The Institute for Social and Rehabilitation Services at Assumption College was one of 17 educational institutions and nonprofit service agencies

to be awarded a Capacity Building grant through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Rehabilitation Services Administration. The grant grew out of the implementation of Section 21 of the 1992 amendments to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, entitled, "Traditionally Underserved Populations." The purpose of this grant is to enhance the capacity and increase the participation of minorities in successful competition and management for grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements under Titles I through VIII of the Rehabilitation Act.

As the regional rehabilitation cultural diversity specialist, I coordinate technical assistance, workshops, conferences, training, support, and other appropriate programs that bring pertinent information about rehabilitation services to an underserved population. Some examples of the programs follow:

· Women of Courage

Provided technical assistance and training for a group of minority women with lupus, arthritis, and other related conditions to apply for grants and to use other federal agencies.

· African American Men in Wheelchairs

Sponsored and facilitated a very successful and well-attended conference about "Sex and Disability" led by Dr. John J. Goldsberry at the Roxbury Community College. Plans for developing a proposal for a grant to replicate such programs nationally was initiated. The program was designed to offer education for the disabled and non-disabled persons about sex, its myths, and possibilities for all persons.

· Roxbury Community College, Bunker Hill

Community and Other Colleges and Universities

Provided on-going education and information for personnel to recommend and/or recruit minorities for the field of rehabilitation. If we are going to be successful in effecting great changes for those unserved and underserved persons with disabilities, we must recruit more minorities in the field of rehabilitation.

· Western Massachusetts Veterans of Color

Assisted in the creation of the Western Massachusetts Veterans of Color, in 1995, a nonprofit organization which provides, through the efforts of local volunteers, appropriate services, and training for needy veterans. It was founded to give a voice and access to veterans in areas which were traditionally inaccessible to them. The agency is in strong partnership with the U.S. Veterans Administration and other social service agencies in the state.

This group has received significant technical assistance, training, and educational information for the members, and some of the Assumption students provide volunteer services for the agency.

· SINA (Southside Institutions Neighborhood

Alliance)

Provided support for this group which is comprised of Trinity College, Hartford Hospital, the Institute of Living, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, and Connecticut Public Television & Radio. The area surrounding these entities is a blighted inner-city neighborhood of 1.5 square miles. Twenty-five thousand people live in this district with a large Latino population and a smaller representation of other minorities. The SINA group has embarked on a bold campaign to revitalize the area. Although they initiated the first $10 million, another $200 million will come from private sources, state, and federal funding.

· Henry Lee Willis Community Center

Established an extensive working agreement that covers a wide array of technical assistance, collaboration, and training programs. Grant writing and the development of federal and other foundation funding are some of the focused concerns. The center participated in the Annual Capacity Building Conference held in June 1998 as well as other meetings at the College.

The center is a community-based, nonprofit, charitable organization under the leadership of CEO, Carlton Watson '76. Its mission is to provide an array of social and human services to residents of Central Massachusetts, the poor and disadvantaged, and especially communities of color in an accessible and culturally sensitive manner.

· Passamaquoddy Tribe in Pleasant Point, ME

Provided technical assistance in many areas, especially those aimed at providing services for Native Americans living on reservations. We were invited and attended their annual celebration.

· Northern Arizona University-American

Indian Rehabilitation Research and Training Center

Provided various technical and professional assistance for the Center. Served as a mentor for three different tribal group members for one year.

· F.I.R.S.T. Academy and Women's Circle

Provided a leadership conference for the supervisory staff of minority agencies that provide services for persons with chemical dependency. Vocational counseling, technical assistance, and other support have been provided upon request.

In addition to these exciting endeavors, I am involved with several other groups, providing expertise to help them to become more familiar with the rehabilitation process, and assisting them in working with service providers' systems to access the vast array of rehabilitation services available.