Sociology Major Names Newman Civic Fellow at MCLA

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts sophomore Maggie Whited of Lincoln, Mass., was selected by the Campus Compact as the College’s 2017 Newman Civic Fellow.

According to the Campus Compact, Fellows tackle community challenges, provide fresh energy and perspective, inspire and mobilize others, and develop their own skills and potential. Through service, research and advocacy, Newman Fellows make the most of their college experiences to better understand themselves, the root causes of social issues, and effective mechanisms for creating lasting change.

As one of this year's Newman Civic Fellows, Whited – who majors in sociology at MCLA, with minors in social work and child and family studies – joins 200 other student leaders who represent Campus Compact member colleges and universities from 36 states and Washington, D.C.

Whited is a student leader at MCLA who is active in addressing issues of mental health awareness. For the last two years, she has worked to form the Association for Neurodivergent Awareness (ANA), an MCLA club. The ANA provides peer support and work against the stigma of mental health issues.

Whited also galvanized her peers in the Dance Company Club to volunteer regularly at a number of local organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club, the local soup kitchen, food pantry, and the local homeless/transitional shelter. Under her leadership, Dance Company even organized a Valentines Dance party for the local residents of the shelter.

Over her breaks from MCLA, Whited interns at Community Interventions Program (CIP) in Arlington. CIP is a short term adolescent and residential treatment program that services youth from the Department of Children and Families.

The award was created in honor of Campus Compact founder Dr. Frank Newman. Sponsored by the KPMG Foundation – it honors students who are committed to creating lasting change in their communities. Newman was a tireless advocate for the role of higher education in preparing students for active and engaged citizenship, according to the Compact.

This year's record amount of Fellows will leverage an even greater capacity for engagement and change through online networking, according to the Compact. In keeping with their generation’s emphasis on networks over hierarchies, Newman Civic Fellows will share ideas and materials to further their work through an exclusive online community especially for Fellows.

Campus Compact is a national coalition of nearly 1,100 college and university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility.


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Macksey Updates on Eagle Street Demo and Myriad City Projects

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The back of Moderne Studio in late January. The mayor said the city had begun planning for its removal if the owner could not address the problems. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Moderne Studio building is coming down brick by brick on Eagle Street on the city's dime. 
 
Concerns over the failing structure's proximity to its neighbor — just a few feet — means the demolition underway is taking far longer than usual. It's also been delayed somewhat because of recent high winds and weather. 
 
The city had been making plans for the demolition a month ago because of the deterioration of the building, Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the City Council on Tuesday. The project was accelerated after the back of the 150-year-old structure collapsed on March 5
 
Initial estimates for demolition had been $190,000 to $210,000 and included asbestos removal. Those concerns have since been set aside after testing and the mayor believes that the demolition will be lower because it is not a hazardous site.
 
"We also had a lot of contractors who came to look at it for us to not want to touch it because of the proximity to the next building," she said. "Unfortunately time ran out on that property and we did have the building failure. 
 
"And it's an unfortunate situation. I think most of us who have lived here our whole lives and had our pictures taken there and remember being in the window so, you know, we were really hoping the building could be safe."
 
Macksey said the city had tried working with the owner, who could not find a contractor to demolish the building, "so we found one for him."
 
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