High in CT, Young Unemployment Rate Drops Slightly

As college students across the nation graduate with record-high levels of loans, a recent report found that Connecticut ranks among the five states  with the highest loads of student debt. Roughly 66 percent of college students from the class of 2011 nationwide graduated with student loan debt, and the average loan debt per person amounted to $26,600, according to a report by The Project on Student Debt, an initiative of The Institute for College Access and Success.

The survey  asked universities to self-report debt figures from their graduating classes. In Connecticut, the 2011 average was $28,783, making it the fifth-highest debt state behind four other Northeastern states.  New Hampshire topped the list, with average student debt of $32,450.

The report also found that unemployment rate for young college graduates was 8.8 percent in 2011, a slight drop from 2010’s record high of 9.1 percent. Many more young graduates were underemployed, working just part-time or in lower paying jobs that did not require a college education. Still, college graduates are much better off than those without a college degree. The unemployment rate for young high school graduates was 19.1 percent in 2011, more than double the rate for those with bachelor’s degrees.

Connecticut-specific data, by institution, offers stats including the percentage of students graduating with debt in 2011, which includes universities where the percentage exceeded three-quarters of students.

CT Among States Analyzed for High School Social Studies Requirements

The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement (CIRCLE), with funding from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, has analyzed the standards, course requirements, and mandatory assessments relevant to civic education in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.  Among the highlights:

• All states have standards for social studies, a broad category that includes civics/government along with other disciplines such as history and geography. The civics theme of power, authority, and government is included in all 51 states' social studies standards (including D.C.). The theme of civic ideals and practices is found in every state's standard except Missouri's.
• Thirty-nine states – including Connecticut - require at least one course in American government or civics.
• In the 2012-13 school year, 21 states – not including Connecticut - require a state-designed social studies test. This is a similar number as in 2006 but a dramatic reduction compared to 2001, when 34 states conducted regular assessments on social studies subjects. Two states, Maryland and Florida, have recently instituted new social studies assessments.

In Connecticut, required Social Studies courses include World History, U.S. History and Civics/Government.  Topics to be included within the curriculum, according to the CIRCLE data,  include Cultural Diversity; Time, Continuity & Change; People, Places and Environments; Production, Distribution and Consumption; Power, Authority & Governance; Global Connections; Civic Ideals and Practices, Real World Application, Individuals, Groups and Institutions; and Science, Technology and Society.  Service learning is not currently part of social studies standards, as it is in numerous other states.

The report also found that less than a dozen states require students to pass exams in social studies subjects.  Among those that do, social studies assessments have shifted from a combination of multiple-choice and performance tasks to almost exclusively multiple-choice exams since 2000.

•  Just nine states require students to pass a social studies test in order to graduate from high school: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. Georgia's assessment will be phased out but Maryland and Florida will add high-stakes tests.

• Eight states have statewide, standardized tests specifically in civics/American government: California, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. Of those, Ohio and Virginia are the only ones that require students to pass that test to graduate from high school.

The CIRCLE study was the first in five years. The full analysis is summarized in a new fact sheet entitled State Civic Education Requirements , and a spreadsheet provides details on each state.

Robotics, Simulation Training Draws Medical Talent to Hartford

An unassuming building on Hudson Street in Hartford, in the midst of a construction zone and a short walk from Hartford Hospital, is what’s known as CESI - the Center for Education, Simulation and Innovation, located on the second floor of Hartford Hospital’s Education & Resource Center. Part of the hospital campus, it is among a select number of premier centers for comprehensive experiential learning and innovation nationwide, using simulation, robotics and other leading-edge training technologies – a hands-on magnet for  tomorrow’s technology that is increasingly becoming today’s reality in medicine.  Some suggest that CESI is– or soon will be – among the top five facilities in the country.  Already, CESI is a regional and national training destination. As the second largest surgical center in New England and the Northeast’s largest robotic surgery center, Hartford Hospital is widely viewed as a hub for medical training.

The vision of the rapidly growing facility is fundamental to the mission of Hartford Hospital, and parent-organization Hartford Healthcare:  to assist all providers in enhancing multidisciplinary team performance, the quality of patient care, and patient safety through a comprehensive range of educational programs using state-of-the-art simulation and cutting edge technologies. CESI features exact replicas of an operating room, intensive care unit, delivery room and trauma room. It has the same equipment as the hospital, including two robots and two robotic simulators designed especially for training purposes.

Seeing is believing, and a recent tour provided to representatives of Leadership Greater Hartford by CESI staff was a window into medical technology not often seen by those outside the field (or their patients).  If you believe that a picture is worth a thousand words, CESI does that one better, with a virtual tour available on-line, which allows individuals, organizations, and the general public a glimpse of the sophisticated technology available to teach surgeons and medical teams the robotic techniques now emerging.

During the two decades since its inception – with exponential growth in recent years – its predecessor facilities and CESI (so-named in 2010) has expanded from 900 square feet to 20,000 square, training thousands of medical personnel. Incredibly, the entire operation is run with a staff of six – from the medical and program directors down to the simulation technician. The dedication and pride is evident in every aspect of the facility’s operation, which has a schedule that is consistently busy – not only with surgeons, residents and nursing staff from Hartford Hospital, UConn and local acute care facilities, but from organizations local – such as the Connecticut Fire Academy – and worldwide, such as teams from France and Israel (during the past two weeks alone).

In fact, both the Navy and Army National Guard use the CESI facility for their training purposes. The Navy trains their independent duty coremen and physicians. The state-of-the-art facilities enable CESI staff to simulate not only medical emergencies, but the environment that teams such as those in a war zone would face in responding.  That level of training is invaluable,  and not readily available elsewhere.

CESI has been recognized as a Center of Excellence - one of only 20 centers designated nationwide. Nearly two dozen training courses are offered, ranging from labor & delivery to bio-terrorism, traumatic brain injury to advanced cardiac life support.  This summer, Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced that the state will provide a $10 million grant to support a 30,000 square foot expansion of CESI - part of the hospital’s larger $100 million capital improvement plan, designed to make the institution a leader in training the world’s healthcare professionals in the latest medical techniques.

CESI is comprised of three separate areas:

• Robotic and endovascular simulators
• Task trainers, ultrasound technology and Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS)
• Five simulated clinical environments each with its own control room: Labor & Delivery, Resuscitation, ICU, Trauma/ED, and Operating Room.

Internally, Hartford Hospital’s Departments of Anesthesia, Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Ob-Gyn and Surgery are all using the facility to orient their first year residents and fellows to their clinical practices. The residents are able to experience hands-on training without the added pressure of performing new tasks on real people. It builds their confidence and allows them to learn, practice and repeat procedures in a controlled, non-rushed and educational environment.

It is also an ideal setting to begin to establish a culture of patient safety and open communication among an interdisciplinary medical team, whether from Hartford Hospital or elsewhere. Participants are able to train in a setting similar to an actual work environment to create an atmosphere of realism - mirroring multiple types of acute crises and patient care scenarios. Through simulation, the team can learn the physiologic components of crisis management, equipment knowledge, technical skills, and the leadership and teamwork needed to successfully deliver exceptional health care.

As Connecticut steps up its international presence in bioscience research and personalized medicine, facilities such as CESI have the potential to complement that effort, broadening the state’s impact on health care and medicine for decades to come.

Local Author Among Growing Trend of Alzheimer's Books for Children

It seems the number of children’s books devoted to explaining Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) in a kid-friendly way is growing, not surprising since the number of people with Alzheimer’s continues to increase along with the number of older Americans. The New York Times recently reported that a trip to a local children’s book store stocked revealed at least half a dozen titles on the shelves.  A more formal study by three doctoral students at Washington University, analyzing the way storybooks describe the disease, found 33 of them published for 4- to 12-year-olds from 1988 to 2009.

Among the books is one authored by Linda Scacco, a West Hartford mother of three, clinical psychologist and an adjunct professor at the University of Hartford, who drew on her professional and personal experience.  Her book, "Always My Grandpa," was published in 2005.  The roots of the story come from the death of Scacco’s uncle from the disease in 1988.   Reviews of the book highlighted its “gentle narration and easy-to-understand explanations,” about Alzheimer's disease and “how it affects children, and families.”

While acknowledging the challenge of presenting explanations in a way that children can absorb, the Wash U graduate students found that overall, the books tend to “provide little information about the diagnostic process or treatments. Clinical presentations are diverse among characters with AD, and no single book presented a comprehensive depiction of the cognitive, behavioral, affective, and functional symptoms of the disease.”  They suggest that more be done to “ensure health literacy about AD in young children.”

The Times pointed out that the study indicated that generally absent were “symptoms like wandering, agitation sleep disturbances and depression. Only about a third of the books depicted anger or irritability, and very few showed functional limitations — the inability to drive, feed oneself, walk.”

New Book on Grasso Recalls Tough, Popular, Groundbreaking Leader

When Ella Tambussi Grasso ran for governor of Connecticut in 1974, she had not lost an election since she was first voted into the state's General Assembly in 1952. The people of Connecticut chose her as the nation's first woman to be elected governor in her own right--the capstone of a long and successful career dedicated to public service, effective government, and the democratic process. That is the theme for a new book written by Jon Purmont, emeritus professor of history at Southern Connecticut State University, and a former Grasso administration staffer.  Purmont will be John Dankosky’s guest on WNPR’s Where We Live, discussing the late Governor.

Grasso, of Windsor Locks, played key roles in Connecticut Democratic politics during the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s. Those decades saw emerging consumer protection laws, greater government transparency, the Vietnam War, and the rise of feminism. During her tenure as governor, Grasso's leadership was tested in the face of fiscal problems, state layoffs, and budget shortfalls. The daughter of Italian immigrants, she endeared herself to her constituents during the great Blizzard of 1978, when she stayed at the State Armory around the clock to direct emergency operations and make frequent television appearances.  Before being elected Governor, she served as a member of Congress and Connecticut's Secretary of the State.

Purmont worked for Grasso for 22 months, from the beginning of her second term through her resignation in 1980, to her death in 1981.  More than 30 years later, the New Haven Register reports he has written what may be the first piece of scholarly work on the state’s first female governor, using interviews, documents and his own personal recollections.“Ella Grasso: Connecticut’s Pioneering Governor,” to be released later this year, is being published next month by Wesleyan University Press.

CT Girl Scouts Celebrate Centennial by Honoring Top 100

In honor of its 100th Anniversary, Girl Scouts of Connecticut honored 100 women, men, and organizations that embody the best of Girl Scout values at the 2012 Centennial Gala – Woman of Merit benefit dinner, held this month. The Centennial Gala had five categories of honorees:

• Distinguished Alumnae,
• Community Champion,
• Trail Blazers,
• Girls of Promise, and
• Women of Promise

Honorees included Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Cathy Malloy, Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman, State Treasurer Denise Nappier, State Representative Michelle Cook (D-65); Jen Rizzotti, women’s basketball coach at the University of Hartford; Carolyn Kuan, Music Director, Hartford Symphony Orchestra; Rear Admiral Sandra L. Stosz, Superintendent, U.S. Coast Guard Academy; and Chief Lynn Malerba of the Mohegan Tribe.  The full list of honorees is on the Girl Scouts of Connecticut website.

“We were delighted to honor these 100 extraordinary people and organizations ,” said Teresa C. Younger, President of Girl Scouts of Connecticut’s Board of Directors. “This has been a special year for Girl Scouts of Connecticut, celebrating its 100th Anniversary, and there’s no better time to celebrate the achievements of many throughout the state who are the role models for and help build girls of courage, confidence, and character.”

The categories of the honorees are:

Trailblazers are individuals, families, organizations or groups whose pioneering efforts opened the door for girls and/or women to follow. They may have been the ‘‘first’’ to reach a particular career or professional milestone, have participated in an organization or activity in a way that changed how women were involved, or challenged themselves in some way that created new opportunities for girls and women. If an organization or group, it may have demonstrated innovative solutions to working with girls to develop leadership skills or create unique opportunities for girls.

Community Champions are individuals, families, organizations or groups who have made significant contributions as volunteers within their own community, or on a regional or national level. They have distinguished themselves as mentors and role models. They have a proven track record of helping others succeed and have achieved personal success through the skills and abilities they have developed in the people around them. Their lives and work exemplify the value of community service intrinsic to Girl Scouts. If an organization or group, it has demonstrated through its mission, programs and support the importance of developing girls to reach their full potential and have proven success.

Distinguished Alumnae are individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment, exceptional service, and an extraordinary dedication to the Girl Scout Movement. They are alumnae whose leadership, initiative, and energy have strengthened Girl Scouting, made a significant contribution to the mission, and who exemplify the true spirit of Girl Scouts.

Women of Promise are alumnae, age 35 and under, who have distinguished themselves in their profession and/or community. They are women who demonstrate exceptional promise in terms of their ability to ascend and assume significant leadership roles.

Girls of Promise are current Girl Scouts ages 12-18 who distinguish themselves through their work in Girl Scouting and exemplify the values and principles of the Girl Scout Movement.