These awards support community engagement projects with grants up to $750 each.
“The common theme is that they all want to positively impact the greater Middletown community,” said Rhea Drozdenko, JCCP community participation coordinator. “There is no one right way to do community engagement, and the Innovation Fund supports nontraditional ideas. It’s important that our grantees are grounded in the ideas of mutual respect and collective responsibility as they go out into the community.”
All applicants are required to read the Cardinal Community Commitment the University’s collective approach to civic engagement before starting their work.
“Students also must become familiar with the community they wish to serve, practice ongoing self-reflection, embrace a spirit of humility with their work, and be an adaptable collaborator and partner,” Drozdenko said.
“It’s incredibly clear that the police handled this poorly,” said Maya Gomberg of Defund NPD. The incident “should not have ended in brutality and violence.”
The counter protesters carried signs supporting the Newton Police, waved American flags, sang patriotic songs and repeatedly played a loud recording of a cruiser siren over members of Defund NPD as they gave speeches.
“I feel unsafe, personally,” said Nora Lester Murad of Defund NPD about the protest, which was held at the same time “Violent protesters loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday and forced lawmakers into hiding,” according to our news partners at WCVB.
Supporters of the police say officers never know what kind of situation they re getting into. If there s mental health issues, don t blame the police, argued Fran Yerardi. They got thrown into this.
Investigators say the owner of the store called 911 because Conlon had a knife. Conlon then retreated to his apartment above the store when police arrived, according to the Middlesex County District Attorney s Office.
Officers were sent to the scene, as was a clinician with mental health expertise.
The DA says officers used a bean bag shotgun and a Taser to subdue the man, but when that didn t work, they fired their weapons.