Genesis Ramos, executive director of the Mount’s Desmond Center for Community Engagement and Wellness, kicked off Family Literacy Night at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center.
Mount Saint Mary College’s Desmond Center for Community Engagement and Wellness, the Division of Education, the School of Nursing, and the School of Business recently teamed up to host Family Literacy Night at the Newburgh Armory Unity Center.
About 30 Mount students assembled at the Newburgh Armory to mentor local children. After an introduction from Genesis Ramos, executive director of the Desmond Center, the night’s activities included a read-aloud, breakout literacy activities, dinner, health education workshops, free goodie bags for families, and more.
In addition, Mount Nursing students provided one of their popular Fuzzy Friends Clinics. To help demystify healthcare for young children, the students demonstrated how doctors and nurses use stethoscopes, bandages, blood pressure cuffs, and more to keep patients happy and healthy. The patients, in this case, were the children’s very own stuffed animals.
Funded in part by grants from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation and New York State’s Higher Education Capital (HECap) program, the Desmond Center offers educational workshops, family counseling services, fitness checks, immunizations, professional development events, and more for the local community.