Cabrini College, the first college in Pennsylvania to require community service of all its students, announced today it will launch Cabrini Partnership Project at Norristown, a first-of-its-kind "Community Education Center" that will offer programs for adults and children alike.
Cabrini has leased office space on the ground floor of the Social Services Building in Norristown to serve members of the community.
In the past, Cabrini has developed relationships with schools and non-profit organizations serving Norristown. The new "Community Education Center" builds on these successful partnerships and maximizes the effectiveness of the College's outreach by focusing resources within a specific community.
A press conference is scheduled for Thursday, April 28 with Dr. Toni Iadarola, president of Cabrini, and Sen. Connie Williams at the site of the new "Community Education Center."
The "Community Education Center" will enable Cabrini students to work with local children who are at the basic or below-basic level in reading and mathematics, providing one-on-one instruction. Cabrini students will also reach out to the rapidly expanding immigrant population in Norristown, serving as English-as-a-second-language (ESL) tutors to adults and youth.
To fill a void in science education in the Norristown schools, Cabrini students are developing science curriculum and lesson plans for the 21st Century Learning Center.
"We have a long tradition of community service," said Dr. Toni Iadarola, president, Cabrini College.
"With the new Cabrini Partnership Project, we will be better able to reach more community members and increase the number of programs and services. In addition, our students will gain tremendous hands-on experience."
In the future, Cabrini will look to expand and improve science education in the Norristown schools to help better meet new state-wide standards. Through the Cabrini Partnership Project, the College will be able to offer training and workshops for the community's teachers.
Cabrini also aims to help expand ACLAMO, an organization serving the Spanish-speaking community in Norristown, by providing more classroom space, educational materials, and grant-writing assistance.
In addition, Cabrini will look to explore the possibilities of community-based research, identifying research projects that students can undertake that would benefit Norristown organizations.
While the Cabrini Partnership Project at Norristown will officially open its doors to the community in the fall, Cabrini students are currently involved in numerous projects in the Norristown community.