Plaza College Honored for 2011 Efforts to End Domestic Violence
By Seasons staff
On Thursday, October 14, 2011, Safe Horizon, a national organization that provides shelter and other resources for women and families trying to escape domestic violence situations, honored Plaza College for their 2011 VDAY initiative, which raised $3800.00 for the organization.
As early as the end of 2010, with the full support of the Callahan family, Plaza College joined the international community of colleges and universities and participated in VDAY, the global movement to end violence against women. Plaza College’s initiatives included a poetry slam, entitled “Sisters without Voices,” led by the honor society Sigma Kappa Delta and a production of the highly renowned play The Vagina Monologues. Colleges and universities are allowed to do a production of the play free of charge as long as they donate proceeds from ticket sales to an organization aligned to the mission of VDAY. Plaza College chose Safe Horizon. Remarkably, the Queens division of Safe Horizon is located on the 4th floor in the same building as Plaza College.
The efforts began in February with a fundraiser led by Alpha Sigma Lambda, which raised nearly $500.00 for VDAY. Then, in early March, it was standing-room-only at all three performances of The Vagina Monologues. The production was co-directed by Professors Jonathan Howle and Laura Butchy. The cast was made up of the following members of the Plaza College Community: Alumni (Carol Branigan, Carmen Pacheco, and Amanda Roldan); Students (Shjrelle Cline, Siobhan Douglas, Kenya Gadson, Janet Hill, Kathryn Jones, Benita Morales, Alexandra Palma, Siham Toloa, and Talea Wufka); and Faculty/Administration (Wanda Capobianco, Marisa Fordunski, Lin Loffert, Lynn McCann, and Dawn Vetrano). Dr. Edward Dee and Richard Melara served as lighting/sound designers for the production. The production took place at the Greek Cultural Center in Astoria. Ticket sales topped $1500.00
Student Juan Blandon was in attendance on opening night in Astoria. Blandon said, “The seventeen sketches were hilarious and sad at times. It was a brilliant play and well-chosen. In reality, they are stories about women who suffer from abuse and struggle in the modern world. The cast made these monologues their own and poured their hearts into the production.”
One week after the production of the play, Plaza crowned their achievement with a poetry slam and campus-wide bake sale led by Sigma Kappa Delta, called “Sisters without Voices.” At this all-day poetry slam, students performed extant and original poetry that brought attention to women’s voices from all around the world, from all periods of history. Performers included Professor Karlene Richardson, who is also a acclaimed author. The poetry slam raised nearly $1200.00.
As they have done in the past, the Callahan family most generously matched a large percentage of the funds raised by the Plaza College community.
Many thanks also go out to the officers of the honor societies who were instrumental in making these efforts a reality.
Sigma Kappa Delta: Candace Nixon (President); Janet Hill (Vice-President); Tiffany Graham (Secretary).
Alpha Sigma Lambda: Wanda Barrera (President); Yolanda Caro (Vice-President); Caridad Moya-Alazzam (Secretary).
On October 14, 2011, Safe Horizon held an event in their Queens office to salute all those who have donated to their organization. Donations such as the incredible one made by Plaza College help them maintain a staff, help provide housing for women and children trying to escape dangerous domestic violence situations, and even go to help rescue homeless teens living on the streets in New York City.
Representing Plaza College at the event were Professor Jonathan Howle (Sigma Kappa Delta Councilor); Candace Nixon (President, Sigma Kappa Delta); Professor Laura Butchy (English Professor & Co-Director of Plaza College’s production of The Vagina Monologues); Marisa Fordunski (Director of the Faculty Resources Center and cast member of The Vagina Monologues); and Carol Branigan (BBA Alum and cast member of The Vagina Monologues). Michelle Vigeant, Safe Horizon Vice President of Community and Criminal Justice Program, as well as Rehana Zala, Plaza College’s liaison with Safe Horizon of Queens, presented Plaza College with a beautiful framed certificate of appreciation.
VDAY 2012 will begin in early January. Please check your Campus Cruiser for updates on this year’s events.
