The value of any museum is in the connections it inspires – between visitors and the exhibition, educators and the schoolchildren they work with, or family members as they explore the galleries.
To cap off 2017 a new connection has been created at the Bruce Museum with members of Community Connections, a program managed by Greenwich High School that seeks to give students with special needs real-life job skills and work experience.
Following a series of training sessions led by Felipe Rodriguez Jr., the Bruce’s Supervisor of Security, three Community Connections students are now on duty in the museum galleries three days a week. A former police officer with the proverbial heart of gold, Felipe has fully embraced his new charges and role as mentor. “We give the kids a valuable purpose and teach them the importance of being here to keep both the art, and the people viewing it, safe.”
Felipe’s message has clearly been received by the new additions to the Bruce Security team, and the students are excited to take on their new responsibilities.
“I think it’s an important job to be a security guard,” Michael Miller says. “I talk to a lot of people about the Museum, and they tell me about themselves.”
“I say, ‘Welcome to the Museum’,” adds Rashadd Hill, “--And don’t touch the walls!”
There are 19 students currently enrolled in the Community Connections program, ranging in age from 18 to 21 and of all levels of ability. Celeste Vigliotti, the program’s coordinator and a Special Education teacher with the Greenwich Public Schools, has been with many of these students since they were in elementary school.
“Greenwich does such a great job including these kids in their educational programs on through high school,” says Celeste. “Our goal with Community Connections is to not have them hit a wall when they are transitioning into their post-education life, but rather to give them work experiences and to develop skills that will allow them to be self-sustaining at the level that’s appropriate for each of them.
“The goal is to teach them how to work in the real world, giving them the work place skills that many of us take for granted,” Celeste adds.
“From our perspective, it’s a win-win-win,” says Corinne Flax, the Bruce’s Manager of School and Community Partnerships. “As a nonprofit with our own tight budget, we always need help, and we want to be inclusive. Plus, it’s been wonderful to see these kids thriving in their roles here at the Museum.”
That glowing job review comes as no surprise to Celeste, who offers up a connection of her own: “The reason we reached out to the Bruce is because of Michael Miller and his love of history. Once he’s exposed to a subject, his mind opens up.”
Felipe Rodriguez sees that progress first-hand. “At least once a day, I’ll walk with them through the gallery spaces,” Felipe says. “I’ll point out all the visitors and tell the kids, ‘here’s how many people you are keeping safe.’
“Once you give them a responsibility that they are capable of doing, and they achieve it, it brings about an absolute transformation. When these kids realize they’re doing something worthwhile, you see it in their smiles; their whole personas change.”
Like any good connection, the positive impact goes both ways. Felipe puts it best in speaking for the Bruce staff: “These kids give us the unique experience of showing us that people with differing abilities are capable of doing a lot more than people might think.”
To learn more about the Community Connections program, please contact Celeste Vigliotti, or Dawn Russel at 203-413-8400, ext. 7509.