Home run
Community service lives at Cushing
By Meaghan Casey
It’s been said that those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.
That can certainly be said for Cushing staff and supporters, but it rings true for Cushing participants as well. Their generous hearts often extend beyond the Cushing community and into the community at large.
Many of the participants in Cushing’s South Shore Industries (SSI) adult day program make a regular habit of volunteering at a variety of nonprofits in the area.
Working with staff members Bob MacKinnon and Susan Giusti, a group of SSI participants signed up to volunteer with Serve Home over the summer, helping to scrape and paint a Holbrook woman’s house and shed. The organization is dedicated
Cory Milton and Emma Sage volunteer at the
Housemates Spencer Martin, Ari Tannenbaum, Tim Rochon and Brent Yoshida, Direct Support Professional Ray Moulton, Residential Supports Manager Zainab Zaidan and housemate Traves Harris are enjoying the newly renovated space at 443 Washington St.
PHOTO BY KATIE MORRISON
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CARDINAL CUSHING CENTERS CONNECTOR
A PUBLICATION OF:
Cardinal Cushing Centers
405 Washington St. Hanover, MA 02339
Tel. 781-826-6371
www.cushingcenters.org
Michelle Markowitz
President and CEO mmarkowitz@cushingcenters.org
Jansi Chandler
Chief Development Officer jchandler@cushingcenters.org
Laurie Maranian
Director of Development lmaranian@cushingcenters.org
AFFILIATED WITH THE SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
Celebrating Cushing’s community connections
As we move into fall – the delightful season that serves as a bridge from the warmth of summer to the cold of winter – I think this edition of the Cardinal Cushing Connector serves as a terrific example of the strong connection
between Cushing and our surrounding community.
You will read about the many ways in which Cushing participants serve the community by volunteering at a wide variety of organizations. This is the epitome of a win-win; the community groups benefit from Cushing and the volunteers gain a sense of self-esteem and satisfaction from making a difference.
Cushing is also on the receiving end of volunteerism, as shown by Cardinal Spellman students and interns from the Mass.
Commission for the Blind helping out on our campus. We also love it when we have the chance to showcase the talents of our students in the community, as will be the case with an art exhibit at the State House at the end of October.
We have worked hard to forge these bonds, which we firmly believe benefit both our students and adult participants and the community at large. I hope you agree.
BOARD PROFILE: DAVID TRAGGORTH
A developing situation at Cushing
By Meaghan Casey
Hanover resident David Traggorth has dedicated much of his life to serving others, so it was no surprise when he took an interest in joining the board of directors of Cardinal Cushing Centers.
PRODUCED BY:
PKH COMMUNICATIONS pkhcomm@gmail.com
Traggorth is principal of Causeway Development, a real estate development and advisory firm. He consults with numerous nonprofits on complex real estate challenges, and has directly overseen a wide variety of complex mixed-income, mixed-use development projects that leverage public and private financing.
At the start of his career, Traggorth spent time in Sri Lanka, after the tsunami disaster, helping to reconstruct houses, and in Sierra Leone, helping to build clinics and roads. He moved to the Boston area in 2008.
Traggorth, who grew up in Baltimore, was raised in the construction business with his family, and later went on to earn his
master’s in urban planning and community development. “I’ve always been involved in construction and real estate for as long as I can remember,” he said.
It’s been exciting for him to serve on Cushing’s board during a time of so many development projects.
“Cushing has a tremendous amount of real estate assets and buildings,” he said. “It’s impressive to watch them growing and expanding and building networks and relationships. It’s been really fun to be a part of the decision-making and planning for the future.”
Traggorth, who lives with his wife and three children down the street from Cushing, was familiar with the organization before joining the board.
“We can walk to the café, and I’ve always been so impressed,” he said. “The students and adults working there have a great relationship with the customers and are really at home in the community.”
Summer interns leave their mark
Cushing welcomed two interns from the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind over the summer.
Tara Cheever and Chloe Henschen, both Scituate residents, were excited to gain real-world work experience at Cushing.
Cheever, a UMass Boston graduate, has experience in the human services field, including case management, employment services and front desk reception. This was her second summer at Cushing. She served as an administrative intern, conducting research, formatting documents and putting policies into electronic templates. The previous summer, she served as a job coach intern, assisting Cushing job coaches as they provided skill-building instruction.
Henschen is a student at Bridgewater
State University, studying English. This was her third summer as an intern at Cushing. She worked in the MarketPlace, running the register, stocking shelves and providing customer service. In 2019 and 2021, she performed general administrative work, including organizing and filing, answering phones, welcoming visitors, shredding documents and covering the reception desk.
Cheever and Henschen were two of 45 participants in the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind’s summer internship program, and Cushing was one of 37 employer partners. The program, designed to equip individuals who are legally blind with essential skills, confidence and connections for their future careers, concluded with a ceremony held at the State House on August 14.
Traggorth’s friend and colleague Jake Simmons, a former board member, connected him to the board, and he has been grateful for the experience.
“My older sister has intellectual disabilities and attends a school in North Carolina that’s similar to Cushing,” said Traggorth. “I’ve always appreciated — and even more so as an adult — the role places like Cushing play in the community, and the resource they are for families. I’m happy to support in any way that I can.”
Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024
405 Washington St., Hanover MA, 02339
Run Registration: 10am Start: 11am
Harvest Festival: 11am-2pm
MICHELLE MARKOWITZ
Michelle Markowitz is president & CEO of Cardinal Cushing Centers.
Chloe Henschen
Tara Cheever
David Traggorth attended a Cushing art exhibit with his family.
Extreme Makeover: Cushing Edition
By Meaghan Casey
After more than a year of demolition and construction work, Cushing’s Washington Street adult residence was completed over the summer.
And the results are unanimous. The staff, residents and their families are in love with the new space.
“The newly renovated Washington Street home will truly allow the gentlemen who live there the ability to age in place,” said Cushing President and CEO Michelle Markowitz. “The home is single-level, fully accessible and incorporates SMART technology to allow for more independence. We nearly doubled the square footage allowing for more room for the five gentlemen that live there. We were thrilled with the completed project.”
“It’s fabulous,” said Rita Harris, whose son, Traves, is one of the five residents.
“We’re so pleased, and Traves is so happy. It’s a vibrant, beautiful environment. It’s exactly what you want for you child. It proves to me that Cushing is committed
to moving forward and evolving.”
The residents — four of whom lived together in the former residence — moved into the newly updated house in July. Some of them, like Traves, have been residents of Cushing for nearly three decades.
“The boys, they’re a real family,” said Harris. “And the staff is beyond. The level of respect they have for everyone and the dignity they allow for every person, it really is special.”
The home, located at 443 Washington St., has five bedrooms, as well as an additional room for overnight staff. It is one of 15 homes that are part of Cushing’s Adult Services Residential Program, with each housing four to five residents. The settings enable residents to enhance their functional and social skills, take responsibility for daily chores, and develop positive relationships with neighbors and friends —all with 24-hour support from experienced and caring staff. Thanks to all the updates, the house is now Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified and features modern appliances, technology and even a new porch area with an
exercise bike.
“It’s incredible,” said Dave Yoshida, whose son, Brent, lives there. “The rooms are bigger and more spacious. The kitchen and dining area and outdoor space are really nice. It was an old, old building before, so the only thing they could really do is what they did — knock it down and rebuild it. It’s a tremendous addition to Cushing and the future to what they’ll do.”
“I love it,” said resident Tim Rochon. “My favorite part is my new room. It’s so big. I’m so happy. And I’m happy staff are here helping me with my diet. I love being here on campus because it’s close to my jobs.”
Others are in agreement.
“I like living on campus because it’s close to the track,” said resident Ari Tannenbaum.
“For Brent to be able to walk from his home to his work (in the culinary department), it’s an ideal situation,” said Yoshida. “Cushing has been such a big part of his life and ours,” he continued. “We’ll forever be indebted to the organization.” 1 3 2 4 5
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1. Traves Harris enjoys his spacious new bedroom. 2. Ari Tannenbaum is all smiles in the new kitchen. 3. Spencer Martin feels at home in his new room. 4. The newly remodeled house is a welcome addition to Cushing. 5. Brent Yoshida changes over some laundry.
PHOTOS
KATIE MORRISON
Classrooms get a facelift
By Meaghan Casey
Cushing students ushered in the new school year with vast improvements to their learning space.
The efforts to update classrooms within the Dr. Leonard Florence Education Building began with the installation of all new windows. Then, the rooms were gutted, old radiators and heating pipes were pulled out and all new heating systems were installed. The facilities team replastered and repainted the walls and installed new flooring and lighting. They also removed closets and chalkboards and added efficient built-in storage, new furniture and updated SMART Boards.
The building supports students ages 6-22, and class size ranges from five to seven students.
“Our newly renovated classrooms now match the innovative instruction happening with our students,” said Cushing President and CEO Michelle Markowitz. “There was a lot of effort into updating the Dr. Leonard Florence Education Building. We wanted bright, clean learning space as well as incorporating sensory friendly elements including soft, dimmable lighting, calming color palettes and new flooring to absorb noise.”
“Now we can actually adjust the settings with the lighting, and it’s not all the harsh, fluorescent lights,” said Meghan Campia, Cushing’s Vice President of Student Services. “There’s more sensory-integration now, just naturally. It’s been a morale booster and something exciting and fresh to come into each day.”
The project was supported by a $50,000 donation from the Yawkey Foundation. In the grant application, Cushing stressed that the classrooms are where important foundational work is happening, and that the rooms needed modern upgrades and repairs.
The redesign of the classrooms is better meeting the sensory needs of the students, supporting the teaching staff, and incorporating more advanced technology to assist with learning. Technologies with visual supports allow individuals with intellectual disabilities to better communicate and express their needs. In addition to the new SMART Boards, students also have access to their own personal learning devices, as well as the latest apps and software to make things as accessible as possible for them.
Ten of the 12 classrooms slated to be renovated have been completed so far.
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4. Student Kristine Dizon works with staff member Walid Zaynound. 5. Students Mason Austin and Joseph Anderson watch as staff member Elizabeth Abbott points out something on the SMART Board. 6. Student Caleb Charles works with staff member Alvaro Gomez-Cruz.
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Cushing student Davis Lubrin and staff member Ebony Chandler enjoy the new classroom space.
Savannah Joy updates her classroom calendar.
Kendra Jennigs uses the new SMART Board.
PHOTOS BY KATIE MORRISON
Community service lives at Cushing
COMMUNITY from page 1
to helping neighbors in need through volunteer home repairs and community projects.
Since early June, participants have also been going to Gifts to Give in Acushnet every other week to clean clothes, books and toys to be given to families in need or sold at the organization’s thrift store. Other groups volunteer to help operate three Meals on Wheels routes each week — two in Weymouth and one in Hanover. On site at Cushing, participants have also been putting together packages for homeless families, donated to Arlington Street Church in Boston.
Some individuals have found a specific interest and pursued that. Kim Hamilton has been volunteering at the Standish Humane Society for several years. More recently, Emma Sage and Cory Milton started volunteering at the Scituate Animal Shelter, socializing with the animals and folding and putting away laundry.
“We usually start in the cat section, and this is where Cory really shines. She is confident and calm and the cats seem to be drawn to her,” said Dave Babcock, Cushing’s community integrations coordinator, who accompanies them.
Caleb Montolio volunteers weekly at Arts and Rec in Hanover, an organization that uses art-based therapeutic recreation and visual arts to help individuals with special needs meet their goals of health and well-being. Montolio is primarily responsible for shredding documents.
“We love having Caleb helping with shredding,” said Arts and Rec Director Julie Quill. “He is doing a great job. We have a lot of papers to get through, so having him help is wonderful. He is patient and follows directions well. We want to thank him for helping us out.”
“He loves shredding and interacting with the individuals,” said SSI job coach Peggie McGlone. She added that the organization has a lunch social on Tuesdays, when Montolio volunteers, and other SSI participants have had the opportunity to attend.
“You can bring your lunch and socialize with individuals from other organizations,” said McGlone. “Each week they do something different — art, games or drums. They have been so generous with us and have allowed us to bring six individuals each week.”
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1. Greg Stevens and Matt Dane help out at Gifts to Give. 2. Caleb Montolio enjoys shredding at Arts and Rec. 3. Case manager Susan Giusti, Tim Rochon, job coach Bob MacKinnon, Eoin Coyne and Tyler English prepare packages for homeless families.
4. Emma Sage bonds with a dog at the Scituate Animal Shelter.
5. Eoin Coyne, Ryan Bearse, Susan Giusti, Meredith Ortiz and job coach Bob MacKinnon finish painting a shed during a summer project with Serve Home.
Spellman students connect with Cushing
By Meaghan Casey
Cushing relies on the support of its volunteers, who contribute their unique talents, skills and knowledge to enhance day-to-day operations, whether working directly with participants, or behind the scenes.
Students from Cardinal Spellman High School in Brockton have come to appreciate just that. As part of the school’s community service program, every high school student has the opportunity to serve at various nonprofits. Students are assigned an agency and spend the school day learning and serving at food banks and pantries, nursing homes, adult care
centers, farms, elementary schools, soup kitchens and more.
Last spring, a group of Cardinal Spellman students worked to get Cushing’s MarketPlace gardens, greenhouse and garden shop ready for the season. Another group joined Cushing participants in organizing and bagging more than 3,000 toys generously donated by the TJX Companies for the Hanover Fire Department’s Toys for Tots drive.
Cardinal Spellman partners with almost 20 agencies. The school first started sending volunteers to Cushing in 2020, and approximately 10-12 students go to each site.
“A lot of schools might mandate service hours on your own time, but what makes this unique is that you’re doing these
works of mercy alongside your peers and your teachers,” said Jason Deramo, former dean of students and director of campus ministry at Cardinal Spellman.
Deramo said it’s also an opportunity for students to learn about the many agencies around them that do so much for people in need.
“They’re coming away from the experience with this knowledge of what this agency does every day,” he said. “Each year, they’re experiencing a different type of organization, so it’s giving them a lot of exposure.”
He said the opportunity to volunteer at Cushing is always a student favorite.
Making an immediate impact
Canton resident Abby Nix may have only spent one year at Cushing, but even in that short time, she left an indelible mark. Nix, who graduated from Canton High School and attended Canton’s post-graduate program, enrolled at Cushing last year and graduated in August. While at Cushing, she took courses on employability skills and training and took on three different jobs. She was employed by Interior Details, a Norwellbased window treatment company, tasked with sweeping and vacuuming, dusting and cleaning windows, shredding documents and more. She also worked at the Peppermint Twist
Candy Shoppe in Marshfield, counting candy and packaging specialty orders, restocking shelves and greeting customers. Additionally, she worked at the Cushing Café, assisting customers, preparing drink orders, restocking supplies, cleaning tables, preparing food supplies and more.
“She hit the ground running with vocational opportunities,” said Vinny DeSilva, Cushing’s Director of Vocational Services. “She’s a wonderful individual. We saw an immense amount of growth in the short amount of time she was here. We’re so proud of her.”
“I enjoyed meeting new people and getting to explore more about job sites,” Nix said. “I learned what is appropriate to wear at job sites, that I need to be on time for my work shifts, and how to talk to co-workers. I am proud that through my work at Cardinal Cushing Centers and other schools I can be a leader in the classroom and at work.”
DeSilva said Nix was one of the first Cushing students to use a new platform that they are trying out, Digication, which is designed for users to create and share ePortfolios.
“It really highlights what they’ve learned throughout the year, alongside pictures, videos and their resume,” he said. “It’s a good resource to look at during job interviews, and it can be sent as a URL as part of an application process.”
“I had a job coach helping me with that,” said Nix, who is hoping that the online resource will help her as she applies to jobs in the future. She ultimately wants to work in a preschool classroom.
In her home community, Nix has helped out as a manager for the Canton High School girls basketball team for seven years and has competed in track and field and basketball through Special Olympics. She also enjoys dancing and used to be a dance assistant, helping young students with their dance recitals.
Cardinal Spellman students helped out with Cushing’s gardens and greenhouse.
Abby Nix enjoyed working at the Peppermint Twist Candy Shoppe.
Graduation from Cushing was an exciting moment.
Another group from the school organized toys for a Toys for Tots drive.
Spotlight shines on Cushing artists
By Meaghan Casey
Cushing artists are getting their moments in the spotlight, thanks to several projects and exhibits in the South Shore and Greater Boston communities featuring their work.
“Having spent over 30 years in the classroom teaching art, this was something I always envisioned, having Cushing art out in the larger community,” said Randy Wiskow, Cushing’s manager of art enrichment and community engagement.
From Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, Cushing students’ artwork will be featured at the Massachusetts State House. Wiskow said students are working on 24 panels to be displayed, the invitation coming from State Rep. David DeCoste.
“I talked to him at Hanover Day — we had a table selling artwork and items from our café — and he was very kind and generous, and ended up getting us into the State House,” said Wiskow.
Over the summer, the North River Arts Society featured a month-long exhibit of Cushing participants’ work, titled “Joyful Expressions.” The exhibit showcased more than 120 pieces, created by Cushing students and adults. At the opening reception in July, Cushing students passed around food that had been prepared at the Cushing Café, and artists were in attendance to talk about their work.
“Most pieces were for sale, and there was an amazing number of purchases,” said Wiskow. “It was incredible. We were blown away.”
“The main goal was to show everyone this is what we can do,” Wiskow added. “It was about exposure and awareness around how talented our artists are.”
Cushing artists also contributed to Hanover Crossing’s new mural, which was dedicated in June. The community-based project, organized by the North and South River Watershed Association, was designed to raise awareness around rivers and habitats.
“We jumped at the opportunity to participate,” said Wiskow. “It was just great because the artists who designed it talked through the original sketch, and our students were able to paint the fish on the North River. It was a lot of fun. The students loved it.”
Cushing students have also shown their work at Hanover Four Corners Winter Festival, and they had an art show at Kennedy’s Country Gardens in February.
“The manager had been donating plants to our greenhouse for a winter project and we talked about doing a show in their greenhouse, open to the public,” said Wiskow. “It was a great venue. All of these collaborations have been a lot of fun, and our goal is to do more.”
Student Griffin Browne works with staff member Elizabeth Abbott to create a panel with the word “love” to be displayed at the State House.
2. Students Nick Frazier and Vinny Johnson, art teacher Emily McElman, student Ainsley DiTomaso and manager of art enrichment Randy Wiskow contributed to the new mural at Hanover Crossing.
3. Art teacher Emily McElman high fives student Mason Austin. 4.North River Arts Programs and Marketing Manager Julia Driscoll, Cushing President and CEO Michelle Markowitz, student Abdur KhanMatos, North River Arts Executive Director Maureen Smith, and Randy Wiskow attended the opening reception for Cushing’s exhibit. 5. Student Jack George works on a panel for the State House. 1 2
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