organized a fundraiser for Cyclone Nargis victims, and worked as an intern in Flushing District Councilman Peter Koo’s legislative office. Sit launched a non-profit summer programat the NYC Chinese School and taught violin. He enjoys dragon boat paddling, robotics/computer science and volleyball. Parent:Mark Silva Sit.


Laura Treers is focused on engineering atMassachusetts Institute of Technology. She graduated fromMohonasen HS where she was awarded a NationalMerit Scholarship. Treers was valedictorian of her class and took second place in the InternationalAyn Rand essay contest. She worked as an intern at the Girl Scouts of Northeastern NY camp, was a Mohonasen STEM Ambassador, and volunteered at Schenectady Inner CityMinistry’s food pantry. She enjoys all the seasons by swimming, hiking and skiing. She also plays the piano and sings, but hermain interest is in robotics. Parent:Melissa Treers.


Arianna Yhann wants to be a veterinarian and is studying at Clarkson University. She attended BethlehemCentral HS, Lab School and was selected for the President’sAward for Educational Excellence. She was amember of the National Honor Society and is a Lab School Honor graduate. Yhann has volunteered at theMohawk Hudson Humane Society, and was co-president of Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.). She participated in Coupons for Troops, a programthat benefits U.S.military families overseas, and took first place in the 2014 Cap Com MakingADifferenceAward for her volunteer work. Yhann is a voracious reader, studies piano, enjoys different cultures, and collects snow globes,miniature pianos and shoes. Parent: Davis Salway.


By DEBORAH A. MILES The PEF Statewide Women’s Committee


selected two recipients for a scholarship to attend the “Our Movement-Our World” training conference. The winners are Anne Friedman, PEF


Division 291 council leader and a public health representative at the state Department of Health, and PEF Executive Board Member Maddie-Shannon Roberts, a disability analyst at the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Both women attended the five-day


intensive labor study conference at the end of July at CUNY Queens College in Flushing. The conference was sponsored by the United Association of Labor Education and Murphy Institute for Worker Education


www.pef.org


Brooklyn Developmental Center’s fight continues


By DEBORAH A. MILES It’s been more than a year since the


decision was made to close the Brooklyn Developmental Center (DC) in December, 2015. Since the announcement, Brooklyn DC


has faced compliance and certification issues that may affect its ability to operate and receive Medicaid funding for its federally-regulated Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) program. PEF leaders are aware the process of


downsizing the campus before it is permanently closed has all the signs of government privatization. PEF Division 244 Council Leader Carrie


Saunders, an occupational therapy assistant at Brooklyn DC said the state Department of Health (DOH) conducted a mock survey in July. It noted some improvements and the continuing deficiencies and areas of concern at Brooklyn DC. Saunders believes if management


would stop understaffing the facility and focus on putting measures in place to overcome the deficiencies, this drastic measure would not be necessary. Brooklyn DC Director Laura LaValley


issued a memo to the staff in early August. In part, it stated, “While we have come a very long way in the past few months, we also recognize that work remains to be done in some areas. Because of this, the state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) has been considering plans to ensure continued compliance with ICF requirements and avoid a situation where any part of the campus will lose its


ICF provider agreement. The plan we have decided upon involves having a small number of voluntary provider agencies come onto the campus to provide ICF services on a time-limited basis to some of the individuals who live here. These same agencies will also be developing long-term community-based services for these individuals as the developmental center continues to downsize and ultimately close.” Currently, state employees at Brooklyn


DC will continue to operate ICF services for approximately 80 people. Saunders said the PEF staff at the center is concerned about the level of care patients will receive from outside providers. LaValley’s memo also touched on staff


reassignments, noting employment opportunities at other locations have already begun and will involve local and statewide union leadership. PEF leaders are actively engaged with


OPWDD managers on a central and local level to advocate for members and the services they provide. As The Communicator goes to press,


approximately three-quarters of the members at Brooklyn DC will remain. The other quarter, roughly 20 members, will receive short-term reassignments. PEF leaders said they are fighting to


ensure the reassignments are voluntary opportunities offered by seniority, and that members accepting the reassignments will not suffer a geographic hardship. In the long term, PEF leaders said they


will remain steadfast in saving valuable services members provide.


Conference inspires women to raise the union-activist bar “This conference brought to light how


and Labor Studies. “The leaders within PEF value the


importance of continuing education to broaden the horizons of local activists,” said PEF Vice President Barbara Ulmer, PEF Women’s Committee chair. “This opportunity gave them skills to strengthen their roles as leaders and enhance their ability to mentor new members. This is especially important during a time when the labor movement is faced with new challenges.” Shannon-Roberts said, “The training


enhanced the many things I have experienced and learned in PEF. It showed me there are several directions I can go to broaden the work experience of my sisters and brothers in the union.”


important it is for each one of us to play a role in the labor movement,” Friedman said. “It focused on the type of activism needed to retain the things gained through labor, and ways to protect the future of the working class.” Both recipients said they were grateful to


the Women’s Program and appreciated the opportunity to attend the conference and are excited to share the information with other members. Shannon-Roberts and Friedman were


selected for their essays. The Women’s Committee paid for their conference fees, accommodations, meals, workshops, Internet access and travel expenses.


The Communicator September 2014—Page 9


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