CCV Students Create Anthology of Original Stories to Keep Kids Safe

Spring 2009

For the past several years, the students in Mike Richman’s classes have been encouraged to pursue community service opportunities in their areas of interest. One such service project came to fruition this spring through the financial support of Chittenden Bank and private donors.

The project originated as an assignment in two of Richman’s classes, Child Abuse and Neglect, and Family Violence. Students were asked to create children’s stories, written for preschool through third grade, educating children about forms of abuse and neglect and how they can respond and seek help safely.

With the editorial assistance of volunteer students and alumni, and in consultation with
Prevent Child Abuse Vermont, Richman selected seven stories to be included in a printed anthology titled Seven Short Stories to Help Keep Kids Safe. The stories include Be Nice! by Katelyn Cooke, It’s Better to Tell by Mark Sienko, Brother and Sister by Robert Kash, Daddy Doesn’t Hit Me Anymore by Caitlin Besette, Gloria by Sara Horn, My Feelings I Own by India Hammerslough, and 5 Ways to Tell and 5 Tips to Use If Your Parents Need Help Because They Sometimes Do by Dwayne Doner.

Support from private donations enabled Richman to print a limited number of volumes for a new group of students in his Human Services classes to distribute to local schools, libraries, and childcare centers as a service-learning project. Subsequently, Mike received a grant from Chittenden Bank to support the printing of 100 additional copies, which will enable the service-learning project to continue and expand. On February 3, Chittenden Bank’s Business Development Officer, Gayle McKinnon-Alexander, visited Richman’s Child Abuse and Neglect class to present the 100 copies of the anthology for distribution to children throughout the Burlington region.

During his eleven years on the CCV faculty, Richman has taught a number of courses in which service learning has been a component. As he notes in the introduction to the anthology, Richman “supports CCV’s ongoing mission to graduate students with a commitment to serve their communities.” His greatest appreciation goes to the students of his classes “for their hard work, creativity, and dedication in creating these stories. It is this type of project that makes teaching at CCV such a rewarding experience.”