Press Release

The launch of the PARENTS FORUM handbook, Where the Heart Listens, held July 17th at Gately Center of the Fitzgerald Community School in Cambridge (Mass., USA) realized a long-held dream of founders Eve Sullivan and Christine Bates. At the event Eve, the handbook's author, acknowledged the many individuals involved in the program's development over the past ten years and those involved in the book project. The party was held with support from the Cambridge Police Department Community Relations Office and the MIT Office of Government and Community Relations, ASL-interpretation by Rebekah Barkowitz was supported by Dunkin' Donuts and Community School Director Pat Dailey offered indoor space for the event, originally scheduled to take place in Bergin Park.

Carolyn Shipley, a long-time community activist, organized and emcee'd the event, introducing Eve by recalling their work together on the Substance Abuse Task Force in the early 1990s. Brad Comer, of the Cambridge Police Community Relations Office, welcomed the attendees, about fifty during the two-hour event, and expressed his appreciation for the efforts of PARENTS FORUM board and participants in bringing people together to celebrate and support healthy family life. He emphasized that his role is to get out into the community, saying, "I get bored sitting in the office and I'd like to get invitations to more times like this!"

Remarks from program founder Eve Sullivan followed. She expressed gratitude to her family members present, sons Luke and Michael Sullivan and their father Joe Sullivan, as well as to past and present board members attending: Nina Breygin, Bonny Carroll, Dan Dangler, Lee Ann Frigulietti and Gene Kalaw. Co-founder Christine Bates, board secretary Mary McPeak, board members Paul Nicholson, Marsha Orent and Margaret Serpa were not able to attend but their participation was recognized. Martha Mulligan, who edited Where the Heart Listens over three years, and Jana Bull, book designer and production supervisor, were both present for their round of applause. In absentia recognition went to the logo designer Marie Sheridan, typesetter Fletcher Moore and illustrator Martina Marek.

International guests included six World Boston visitors from Bosnia-Herzegovina interested in how community groups and government agencies cooperate, as well as individuals from Algeria, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana and Hong Kong. Local attendees included Cambridge City Councillor Kathy Born, who said she wants to write a book of her own, and Rich and Sue Silva of Somerville who served as coordinators for PARENTS FORUM in their community for the past three years as well as neighbors, coworkers and friends.

Publication of the handbook was supported in part by a grant from Gravestar Foundation and a donation from Austin Grill in Cambridge. Paper and Provision Warehouse of Somerville donated paper goods for the party. Services of Mr. Pie Catering, Kendall Flower Shop and photographer Clay Ward were provided at reduced price. A prize drawing was held at the end of the event for a gift certificate from Discovery Toys and a Reading Railroad book.

Eve closed her remarks by reading some advice to supervisors on how to help new hires become productive employees, that appeared in the Boston METRO July 16 where it was credited to Yahoo Careers. She suggested putting the word 'children' in place of 'employees' . . .

• Show employees where they fit into the big picture
• Review the written rules
• Help employees understand the unwritten rules
• Make the orientation interactive
• Communicate a consistent message
• Follow up within the first three months

This suggestion got a big laugh, as parents obviously have to respond to children more quickly than that, often within three minutes, if not three seconds!
 
The final suggestion . . .

• Convey excitement, not just information.

...captured the spirit of the event, as everyone attending felt a sense of confident anticipation for the success of the book.

The book is available at the MIT Press Bookstore in Kendall Square, 292 Main Street, Cambridge. TEL: 617 - 253-5249.
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