Dear Friends,

Welcome to the new "A Pause for Mercy!" We are thrilled to bring you this full-color version of our much loved e-mail newsletter. We hope you will enjoy reading about the exciting happenings here in the South Bronx, complete with color and photographs! We think the vibrancy of our work really shines through in this new format. The staff at Mercy Center is very excited to share with you news about a new partnership, a new funder, a new program supported by a dedicated volunteer, and new staff members. You can also read about our celebration of Mercy Day, a long-standing tradition here at Mercy Center. We'd love feedback on the new email format. Just hit reply!

We hope this email finds you and your family well. In these difficult economic times, our gratitude for all of our friends and supporters is felt even more acutely. Please know that your support of and interest in our work are deeply appreciated and continue to make Mercy Center possible.

Broadway Comes to Mercy Center!

Mercy Center has forged a new partnership with R.Evolución Latina, an organization of Broadway performers aiming to strengthen the Latina community through its work in the arts.  R.Evolución Latina's slogan, "Dare to go Beyond", challenges Mercy Center children to step out of their surroundings, embrace their cultures, and become more than they thought they could be.  Led by Luis Salgado and Michael Balderrama of In the Heights, and Gabriela Garcia of Chicago, R.Evolución Latina first partnered with Mercy Center in July, when Mercy Center dancers performed with cast members from In the Heights and other Broadway shows to help celebrate the launch of Antonio Banderas' new fragrance. 

R.Evolución Latina has continued to partner with us in hosting regular dance camps for Mercy Center kids ages 8 to 17. These camps incorporate instruction in singing, dancing, and acting while building their self-esteem. "Mercy Center is one of the most productive places I have had a chance to work with" Luis told us. "I am so in love with the kids and the passion that exists there." Mercy Center's R.Evolución Latina participants are excited about the latest activity - an essay contest Luis and the team are hosting, challenging the children to think about how they will be a R.Evolución activist and give back to their community. The 10 best essay writers will receive pairs of tickets to the Tony Award winning In the Heights!! We are thrilled that R.Evolución Latina has formed such an active partnership with us that will bring many opportunities for expression and fun to the children of Mercy Center. 

BGC Partners Charity Day 2008

With the support of TV personality Regis Philbin and America's Next Top Model winner Jaslene Gonzalez, Mercy Center was honored to participate in Charity Day 2008, hosted by Wall Street firm BGC Partners. Held every year on September 11th, BGC Charity Day commemorates the day that Cantor Fitzgerald, the parent company of BGC Partners, lost 658 employees in the country's largest terrorist attack. 

BGC donates all its proceeds from the day to local charities, represented by celebrity "Traders for a Day". Mercy Center was enthusiastically represented by Regis and Jaslene, who created much excitement on the BGC trading floor! Click here (then click on Host Chat Archive and scroll down to the September 15th Host Chat) to watch Regis' summary of his day with us and BGC Partners, as he reported on his nationally-syndicated talk show, Live with Regis and Kelly! 

"We're honored to support Mercy Center at BGC's 4th annual Charity Day," said Daniel LaVecchia, Executive Managing Director for the Americas at BGC. "Based less than 10 miles from Wall Street, Mercy Center supports some of the poorest families in the US who live right on our doorstep. The comprehensive services offered by Mercy Center go a long way toward helping not only the families but the broader community in which they live, New York City."  Many, many thanks to BGC Partners, Regis Philbin, and Jaslene Gonzalez for supporting Mercy Center and the women and families of the South Bronx!  

Volunteer Spotlight: Wil Roman 

Mercy Center thrives because of the hundreds of volunteers who share their time and talents with us. Dedicated volunteers teach our ESL classes, tutor our children in the After School and Saturday Reading Programs, lead yoga and salsa classes, spirituality groups and much more. 

We're thrilled to introduce you to Wil Roman, a dedicated volunteer in our Employment Yes! program. A South Bronx native and the Information Technology Project Manager at the March of Dimes, Wil can be found every Wednesday evening in our computer lab teaching our Introduction to Microsoft Word course. And every Saturday morning Wil joins long-time volunteer Sean Adcroft to teach the computer skills components of our new Administrative Assistant Training course.

Wil's contributions extend beyond the classroom. Wil, Sean, and volunteer Anique Halliday spent countless hours in the spring and summer working with Sr. Suzanne Elliott and Carmen Houston, Coordinator of Employment Yes!, revamping our computer skills courses. The team focused on updating our Business Training course to prepare women for entry level positions, and on developing a new follow-up course, Administrative Assistant Training, to prepare women for more sophisticated positions with a career trajectory. 

Wil joined Mercy Center about a year ago, when a search for a volunteer position in the South Bronx neighborhood - in which he grew up - led him to us. Wil serves at Mercy Center in memory of his late wife, his college sweetheart and a psychologist for Autistic children, who always believed in giving back to the community.  

Allstate Wants You to Know: October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month 

In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Allstate has launched an awareness campaign on YouTube.com.  Mercy Center participant and domestic violence survivor Carmela Alejandro is the subject of one of the videos. She is an amazing, strong, determined woman, and we're proud that she agreed to participate in this campaign. Carmela's Story can be found in English and Spanish by clicking here.

If you are experiencing or recovering from domestic violence, please reach out to someone you trust, and know that Mercy Center is here for you. You can also call the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). 

Mercy Day 2008 

On September 22, we welcomed Mercy Sisters, Associates, Volunteers and friends to celebrate Mercy Day, a remembrance of Catherine McAuley's founding of the first House of Mercy 181 years ago in Dublin, Ireland.  We commemorated the life and calling of Catherine McAuley through a prayer service of thanksgiving and recommitment to the mission of Mercy.  The passion for and devotion to Catherine's cause was evident in the faces of all who attended this event. Irish soda bread and iced tea completed this festive affair and provided us all a chance to catch up with one another!   

New Staff

Suzanne Elliott, RSM accepted a full-time position as Program Manager. You may remember, Suzanne served as Special Projects Coordinator for six month early in the year. When that work came to an end, she responded to this new invitation. We were thrilled that Mary Ellen Gianino, who served as a Mercy Corps Volunteer last year, also agreed to join us full-time to coordinate and expand our Youth Programming. Mary Ellen will be assisted this year by Mercy Corps Volunteer Laura Forbes of Omaha, Nebraska. Laura completed her Bachelors' in Education at the College of Saint Mary in Omaha. We are also blessed to have Angela Rorabaugh join us for the year as a Mercy Volunteer Corps member. A native of Pottstown, PA and a recent graduate of Canisius College in Buffalo, Angela is a veteran volunteer in our Winter Camps. Her responsibilities this year include a range of social service programs, including our Citizenship courses, holiday programs and other programs. Our most recent staff addition is Ilana Kegel, who joins us as our new Development Assistant. A native of Seattle, Ilana recently completed her Bachelors' degree at Claremont McKenna College in California.