Secretary of State Speaks in Lawrenceville

On Oct. 9, 2009, members of the Democracy House, Middlesex County College's (MCC) center for civic and community engagement, heard NJ Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells at the AmeriCorps Launch in Lawrenceville, NJ. Wells, who oversees the Governor's Office of Volunteerism, thanked members for all their involvement. "I can't begin to describe how appreciative we all are. I didn't realize when the governor appointed me of the impact the AmeriCorps program has on this state and on our society," she said. Wells also said she was excited about the ways AmeriCorps has expanded in N.J. The state is one of the top five in the country to grow in volunteerism. "You are all doing amazing and phenomenal things... aiding families in distress. During these [difficult financial] times, we need you more than ever," she said. "I know you are thinking about policy to really change what happens to people". When once asked how she remained positive and optimistic in light of all that is going on in society, Wells said that she referred to members of AmeriCorps. "If these [AmeriCorps members] are our tomorrow, then we will have a different state and a different country," she said. Rowena Madden is the Executive Director of the N.J. Commission on National Community Service. Madden said that Democracy House MCC was one of 24 organizations represented at the launch funded by AmeriCorps. Students Katherine Garib, Gabriella Zanatta-Perdomo, and Mike Lubin, site leaders for the Democracy House MCC, presented the audience with service commitments the team is involved in. The three spoke of the ways Democracy House addresses needs in education, hunger, homelessness, immigration aid, and the environment. After attending the AmeriCorps Launch, MCC student Lovensky Lubin said how proud he was to be a part of Democracy House. "Seeing all these people here and hearing about the ways we are impacting our communities," she said, "I have to admit we are a part of something special."