Gretchel Hathaway Tyson, director of Affirmative Action and Community Outreach, was an invited guest speaker at the Transforming Upstate Cities Conference sponsored by the Center for Ethics at Colgate University. The conference focused on building partnerships between colleges and their communities. Her talk, “Bridging Community Service: Assessing Community Need,” included a history of Union College's community service initiatives, challenges and goals.
The Kenney Community Center coordinates 12 programs for the community, including two new initiatives: swim lessons by the College Swim Team and coaches, and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA), which this year reached nearly $300,000 in federal and state returns to economically disadvantaged families.
All educational programs are coordinated with the Schenectady County School District, Schenectady Social Service Agency and the New York State Department of Education.