Parents, Students:
Register Now for March 25 Family University

by Patty Horing

(February 22, 2004) After more that a year of planning, the time has finally arrived for Mamaroneck district parents to sign up for Family University, an evening of family learning, dialogue, and community building, scheduled for Thursday, March 25. Applications were sent out earlier this week and 500 parents and students are expected to convene at the Hommocks to participate in workshops, dinner and a “keynote experience” featuring Def Jam Poets, Joel Chmara and Bridget Gray, in The Spoken Word: Def Poets Come to Town.

The keynoters are well-know performers who have appeared on HBO. “The Def Poets have the amazing ability to bring raw emotion alive in way that is meaningful, educational, and, at the same time, terrifically entertaining,” said Helene Fremder, the Mamaroneck High School social worker and a key Family University organizer.

The attendees will select two workshops from among 27 options that will address issues such as staying connected to teenagers, friendship tension, materialism, substance abuse, bullying, father power, stress-busting, body image, emotional intelligence, building self-esteem, “clueless” parents, and more. All district parents, high school and middle school students are encouraged to attend. Childcare will be available on-site for elementary-aged children.

“Through Family University, our community will get a crash course in intergenerational understanding, tolerance, and support,” Fremder said. “Though the event takes place in just one night, it will be an experience that stimulates ongoing family dialogue. We think this will resonate positively in the community for a long time.”

The keynote presenters and workshop speakers were researched and selected by a large sub-committee of parents and students, part of the nearly 100 volunteers who have been working on the project. Nancy Weinrib, a member of the committee, said, “It was important to hear about the kids’ ideas and interests, and the program reflects their input." She added, “It’s rare to have an event like this that brings parents and children together at the same time to work on issues that they have chosen and that are meaningful in their lives.”

Family University is being funded by major grants from the Mamaroneck Schools Foundation and the district. “We thought it was important for the district to get behind this program, which so directly responds to the feedback we got through the ‘Community That Cares’ survey we conducted last year,” said Dr. Sherry King, Superintendent. The survey revealed above-average alcohol use by area teens, and cited “disorganization in the community” as a critical factor. Since kids who feel connected to their communities are less likely to exhibit risky behavior, Family University aims to build the sense of community among parents and children.

“Family University is the cornerstone of a larger, ongoing effort to protect and empower kids, support families, and strengthen the community by working together to address common concerns,” said Dr. King. To encourage maximum attendance, the district has cleared the calendar so that no conflicting sports events or meetings are scheduled for the evening of March 25 and has asked teachers not to assign (much) homework that night.

Though Mamaroneck’s Family University is a production of local volunteers, the district is following a model created 11 years ago by a group of parents in Katonah-Lewisboro. The original program was so successful, its founders have helped bring it to nearly 20 other communities in Westchester. Family University came to life in Mamaroneck when several parents approached Helene Fremder with the idea, after having read articles about the program’s expansion. Fremder got in touch with Family University founder Patty Warble, and then secured the grants from the Mamaroneck Schools Foundation and the district, which made the event possible.

How to Participate

Every family in the Mamaroneck School District should have received a Family University brochure and registration form in the mail by now. All information relating to the event (workshop details, parking, timing, babysitting, dinner, and more) can be found in the brochure, as well as on the Mamaroneck School District website. You can also click here for a PDF version of the registration form.

Workshop attendance is first-come-first-serve, so organizers recommend registering early. Registration forms are due on March 19. “We encourage everyone to read the program options very carefully, and sit down with your kids to discuss which workshops you might like to attend together, and which students-only speakers interest them,” said Fremder.

The Schedule on March 25

A “Books” table will be open throughout the evening and after Workshop Session II until 10:00 pm

Patty Horing is a parent volunteer with Mamaroneck's Family University.

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