Subscribe to MWCC News Grants from the Gardner Yellow Birch Fund and the Community Enrichment Fund will support student trips to the State House and Washington, D.C.
Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) has been awarded $23,166 in grant funds from two funds of the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts—half from the Gardner Yellow Birch Fund and half from the Community Enrichment Fund—to support the Engaging the Next Generation of Civic Leaders project through the College’s Brewer Center for Civic Learning and Community Engagement.
The project will help educate students about how government works at the state and federal levels—putting the “civics” back in civic education. Through workshops, mentorship, and experiential learning opportunities, students will gain leadership skills and a deeper understanding of the democratic process.
Grant funding will also support trips to the Massachusetts State House and to Washington, D.C., where students will spend three nights and two days. While in D.C., students will complete a service project and learn firsthand how public policy connects to real community needs.
“We are grateful for the support from both the Gardner Yellow Birch Fund and the Community Enrichment Fund,” said James L. Vander Hooven, President of Mount Wachusett Community College. “Their investment in this project reflects our shared commitment to strengthening civic life in North Central Massachusetts by connecting education with meaningful community engagement.”
“This funding allows us to create hands-on civic experiences that show students how government operates—and how they can be part of shaping it,” said David Thibault-Muñoz, Director of the Brewer Center for Civic Learning and Community Engagement. “By traveling to the State House and Washington, D.C., students will see democracy in action and understand how civic participation can lead to real change.”
The Gardner Yellow Birch Fund supports programs in the Gardner area that celebrate working-class, immigrant, and migrant heritage, and that promote organizing for a more just and equitable economy. The Community Enrichment Fund supports initiatives that strengthen cultural vitality, civic engagement, and community well-being throughout North Central Massachusetts.
The Engaging the Next Generation of Civic Leaders project is part of MWCC’s ongoing efforts to prepare students and community members to lead positive change through education, collaboration, and civic responsibility.