Views & Voices
With Rachel Katz

Views and Voices in a 30-minute public affairs program that invites local and state officials and representatives from regional foundations and organizations to discuss their activities and related issues that are of interest to WWFM listeners. We also bring in guests from Mercer County Community College to talk about the college's program and its role in the larger community.

Past topics:

October 25

• MCCC's Center for Training and Development - programs for businesses looking to hire/train employees in today's changing economy (Elaine Weinberg, center director)
• Dr. Philip Bonaparte, an 'ambassador' for the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's Power to End Stroke campaign, which seeks to raise awareness in the African-American community about the risk, prevention and detection of stroke.

October 18

• 2008-2009 exhibits at the Gallery at Mercer County Community College (Tricia Fagan, curator)
• Carol Watchler and Terry Coleman of the Machestic Dragons, a breast cancer survivor group whose members find support, recovery and a way to tackle some adventure in life through dragon boat racing.

October 4

• REBROADCAST: Excerpts from Aug. 30 interview with Anne Ruach Nicolas, executive director of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, about voter registration and other information for voters.
• Alex Magoun, executive director of the David Sarnoff Library, about plans to mark the 70th anniversary of Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds" broadcast, and the library's hopes to encourage interest in science and technology through its "Martians for Education" program

September 27

• John Cusack, Executive Director of the New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability and the first in Mercer County Community College's Distinguished Lecture Series, on the role of universities in promoting sustainability.
• Alison Mitchell, Director of Policy of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, about the future of open space preservation as state funding dwindles.

September 20

• Dr. Donald "Guy" Generals, vice president of academic affairs at Mercer County Community College.
• Joe Seneca, professor at Edgar J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, on the outlook for New Jersey's economy.

September 13

• Kelsey Theater's 2008-2009 Season (M. Kitty Getlik, artistic director)
• Tim Razzaq, founder and director of Building Open Opportunity Structures Together (BOOST), which seeks to increase community participation in Trenton redevelopment and revitalization programs, and Anastasia Harrison, member of BOOST's speakers bureau).

September 6

• Mercer County Community College's "Aspirations" Literary Journal for Mercer County High School Students (Bettina Caluori, editor)
• William Lutz, former Rutgers Professor and consultant to the Securities and Exchange Commission on making corporate filings more accessible and available to the public online.

August 30

• MCCC's Entertainment Technology degree program (MCCC cmmunications professor Robert Terrano)
• Anne Ruach Nicolas, executive director of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, about election season plans and the organization's efforts to attract new members.

August 23

• MCCC's Advisory Commission on Aging (Chairman Jacques Lebel)
• Nancy Kieling, President and Executive Director of the Princeton Area Community Foundation about "Better Together," an initiative launched by the Foundation and the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce to harness the region's "social capital" by bringing organizations, businesses and individuals together in their communities.

August 16

• MCCC's James Kerney Campus and its programs for the coming year (Dr. Beverly Richardson, Provost of the James Kerney Campus)
• Amie Howell, National Estuary Program Team Leader of the EPA, and Danielle Kreeger, Science Director of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, on a pilot program to study the potential effects of climate change on coastal regions and develop adaptation strategies

August 9

• MCCC’s Continuing Education program, and the new course "Locomotive Engineer & Conductor Training Program" (Community Education Coordinator Nancy Nicholson and course instructor Mark Mattis)
• Steve Runk, Executive Director of the NJ State Council on the Arts, about the ArtsPlanNJ initiative and the state of the arts in New Jersey.

August 2

• MCCC's Culinary Center (Douglas Fee, coordinator of the MCCC Hospitality Program)
• Mary Beth Zingone, associate director of the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center at Lehigh University, about small business support and services in the state and region and how small businesses are faring in today’s economy.

July 26

• Developing statewide standards for community colleges through the New Jersey Council on Community Colleges (Council Member and MCCC professor Linda Bregstein Scherr)
• Donna Giovannetti, head of the Mercer County Division of Consumer Affairs, about summertime contractor scams and the division's role as watchdog when it comes to gasoline prices and financial and foreclosure ploys.

July 19

• MCCC's Pre-Med, Pre-Vet and Pre-Pharmacy biology program (Linda Martin, Dean of Health and Science Professions)
• Brenda Hopper, Director, NJ Small Business Development Centers - The role small businesses play in New Jersey's economy and how small businesses are weathering the current economic climate.

July 12

• MCCC's Funeral Services Program (Robert Smith, Program Director)
• Wendell Steinhauer, Secretary-Treasurer, NJ Education Association - A look at New Jersey's public schools and the NEA's Annual Convention held in early July.

July 5

• MCCC's MCTV-26 Student Programs (Steve Voorhees, Director of StudentProgramming)
• Dennis Micai, Executive Director, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen - A look at TASK's services and programs, and the challenges facing residents in need in the weak economy.

June 28

• MCCC's Adult Education and Literacy Programs (Melinna Harris, Director of Adult Education - ESL/ABE/GED programs)
• Elissa Director, Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers of New Jersey; and June Vogel of Literacy Volunteers of Mercer County - Literacy in the state and the services available through Literacy Volunteers.

June 21

• MCCC's International Business Practice Firm (Carol Weber, Director, Center for Simulated Business Services)
• Beverly Mills, Director of the Mercer County Workforce Investment Board; and Virgen Velez, Director of the Mercer County One-Stop Career Center - A discussion on the employment picture in New Jersey and Mercer County and available training and other career services.

June 14

• MCCC's Conference Center at Mercer (Frank DiBella, general manager)
• Steve Edwards, Executive Producer of the New Jersey Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony and Member of the Board of Trustees of the NJ Hall of Fame, about the The New Jersey Hall of Fame’s first inductees and future plans to recognize the state's brightest stars in history, science, entertainment, the arts, sports and more.

June 7

• MCCC Weekend and Evening College (Liberal Arts Dean Robin Schore)
• Dick Goldberg, Director of the Coming of Age Initiative, which offers programs to get people age 50 and up exploring their personal and professional interests and becoming involved with their communities.

May 31

• Ryan Zegarski, director of MCCC's Sports Camp program;
• John Madera, a Senior Transportation Planner with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission on biking trends in the region and the outlook for developing better biking systems.

May 24

• Michael Glass, MCCC Director of state-wide training, on small business and self-employment training opportunities.
• Cynthia Smith, Administrator of the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission, about the county's preparations and expectations for the coming summer season.

May 17

• MCCC's Horticulture Program (Amy Iseneker, director, and Gene Tobia, graduate)
• Lucy Voorhoeve, executive director, NJ Council on Affordable Housing (The recently revised affordable housing guidelines and challenges for towns in meeting them)

May 10

• MCCC's Virtual College Program (Michael Sullivan, coordinator, and Debbie Kell, director)
• David Weinstein, spokesman, AAA Midatlantic (Dealing with higher gasoline prices at the start of the summer driving season)

May 3

• MCCC's Athletic Program (Lisa Camillone)
• Martha Wolf, convener, Princeton 1783 Committee (Planned events to commemorate the period in 1783 when Congress met at Nassau Hall in Princeton)

April 26

• MCCC's Tomato Patch Visual and Performing Arts Workshops (M. Kitty Getlick, director, Kelsey Theatre)
• Judy Grignon, program coordinator, New Jersey Farmers Against Hunger (The program brings fresh produce from NJ farms to food banks and other organizations that help feed the hungry)

April 19

• MCCC's Camp College Program (Rose Fiorello, director of youth programs)
• Geri LaPlaca, director, YourReSource (The organization facilitates programs to recycle used medical equipment, electronics waste and other items)

April 12

• Mercer County Holocaust/Genocide Resource Center (Saul Goldwasser, director)
• Betsy Ryan, president designee, New Jersey Hospital Association (The potential for future hospital closures and the impact on communities)

April 5

• MCCC Community Band (Lou Woodruff, director)
• Stephanie Campbell, executive director, and Tony Gruenwald, communications coordinator, Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (The 60 years of history of RFB&D, which produces audio books and materials for those with visual impairments or reading disabilities)

March 29

• Mercer County Police Academy (Al Paglione, director)
• American Red Cross of Central New Jersey, Diane Canconnon, director of public relations (The organization's new disaster operations center in Princeton and overall emergency preparedness)

March 22

• MCCC Transfer Agreements with other Colleges (Laurene Jones, Transfer Counselor)
• Jeanine Cava, public outreach coordinator, Barnegat Bay National Estuary Program (BBNEP's mini-grant programs and efforts to preserve the bay region)

March 8 (Membership Campaign Edition)

• MCCC's President Dr. Patricia Donohue on MCCC's strategic plan and vision

March 1:

• MCCC's Kelsey Review (Ed Carmien and Holly-Katharine Matthews, co-editors)
• Jeff Nathanson, director, Arts Council of Princeton - (The Council's programs and plans for its renovated center in downtown Princeton)

Feb 23:

• MCCC's Financial Aid Programs (Reggie Page, director)
• Sunny Lawrence, director, H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Evolve - Grief support program)

Feb. 16:

• MCCC's Honors Program (Carol Bork)
• Lawana Dykes, executive director, New Jersey Black Cultural and Heritage Initiative Foundation (The foundation's plans for boosting awareness of Black culture and history in New Jersey)

Feb. 9:

• MCCC Art History/Painting Professor Mel Leipzig
• Val Veith - Middlesex County Organizer of Freecycle (The Freecycle Network links people in local areas looking to dispose of or obtain items in order to keep them out of landfills)

Feb. 2:

• MCCC's James Kerney Campus (Assistant Provost Monica Weaver)
• Debbie Bronfeld, executive director, Mercer County affiliate of Dress for Success (The non-profit organization collects and distributes career clothing for disadvantaged women entering or returning to the work force)

Jan. 26:

• MCCC's DREAM Program (Susan Onaitis, program coordinator)
• Cardiologist Dr. Aliyah Browne (American Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign, and heart disease risks for women)

Jan. 19:

• MCCC's Center for Training and Development (Elaine Weinberg, director)
• Dianne Brake, president, PlanSmartNJ (Regional transportation issues and transit hub development)

Jan. 12:

• MCCC's Continuing Studies Program (Lorna Strang, co-director)
• Linda Mead, executive director, D&R Greenway Land Trust (Challenges and successes of open space preservation)

Jan. 5:

• MCCC's Aviation Flight Technology Program (Sylvia Sanchez, alumna)
• Robert Morrison and Kristin Wenger - New Jersey Arts Education Census Project/New Jersey Arts Education Partnership (The state of performing and visual arts instruction in NJ public schools)