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Manhattanville Program builds confidence and media savvy |
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A
new mentoring initiative pairs twelve Duchesne Scholars at
Manhattanville University with the same number of young
African-American and Hispanic women from the Coachman Family Center in
White Plains, New York.
The framework for the mentoring
program, called “Ladies Room,” was designed by a student, Madeline
Valencia, during an honors course called “Changing the World - One Step
at a Time.” Her vision was to bring Manhattanville students together
with at-risk young girls in a program designed to build confidence and
provide media education. Participants are encouraged to explore various
perspectives of the female image, focusing on those that are the most
positive and health-promoting. The young women are invited to share
their insights with their mothers and/or female guardians in a
structured setting.
Duchesne Scholars are freshmen students selected to receive $2,000
scholarships from the Duchesne Center for Religion and Social Justice
at Manhattanville .
The scholars, who number 137 as of the current freshman class, are
selected on the basis of their experience and interest in the areas of
community service, social justice and leadership.
Margaret Causey, RSCJ, associate dean at Manhattanville and professor
of world religions, served as executive director of the Duchesne Center
from its inception in 1997 until June 2004. Sister Causey was succeeded
in the director's post by Karen King-Sheridan.
Ladies Room was made possible by a grant from the Society of the Sacred Heart's Philippine Duchesne Fund.
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