January 2001 University Reporter

Hubie Jones Receives Medal for Advancing UMass Boston’s Urban Mission

Hubie Jones, special assistant to the chancellor for urban affairs, received the Chancellor’s Medal at a breakfast held in his honor on December 6. The program included speakers Paul Guzzi, president and chief executive officer of the Great Boston Chamber of Commerce, and Deborah Jackson, vice president of programs at the Boston Foundation. His family was also in attendance.

Jones was recognized for developing a strong urban action plan for the campus. He has worked to build the City to City Program, an initiative in which Boston’s corporate, government, and nonprofit leaders visit cities in the U.S. and abroad to learn how their urban leaders solve problem. He also has led the University’s partnership with the Harbor School in Dorchester and organizes the Forum for the 21st Century series, civic forums to provide public discourse on significant economic and social development issues.

During his forty-four years in the Boston area, Jones has worked to create, nurture, and assist leadership in at least thirty community organizations across the city. He is well-recognized for his appearances on local television, particularly as a panelist on WCVB’s public affairs discussion show, “Five on Five.”

Image: Hubie Jones and Chancellor Sherry H. Penney display the ChancellorÕs Medal.

WUMB-FM Receives Major Grants

WUMB Radio recently received more than a quarter of a million dollars in federal and state matching grants. These funds represent approximately twenty-five percent of the radio station’s annual operating revenues. “We have had a fantastic year and these grants will allow us to do even more next year,” said Pat Monteith, general manager of WUMB.
The grants include $133,000 from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for local and national program production and acquisition and $15,000 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council for organizational support use. The United States Department of Commerce grant of $123,000 in equipment funds will help the construction of a new FM radio station in Newburyport and the rebuilding of the station’s current radio production studio. The $22,500 grant from the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities will aid the production of the weekly syndicated public affairs program, Commonwealth Journal.

Office of Service Learning and Community Outreach Celebrated Holiday Giving

The Office for Service Learning and Community Outreach held a very successful Helping Hands holiday drive this season, collecting toys and gifts for forty-five foster children ranging in age from 9 months to 13 years old. The drive did so well there were enough toys and gifts left over for the office to support other initiatives, including the A.R.M.S. Student Center’s Toy Drive for the families of low-income students at UMass Boston.
The Helping Hand project was conceived and planned by UMass Boston students with the office’s support. Faculty, staff, and students selected specific children to buy gifts for or brought in generic gifts. Fueled by cocoa and cookies from the Wits End Café, volunteers wrapped presents in the Student Senate office. They presented the gifts to the children at the DSS-hosted party in Hyde Park on December 20.

The 2001 Boston Folk Festival Calendar Now Available

Had a great time at the 2000 Boston Folk Festival? Relive the memories throughout the year with the 2001 Boston Folk Festival Calendar. WUMB Radio is selling their original calendar highlighting the event to members and folk fans. The calendar features a color cover photo of the main stage, and each month includes one or two black-and-white photographs of the many top-rate performers who played on stages and auditoriums throughout UMass Boston on Saturday, September 23. For those who like to plan ahead, the calendar includes the dates for the 2001 Boston Folk Festival, September 22 and 23.
Those interested can purchase their first calendar for fifteen dollars and additional calendars for twelve dollars each. All proceeds benefit the Boston Folk Festival. Order your calendar through the secure server on www.wumb.org , by printing out and completing the form on this site and mailing it to Boston Folk Festival Calendar, WUMB Radio, UMass Boston, or by calling (617) 287-6900.

UMass President Bulger and Mayor Menino Announce $1 Million VISTA Grant

UMass President William M. Bulger and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino announced the receipt of more than $1 million in awards by the College of Public and Community Service from the Corporation for National Service to help bridge the “Digital Divide.” The press conference took place on November 14 at the Boston Neighborhood Network Community Access Studio in Roxbury.

The funds will help provide the placement and support of more than eighty AmeriCorps VISTA members in Community Technology Centers (CTCs) throughout the Metro Boston area and across the nation. The program builds upon the College of Public and Community Service’s growing interest in the intersection of media, technology and community; its developing plans for a new degree program in community media and technology; and the development of UMass OnLine, the University’s system-wide distance learning initiative.

In this initiative, CPCS has partnered with CTCNet, the largest and oldest association of community organizations developing technology programs for those who otherwise do not have the access or training to use technology effectively. The 400-plus member association boasts more than 60 affiliates in the greater Boston area. A full description of the program is available on the project web site at www.cpcs.umb.edu/vista.

Image: From left to right: Charles Cnudde, Provost; Matt Dunne, National Director, AmeriCorps*VISTA ; Thomas Menino, mayor of Boston; Curtis Henderson, Boston Neighborhood Networks; Mal Coles, Atlantic Area Manager, Corporation for National Service; Peter Miller, Director, CTC Vista Project; Reebee Garofalo, professor, College of Public and Community Service.

UMass Digital Library Initiative

Staff members of the five UMass libraries have met recently to discuss the continuing initiative to develop a shared UMass digital library. Over sixty attendees from the five campus libraries, the I-495 Center for Professional Education, and the President’s Office gathered at the end of August to share ideas and set priorities for the delivery of information and services to the UMass community.

The discussions address a draft proposal written by the UMass library directors. The principle of the project is to remove geographical, temporal, and physical barriers to the collections and services of the libraries and to meet the needs of distance education students and remote users by providing resources through the I-495 Center for Professional Education.

The directors of the five campus libraries continue to seek funding for the digital library to provide for: access to databases and electronic tools; shared digital collections of a variety of resources, such as images, video, archival materials, documents, journals, and newspapers; real-time online reference librarians to support information literacy and online instruction; and delivery of information.

Hubie Jones with his family. From left to right: Noland Walker, son-in-law; Hamilton Jones, son; Cheryl Walker, daughter; Hubie Jones; Harland Jones, son; Lisa Jones, daughter; and her fiancee, Ken Mack.

January spotlights were written by Alyce Curran, Leigh DuPuy, Anne-Marie Kent, and Jain Ruvidich-Higgins. Photos by Harry Brett.