Middlesex County Community Foundation - Council of Business Partners

Council of Business Partners

We all know that we live in a great county and are surrounded by special, caring, innovative and action-oriented individuals. Well, a group of local business leaders just raised the bar on "Good People doing Great Things".

A number of business owners approached the Community Foundation to announce that they wanted to do more and continue to give back to the region that has supported them throughout the years. The group established the Middlesex County Community Foundation Council of Business Partners and a new Donor Advised Fund at the Community Foundation. The group set out to research ways they could impact the ability of our young people – and the Council’s future employees – to reach their potential. They did their homework, examined the data, heard from the experts about what was happening in their backyard and then took action.

The Council of Business Partners
(CBP) began its first project, the
“No Bully Zone” initiative, in partnership with Rushford Center,
in the Fall of 2009. This innovative collaboration utilizes the Community Foundation’s knowledge of community needs and stewardship of funds, Rushford’s expertise and the Council members’ desire to help the
community it serves.

(l to r) Cynthia Clegg, MCCF President & CEO; Michael Frechette, Superintendent of Schools Middletown BOE; and Sheryl Sprague,
Rushford Center Prevention Manager.

The Council of Business Partners welcomes new participants. Just call Cynthia at 860.347.0025 to learn more about the “No Bully Zone” program. In the meantime, visit their businesses and support those who are truly "Good People doing Great Things". Let’s give them a rousing round of applause for their innovation, collaborative efforts and willingness to step forward to make things happen.
Their efforts have made things just a little bit better for all in Middlesex County!

The Council of Business Partners includes: (l to r) Arlene Mazzotta, A. R. Mazzotta Employment Specialists; David Royston, MCCF Board Chair; Laura Pedersen,
A. R. Mazzotta Employment Specialists; David Preston, MCCF Board Member; Sheryl Sprague of Rushford; Colin Burr, McCutcheon Burr & Sons; Marc Levin, Malloves Jewelers; and David Director, Connecticut Lighting Centers.
[Absent from photo: John Sullivan, A&A Office Systems; Ted Rossi, The Rossi Group, LLC; William McCann, Susan McCann and Shawn McCann, Best Cleaners; James Mahoney, Mahoney Sabol & Co.; David Shulman, Suburban Stationers; Dan Zimmerman, Tag Team Business Partners; Dave Gilbert, Direct Energy; Nancy Raczka; St. Mary's Church of Portland and Congregation Adath Israel in Middletown of the Interfaith Golf Open Tournament.]

Middlesex County Community Foundation Council of Business Partners
Anti-Bullying Program
in partnership with
Rushford Center, Inc.
utilizes students as peer leaders and
conducts activities to improve school climate for 6th graders at Keigwin Middle School.

Program Description

15-20 students are recruited as student leaders

Student leaders are trained in the anti bullying curriculum, decision-making skills and communication skills

Peer leaders gain the tools they need to access help for peers and suggest appropriate referrals

Peer leaders explore issues that are of concern to them, their school climate, school suspensions due to bullying, and identify community resources that can be accessed for support.

Peer leaders increase student and staff awareness on ways to identify, define and report incidents of bullying behavior

Work with students to develop communication and decision making skills, assess information on bullying problems facing students and promote peaceful conflict resolution and anti bullying messages

Staff creates lesson plans, and document program implementation that can be placed in a guidebook that can be duplicated and provided to other schools

Goals

Reduce incidents of violence and bullying

Train youth as a resource to their peers

Reduce feelings of alienation among students

Instill positive self-esteem and a sense of purpose

Identify specific plans that indicate young persons are optimistic about their future

Keigwin Middle School students meet with the
Council of Business Partners (CBP),
MCCF Board Members, and school officials to
discuss the success of the program in their school.

(l to r) Dan Zimmerman, Council of Business Partners; Keigwin Middle School 6th grade student and Nikki Belton, Student Assistance Counselor.

Impact
The Middlesex County Community Foundation Council of Business Partners
Anti-Bullying Program improves student climate by increasing pro-social behaviors which will result in reduced incidents of school suspension caused by violence/bullying.

Evaluation
Pre and post-test surveys are completed to assess students’ competency levels. Students track and monitor school discipline data and share results with peers.

Vision
To replicate the program at other schools such as Woodrow Wilson School, and to expand the Council of Business Partners throughout Middlesex County.

You can make a difference!

If you would like to help or join
The Middlesex County Community Foundation
Council of Business Partners,
contact Cynthia for more information 860.347.0025.

Just click on the Donate button and
Enter one of the suggested donation amounts below
or type in your own.

$25 - $50 - $100

$250 - $500 - $1,000

Become a Member - $2,500

Or mail your tax-deductible donation to:

Council of Business Partners Fund
c/o Middlesex County Community Foundation
211 South Main Street
Middletown, CT 06457

Please make checks payable to: MCCF
Memo line: CBP