The IGNITE TechCelerator Program Participants Present Insights As the culmination of their ten-week participation in the TechCelerator at Lackawanna County Program, the principals of eight county based small businesses recently presented insights about their business plans. An enthusiastic audience of funders, coordinators, dignitaries, and supporters applauded the presentations at Penn State Scranton’s new Engineering Building, at the evening event. Each of the presenting small businesses received a $10,000 grant from the program sponsors to support their future growth. The eight businesses are Babinski Co., Gamer Realities, Mass Layer, Neuralytics, McGowan Co., Sensify, Success Fundamentals, Sylf. Future products and services from these companies range from 3D printing services, a self-serve alcohol dispenser, video game production, educational podcasts, and more. Bob Durkin, Greater Scranton Chamber President offered, “Partnering with the other sponsors for the TechCelerator program has extended our efforts to encourage and help develop local entrepreneurs through our Ignite program and moves those budding firms into our robust business development incubator sites.” Ken Okrepkie, Regional Manager of Ben Franklin Technology Partners added, “This first Lackawanna County TechCelerator program to assist early adapting entrepreneurs to develop their ideas into moldable businesses has been an unqualified success. We look to replicate this effort with future classes.” The TechCelerator Program is a collaboration among Lackawanna County, The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, and Ben Franklin Technology Partners and tecBRIDGE.
Commonwealth Health is a Cornerstone of Northeastern PA The skilled and compassionate hands of physicians, nurses and other team members of Commonwealth Health support the health and well-being of patients who turn to us for expert care. We are here, whenever needed. Beyond providing clinical care, Commonwealth Health is a cornerstone of our community and a major contributor to the economic health of Northeastern PA as a major employer and tax-payer and through our resources to expand and enhance the medical services available close to home. The overall impact is significant and totaled more than $482 million in 2022. Care was provided at more than 1 million patient encounters, including more than 81,500 emergency department visits, more than 19,600 inpatient admissions and more than 23,700 surgeries. Over 965,000 patients received care locally from our physician practices, walk-in locations and outpatient centers. Joy was delivered to local families with the birth of more than 2,000 babies at Moses Taylor Hospital and Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. “We help people get well and live healthier by providing quality care for patients,” said Michael Curran, chief executive officer for Regional Hospital of Scranton and Moses Taylor Hospital. “Our community is truly fortunate to have this dedicated team of clinicians who are making a real difference each and every day.” Commonwealth Health’s network provides a broad range of medical services, from highly specialized heart, lung and joint replacement surgery to more routine surgical needs and preventive care. Since 2022, more than 4,000 hearts beat stronger following cardiac catheterization at Commonwealth Health’s Heart & Vascular Institute located in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Eleven interventional cardiologists now offer this life-saving procedure and other treatments for heart health. Commonwealth Health and Rothman Orthopaedic Institute have announced a strategic alignment to transform the offering and delivery of orthopedic care and services in Northeastern PA. We expect to begin to serve patients through the affiliation in late summer 2023. Bringing moms and babies safely through childbirth is our priority. Our AI-based maternal-fetal early warning system monitors vital data throughout labor and delivery to help our maternity team recognize, prevent and respond to potential complications for an even safer birth. Simon Ratliff, chief executive officer for Wilkes-Barre General Hospital stated, “The vital care we provide is only one part of the broad impact we have. We are a cornerstone of this community and we are committed to doing all we can to provide excellent healthcare services and to making Northeastern PA a healthier, better community for all.” Commonwealth Health also gives back to Northeastern PA by providing over $49 million in charity and uncompensated care for the community’s most vulnerable. And the payment of $23 million in property and sales taxes helps support civic resources and services. The hospitals’ payroll of more than $361 million ripples across the local economy as employees buy goods and services. Last year the hospitals added enhanced benefits to help team members achieve their personal and professional goals, including assistance with student loan repayments, reimbursement of licensure and certification expenses, as well as tuition reimbursement. To train additional caring and skilled nurses, Jersey College and Commonwealth Health have collaborated to establish a School of Nursing on Moses Taylor Hospital’s campus, serving the greater region. We welcomed our first class of students in January 2023. To help the community live healthier, Commonwealth Health offers a free e-newsletter with a monthly dose of health and wellness inspiration sent directly to your inbox. Sign up at commonwealthhealth.net.
Harold Says as the People’s Advocate The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted and exacerbated issues older adults have experienced for years like rising drug prices, isolation and difficulty accessing or affording healthcare. What progress have local organizations made in addressing these challenges? Harold Cameron, is the voice for people, was diagnosed with 2 brain tumors in 2006, had to advocate for himself to get what he needed. “If you start to change the way you think, you will start to change the way you feel”. “With the right attitude ask the right questions, and present the correct information you are irrefutable”. “Bottom line is: Don’t Give Up”. “You are loved, and if you need help, here I am”. Harold Cameron spoke on being the people’s advocate and how he has been impacted through the pandemic. Connect with him on LinkedIN Harold Says Website Watch to the full video HERE
Kost Tire and Auto Supports Law Enforcement Departments “Kost for Cops” is a program to thank our local law enforcement community for keeping us safe and making us proud! Phase One The Kost organization schedules visits with local law enforcement agencies and delivers meals to be enjoyed by members (including K-9 members of the force) and support staff. Erwin Kost Sr. is committed to supporting our law enforcement communities and expressing thanks for their efforts. As a Vietnam era veteranhe served our country, wore the uniform with pride, honor and respect. However when he was coming home his uniform was not respected. Years later, he saw the same attitude emerging with people’s disrespect of our law enforcement community. He said “NOT on my watch!” Erwin Kost Jr. attended a Sunday Mass honoring our local law enforcement. Members of the departments were in their dress uniforms. When a representative of the group addressed the congregation, people stood and showed a massive appreciation of support and sincere thanks! Erwin Jr., thought to himself “our community truly supports our law enforcement.” Both Erwin’s had very different experiences however they both arrived at the same crossroads and agreed to put forth an effort to support our local Law Enforcement. “Kost for Cops” was created, an action plan was established, put in place and implemented. “Our law enforcement communities need to know how much they are appreciated and how thankful we are that they are holding the line in our neighborhoods.”So, the Kost family and organization is going to say “Thank you, for keeping us safe and making us proud.” The Kost organization has delivered meals to over 40 departments in the last 12weeks to express their sincere thanks for the service and commitment on the part of law enforcement that protects our residents and communities. An additional 8visits arebeing planned over the next two months. We want to promote our police and law enforcement personnel in all areas and express thanks for their efforts. We must all support, trust and honor local law enforcement andlook to our efforts to encourage other companies, organizations, and private citizens to do the same. Phase Two The Phase Two mission consists of helping our law enforcement departments keep in touch with the communities they serve and assisting in the development of new levels and channels of connectivity. In many cases, when police are called to a location, people are NOT having a good day. The tension and anxiety may be high, and the ability to communicate as one member of the community to another may help defuse the situation,Enhanced communications build stronger and safercommunities. The Kost organization is developing plans that would supportcommunity-oriented events and activities sponsored by our law enforcementagencies. Such activities includethe “National Night Out”, the first Tuesday in August.Additional department sponsored events and activities throughout the year will be supported. As an example, a few members of a local police department started a food pantry in their neighborhood. Erwin Kost Jr immediately suggested that we setup food drop-off containers in a Koststore location near that police department. “Help comes in a number of ways, “said Kost.“This is an extension of and consistent with our 85 years of being in business, supporting local communities, and family to family service projects.”
Marywood University’s Community Leadership Celebration Marywood University’s Tenth Annual Community Leadership Celebration will honor Professor Emerita of Art Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM, M.F.A. on Thursday, May 4, 2023, 5:30 p.m., at the Center for Athletics and Wellness on the University’s campus. During the celebration, Sister Cor will receive the University’s Lead On Award, in recognition of her lifelong commitment to education, to service, and to the common good. An art auction will be featured during the event that includes a piece of artwork by Sister Cor. The Community Leadership Celebration, Marywood’s signature fundraiser, provides special support to Marywood students and honors individuals in the community who exemplify Marywood’s core values in leadership and service to others. Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the President’s Innovation Fund, which supports Marywood students through initiatives that enhance the academic experience in the IHM tradition. A professed member of the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM), Sister Cor spent the better part of five decades teaching, primarily teaching art at the high school and college levels. After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Art at Marywood, she went on to complete multiple advanced degrees, including a Master of Arts in Sculpture from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Science degree in Counseling from Marywood University, and a Master of Fine Arts from Syracuse University. Much of her prolific career as an art educator was spent at Marywood, where she taught for 30 years and served as Art Department Chair for 14 years, until her retirement in 2008. She now holds the distinction of Professor Emerita of Art. As an artist, Sister Cor has been commissioned to create numerous sculptures, some of which can be seen throughout the country, including college, estate, wellness, and spiritual settings. Many of her sculptures and other works adorn the interior and exterior spaces at Marywood University and the IHM Congregation facilities. She has designed and published two books, including Spirit of Light (2004), and, her most recent, Spirit Within: The Art of Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM. Earlier this year, she presented a retrospective exhibit for Spirit Within, featuring paintings, calligraphy, prints, and sculptures at the Mahady Gallery at Marywood University. As a spiritual director, Sister Cor has presented extensive workshops and retreats, on five continents, for the Missionaries of Charity. She also has worked with the Institute for Priestly Formation, along with a multitude of parishes and congregations, offering retreats and spiritual direction for priests, consecrated religious, and members of the laity. In addition to her long career as a Marywood faculty member, Sister Cor is a former Marywood trustee. She also has held membership and leadership positions with the Lackawanna Regional Cultural Council; Everhart Museum; Commission on Architecture and Urban Design; Scranton Diocesan Liturgical Commission; and Meals on Wheels. Sister Cor has been honored by numerous entities for her achievements as an artist, art educator, arts advocate, and a dedicated woman of faith and service. To join Marywood University in honoring Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM at the Community Leadership Celebration on May 4, or for details about event sponsorships and items for auction, please visit marywood.edu/clc, or call (570) 348-6238.
The Wright Center News The Wright Center Patient Shares Story Dombroskys share their story of organ donation during National Organ Donor Awareness Month in April. In the fall of 2013, Steve Dombrosky was out of breath seemingly all the time. A previously active 57-year-old, he struggled to get out of bed and go to his job as an electronics technician at the Tobyhanna Army Depot. His symptoms were not much better at work. “It was a chore just to go to the restroom,” he recalls. “By the time I got back, I was almost gasping for air. I wasn’t walking; I was shuffling my feet. Dombrosky and his wife, Pam, who’d spent 18 years working as a registered nurse, knew something wasn’t right. An initial doctor’s examination revealed a fatty liver diagnosis. After further testing, he was diagnosed with NASH: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. NASH is the most severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and is closely related to obesity, pre-diabetes, and diabetes. As the disease progressed, he experienced internal bleeding resulting in a dangerously low blood count. “I had many blood and iron transfusions. We were always running somewhere for treatments,” he said. He would gain nearly 25 pounds each time his body retained fluids, making everyday tasks almost impossible to complete. During one hospital visit, doctors removed eight two-liter bottles of fluid from his abdomen. In April 2018, he was placed on the liver transplant list during a 15-day stay at Geisinger Health System in Danville. “I fought it for five years. You have to be really sick to get on a transplant list. You have to be on the edge of saying goodbye before you’re put on a list,” he said. Steve was placed on the transplant list and sent home on a Thursday. The next day he received a call with incredible news: They had a liver for him. “I was coming home, and he called me, and he was crying,” Pam recalled. “I said, ‘why are you crying?’ and he just kept saying, ‘I got a liver, I got a liver.’ We could not believe how quick it was.” The donor was a 24-year-old man who had chosen to be an organ donor. That man’s decision saved the lives of many people. It’s something the Dombroskys will never forget. “We cried and cried for him; we grieved for him every day,” Pam said, overcome with emotion. “People need to become organ donors. There’s not much to it, just checking a box on your driver’s license.” Steve wasn’t the first person on the list for the transplant. The first patient was too sick for the operation, and the second patient refused it due to the possibility of a hepatitis infection due to the donor’s age. Doctors explained to Steve that the chance of infection was minimal and that they were prepared to treat him for hepatitis if needed. “People don’t get the chance that I got. I’ve always been sort of a gambler. I knew this was my shot. If I say no, I’m going to be a goner,” he said. “My name is not going to come back around on that list before I’ve passed away. There are days I feel 24 years old again, and I believe that’s from our donor.” The Dombroskys encourage everyone to become organ donors. “My thinking is, when the good Lord comes for you, he doesn’t want your body; he’s only coming for your soul,” said Steve. “So why not give the gift of life? If I could give someone eyesight, a heart, a kidney, or a skin graft, then there’s a part of me still living, and I think that’s just fantastic.” Steve and Pam are both grateful to the donor and his family, as well as all of the medical professionals and organizations that have helped them on this journey. They were among the first recipients of monetary support from The Cody Barrasse Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by the family and friends of Cody Barrasse, a 22-year-old Moosic resident who died after being struck by a car. Barrasse was an organ donor; eight individuals received his life-saving organs. The foundation helps to offset the costs that many organ donor recipients face and supports a scholarship in his name at Scranton Preparatory School. Steve, now 67, has combined his passion for cars with a part-time job, working for a friend with a small automotive dealership. He takes care of mostly everything around their home, including having dinner ready when Pam comes home from her job in the accounting department at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education in Scranton, where she started working during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Everyone has been wonderful – at CMC, in Danville, and here at The Wright Center,” said Pam. “When I read the email (at The Wright Center) about Organ Donor Awareness Month, I wanted to share our story.” For anyone unsure of becoming an organ donor, Steve has one thing to say: “You can consider yourself a hero; you gave a better life to someone else, and that says a lot about who you are. It’s a never-ending battle for these people waiting on transplant lists, and you can help in so many ways,” he said. For more information about organ donations and how to become an organ donor, visit the Pennsylvania Donate Life website at donatelifepa.org or the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation website at dmv.pa.gov. Interns kick-start careers at The Wright Center The Wright Center for Community Health offers area college students the chance to sharpen their job skills through ongoing internship opportunities in medical-related pursuits, social work, and other professions. Four degree-seekers, for example, participated recently in internships that concentrated on the rapidly expanding field of addiction treatment and recovery services. “We’re giving them a springboard to start their careers,” says Maria Kolcharno, The Wright Center’s director of addiction services. The interns include master’s degree candidates and one intern pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social work who describes herself as “passionate about helping people,” especially those newly entering recovery for substance use disorders. The four interns range in age from their 20s to mid-30s. The interns gain real-world experience by assisting in The Wright Center’s initiatives to respond to the deadly opioid crisis. In 2016, The Wright Center established an Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence program to expand access to community-based care in Northeast Pennsylvania. It now serves more than 650 active patients. The Wright Center also co-founded the region’s Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support (or Healthy MOMS) program, which assists women who face the dual challenge of raising a baby and overcoming an addiction. Prospective interns are invited to meet with Kolcharno and her colleagues to talk about their mutual expectations of the limited-term, unpaid work experience. “We try to tailor the internship experience to where their interests lie,” she says. Kolcharno and Scott Constantini, associate vice president of primary care and recovery services integration at The Wright Center, mentored the interns, who say their career aspirations range from “hands-on social work” to administration. Bobby DeMeck, 35, a South Abington Township resident, is pursuing a dual degree through the University of Alabama, combining a Master of Social Work and a Master of Public Health. He expects to graduate with both in May. He has worked in the addiction treatment field for about seven years and approached The Wright Center about an internship that would help put him on an administrative track. “It’s gone beyond my expectations,” says DeMeck. “The Wright Center has allowed me to sit in with grant writing projects, with community assessment, and with strategic planning for out-of-the-box substance use disorder programming. I’ve been able to work with some of The Wright Center’s addiction medicine physicians to create PowerPoints for the education of resident physicians. … and to do just a whole lot of different things.” He has been particularly impressed by conversations happening within The Wright Center about how to better address the lopsided statistics surrounding addiction. “Less than 5% of people with a substance use disorder actually ask for help or receive treatment,” he says. “So, I really like Scott Constantini’s goal for the organization to take care of the 95% who aren’t ready for help yet. “The Wright Center tries to help those who currently don’t want to change their substance use practices by providing harm reduction services, community education, safe use practice, and stigma reduction. Therefore, when the individual is ready to change, they’ll know who to call,” DeMeck adds. “And for those who do want to change their substance use, The Wright Center offers medication-assisted treatment services, certified recovery specialists, and counseling services that provide individualized care.” DeMeck, a Madisonville native and Penn State University graduate, will have the chance to immediately put those insights and lessons into practice when his internship ends. He was recently offered a job as deputy director of Lackawanna/Susquehanna County Drug and Alcohol programs. Juliana Joyce, 24, a native of Jermyn, will earn a Master of Social Work this spring from Marywood University. As an intern, she shadowed a case manager in the Healthy MOMS program – an initiative co-founded by The Wright Center in 2018 to help pregnant women overcome addictions and successfully raise their children. “I didn’t realize this kind of program was available in our area,” says Joyce, a Valley View High School graduate. “I have already seen how it can change lives and impact women and their families. It’s really amazing.” An adviser pointed her to The Wright Center’s internship program, based on Joyce’s desire “to work with mothers in some capacity.” The experience “ended up being just what I wanted,” she says. Joyce recently celebrated with a mother in the Healthy MOMS program who had been aided in the court system and received word that she was being granted shared custody of her son. “We all broke into tears,” says Joyce. “It was a beautiful experience getting to see that and hear her say, ‘I have my baby back.’ “At that moment,” she says, “it was like, ‘Yes, that’s why I’m doing this type of work!’” Megan Smith, 25, a Gouldsboro resident, is working toward her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at The University of Scranton. She became an employee at The Wright Center in September 2022, serving as a Center of Excellence case manager. She completed her internship hours in conjunction with handling her daily job duties, which include performing patient intakes, assisting with referrals to other health care and treatment programs, and helping patients connect to social services and resources that will promote their recoveries. Smith, a graduate of North Pocono High School and Penn State University, especially likes how The Wright Center offers its patients a “one-stop shop,” she says. “Coming here, I got to see how drug and alcohol treatment can be integrated with behavioral health, medical, and dental – all different avenues, working together for patient care – which is really great to see.” Next, Smith plans to pursue her goal of becoming a licensed professional counselor. Elizabeth Zinkle, 35, a former Maryland resident now living in Scranton, switched career paths from education to social work. The Misericordia University student was motivated to enter the field, she says, because she previously witnessed a loved one reach out for help and not receive consistent support from certain workers in the care system. By contrast, Zinkle wants to be a patient-centered provider who gives individuals a positive start on their recovery journeys. As an intern, she expected to get saddled with mundane tasks, particularly paperwork, she says. Instead, she shadowed The Wright Center’s case managers as they handled daily responsibilities, met with patients face to face, and became familiar with how medication-assisted treatment can help people conquer their addictions while remaining active in the community, rather than going to an inpatient facility. “Reading from a textbook is one thing,” says Zinkle. “But being able to talk to people and understand addiction and recovery, and all of the medications, it’s the best way to learn.” While fulfilling her internship hours, she says: “I got connected to what I want to do. I would love to complete my next two semesters of internships at The Wright Center and then work for the organization as an employee.” Interns typically leave The Wright Center at the end of their required program hours with a “real feel for what is going on in the field,” Kolcharno says. “It’s certainly a win for us if one of the students who we’ve mentored and trained stays on board with us,” Kolcharno says, “because then they know all the components of our mission, vision, and values, how we operate as an organization, and even how to use our electronic health records system. They really have a nice background to walk into a position here at The Wright Center.”To learn about internship opportunities at The Wright Center for Community Health, call Carla Blakeslee, clerkships coordinator, at 570-591-5116, or send an email to blakesleec@thewrightcenter.org
Lackawanna College will Host Spring Bazaar Open House On Saturday April 15, 2023 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m Lackawanna College will host a Spring Bazaar open house for local high school students interested in attending Lackawanna College. Students can take an immersive tour of our campuses, meet with faculty from Lackawanna’s 60 plus academic programs, receive personalized financial aid assistance and take part in a block party celebration on Vine street outside Angeli Hall at Lackawanna College’s Scranton Campus. Local high school students interested in attending Lackawanna College and faculty from Lackawanna College providing information from our various programs. Lackawanna College Scranton – 501 Vine Street Scranton, PA 18509 Lackawanna College Hazleton – 2 East Broad Street Hazleton, PA 18201 Lackawanna Towanda – 1024 South Main Street Towanda, PA 18848 Lackawanna College Tunkhannock – 420 Tioga West Plaza Tunkhannock, PA 18657 Lackawanna College Sunbury – 1145 N. 4th Street Sunbury, PA 17801 Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center – 93 MacKenzie Rd. Covington Twp., PA 18444
Allied Services Welcomes New Employees ROBERT FENNER, LPN: Allied Services Integrated Health System welcomed Robert Fenner, LPN, as Wellness Director for the health systems personal care facility, The Terrace, in Scranton. Fenner received his practical nursing degree from the Wilkes-Barre Area Career & Technical Center. As Wellness Director, Fenner looks forward to helping residents set and reach personal goals to help improve their quality of life. Prior to joining Allied Services, Fenner served as Wellness Director for other area facilities. BRENDA BOUCH: Allied Services Integrated Health System announced Brenda Bouch as Activities Coordinator for The Terrace personal care facility in Scranton. A veteran employee of Allied Services, Bouch has 13 years of experience in caring for residents at the Terrace. With her wealth of personal care knowledge, Bouch looks forward to enriching the lives of residents through activities and excursions.
Montage Mountain Presents Murder Mystery Dinner Hey yo Ricky, hit the jukebox, it’s time for “A Dance With Death: A 1950’s Sock Hop Gone Sour!” Murder Mystery Dinner! On Saturday, April 29th a mysterious death on the dance floor will turn our 50’s prom night into a doo-wop disaster! It’s up to you and your friends to figure out whodunit and get this dance back on track! Trade clues with other guests, gather information about the crime, and reveal the punk that ruined this shindig! Be sure to dress the part, this is a 1950’s prom party after all! Ladies, bows and pins in your hair will go nicely with a poodle skirt or puffy sleeved prom gown. Gents, slick back that hair and look sharp in your leather jacket! This unique, interactive murder mystery event takes place Saturday April 29th inside the main Lodge. Doors open at 5:30pm, the buffet starts at 6pm, and the show kicks off at 7pm and ends by 9pm. Tickets are available now! Single Tickets: $65 per person. Discounted tables for 10 people are $599. https://axess-store.montagemountainresorts.com/…/Ticket…
The Anthracite Heritage Museum opens Digital Exhibit. Memories and identities of generations of industrial communities drive heritage in remembrances of families, loved ones, and regional pride. This is especially true of more recent industries that existed through the mid-20th century and concentrated in areas with long histories and deep family roots. To fully understand our deep and rich history, it is sometimes necessary to examine the stories we haven’t collected and developed exhibits around. To get a full picture of our history, we must ask how other people, not well represented in our museums fit into our history and to understand how our anthracite culture continues to evolve and grow. Our region has undergone significant change over the last 250 years as mining increased, fueled American industry and heated homes, then declined as other fuels dominated the market. In the last forty years we have seen even more radical change as global movements of people, technology, energy, and economic focus have altered the landscape of Northeast Pennsylvania. For the Anthracite Museum, it is important to understand these changes in the context of the coal culture that once dominated and still influences our area. The Anthracite Heritage Museum in partnership with the University of Maryland recently completed phase one of a new digital exhibit titled “We are Anthracite” to collect and share the stories of people not represented in the museum. To share the stories of new immigrants in real time and to understand these cyclical patterns of behavior. To share the stories of people who have been in our region for centuries but whose stories weren’t presented. Site Administrator Dr. Bode Morin says, “the anthracite region hosts a unique and complex mining culture. It is one of the oldest industrial communities in the country composed and enriched by cultures from all over the world. However, it is important that we realize that global shifts continue to affect our area and as a museum that we explore those shifts to understand how our region is changing. We also need to examine some of the people whose impact on our culture is not formally recognized but who played an important role in who and what we are today.” With the support of the University of Maryland Anthropology Department the first community has been completed. Exhibit co-director, Anthropology Professor Paul Shackel says, “What our team developed is a collection of stories of a new, underserved community. This work is our commitment to socially conscious storytelling, which connects many of the historic narratives with the experiences of new immigrants. This virtual exhibition examines important social beliefs on class and race, and how that affects heritage building in the region.” Co-curator Aryn G.N. Schriner says, “This exhibit, available in both English and Spanish, links the region’s past and present, connecting the experiences of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s historic residents to those of today, as their experiences are not so dissimilar.” Co-curator Aubrey Edwards states, “The Anthracite region has a layered history of immigration and cultural contribution. This exhibit celebrates and centers newer residents who have created communities, invested in this area, and lovingly call Anthracite home.”Over the next few years, we will partner with other community groups, not formally represented in the museum’s current exhibitions, to share their stories and understand the historic patterns of immigration, assimilation, and peripheral existence in the context of a 250-year-old American coal mining community. Let us know if you belong to a group who would like to participate in our exhibit. Visit http://www.anthracitemuseum.org/we-are-anthracite/