Community College Impact: A Conversation with Dr Randall VanWagoner, President of Mohawk Valley Community College

Michael Seereiter, CEO of the NY Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation, shares his reasons for a lifetime of advocacy, and how he transforms his experience and expertise into a successful 3-pronged approach for supporting the intellectual and developmental disabilities community locally, regionally and at the government level.See the toolkits and resources available, and learn more about NYAII here: https://nyalliance.org/Support your local Arc Chapter, and visit the Arc, Oneida-Lewis here: www.thearcolc.org

New York State Senator John Mannion is back for his second episode of Arc Waves. Senator Mannion, Chair of the Committee on Disabiliites, discusses his ongoing and tireless efforts to advocate for the disabilities field on several fronts. He also gives insight as to how local advocacy efforts can have a big impact at the state level and encourages citizens to reach out to their representative with their concerns and feedback. Listen in to hear more about his efforts to work with all stakeholders to create a positive change.https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/john-w-mannion/aboutwww.thearcolc.org

Eve Van de Wal, Regional President Utica/North Country of Excellus BC/BS, has had diverse and extensive experience in health care delivery and health care insurance. In supporting the mission of Excellus BC/BS to provide access to high-quality and affordable health care, she also serves the community, striving to make a positive impact in lives throughout her vast region, and in the lives of her employees. Her commitment to meeting the needs of marginalized populations, such as those with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, and others, make her a champion for healthcare access and delivery innovation.www.thearcolc.orghttps://www.excellusbcbs.com/

We welcome Alicia Dicks, President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, to Arc Waves for a discussion about the vital and evolving role of community foundations. Alicia shares the importance of collaboration and communication, both as tools to strengthen relationships with community partners, such as nonprofits like The Arc, Oneida-Lewis, and as a means to effect meaningful, sustainable change. Her commitment to the Mohawk Valley is an inspiration in this thoughtful conversation.https://foundationhoc.org/https://foundationhoc.org/about/staff-and-trustees/alicia-dicks/www.thearcolc.org

In this episode of Arc Waves, Karen and Heather are joined in the studio by Dr Marianne Buttenschon, local NY Assemblywoman and small business owner. Her commitment to the community and to the disabilities world is evident in this conversation, as is her dedication to life-long learning. We enjoy discussing much of what our area has to offer, and the role the Arc Oneida Lewis plays in the revitalization of downtown Utica.www.thearcolc.orghttps://chefsexpressutica.com/https://www.ny.gov/downtown-revitalization-initiative/mohawk-valley-uticahttps://nyassembly.gov/mem/Marianne-Buttenschonhttps://www.facebook.com/collegeworksmvcc

Today, Patricia Fralick joins Karen and Heather to discuss her role as the Lewis County Director of Community Services which ensures access to services for residents in the areas of mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities. With an eye towards including all the stakeholders, Patricia shares why it is important to remember there are many ways to an outcome and that the diversity of input matters when seeking solutions.https://www.lewiscounty.org/community-services-lguwww.thearcolc.org

Kristen Skobla, the dynamic and enthusiastic Director of the Center For Leadership Excellence at Mohawk Valley Community College, joins Karen and Heather for a robust discussion surrounding leadership development and the role it plays in creating a strong community. CLE (The Center for Leadership Excellence) is guided by its core values of growth, community, collaboration and awareness, and driven by a mission to connect and inspire people to work together, take action and develop the leader that exists within each of us.Listen to hear about the vast offerings and impact of CLE!https://www.mvcc.edu/cle/https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/home.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=us_strengths_branded_cs_ecom&utm_term=gallup%20strengths&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvZCZBhCiARIsAPXbajtUlro0oVshRfnIBWi1XAVUvJLeG_xLzwGFu8uheFe94iX758r_HMgaAhosEALw_wcBwww.thearcolc.org

We are pleased to have Dr Danielle Bronk join us on Arc Waves for a deep dive into two topics in neurodevelopment: language disorder and executive function. While each of these topics is unique, they also often overlap with other diagnoses such as ADHD or autism spectrum. Helping parents, teachers and the adolescent understand these challenges is key in developing compensatory strategies for success in the teen years and beyond. As an added benefit, Dr Bronk has provided a reference list that will be very beneficial to our listeners.ARC references.pdfhttps://cnyneuro.org/www.thearcolc.org

Mr David Mathis, Director of Workforce Development in Oneida County, has a history of giving back to his community that spans decades. In this episode, he shares why he feels one can and should always give back, and talks about the many ways in which he does so. Poignantly, he shares how searching for a program for his son brought him to the Arc Oneida Lewis in 1992, and why that experience keeps him involved many years later.www.thearcolc.orghttps://www.ocgov.net/workforcedev

To kick off season 2 of Arc Waves, we are pleased to welcome Dr Randall VanWagoner, President of Mohawk Valley Community College to our studio! Dr VanWagoner discusses strengths-based leadership and creating a culture that leans into disruption and change in order to create a learning environment that is accessible to all. His drive to be engaged in the community at all levels and his commitment to partnering with our award-winning College Works program to provide an inclusive, educational experience for people supported by the Arc Oneida Lewis is truly inspiring.