Novelette Peterkin during the Carver Center's 80th anniversary year with a kick-off party on Tuesday, January 30, 2018, in Norwalk Conn. Hearst Connecticut Media file photo
See the entire article here. The article about Connecticut leaders “driving change in their communities” appeared in most Hearst Connecticut Media news outlets such as Fairfield Citizen and many others.
Novelette Peterkin, born in Jamaica, is the CEO of the Carver Foundation of Norwalk that provides 47 after-school and summer programs to K-12 students in every Norwalk public school, Side by Side Charter School, and in the Carver Community Center. She considers herself deeply committed to the success of the Norwalk community, including serving as a member of The Maritime Aquarium Board of Directors.
Q: What’s the most important issue facing your community today?
“Giving all Norwalk students the same opportunities to succeed in school and life as their peers receive in neighboring towns. When resources are equitably accessible, our students’ highest potential is unbounded. I believe Norwalk’s city and education leaders are listening to our students and families and are working diligently and effectively to close opportunity gaps. We need to remember and celebrate the fact that Norwalk Public Schools is the number one city school district in the state for three years in a row, as measured by the Connecticut State Accountability Report.”
Q: What change do you hope to see in Connecticut in the next few years?
“There is a very strong collaboration underway among Norwalk’s city leaders, school district, post-secondary institutions, employers, state workforce agencies, and many other community stakeholders to create and sustain a framework that builds and supports rigorous career pathways for all our K-12 learners. Carver is privileged to be a part of this mighty effort. Over the next five years, our students will be able to make informed decisions that meet with local, state, and national workforce trends.”
Q: What more can be done to help contribute to that change?
“Since the onset of the pandemic, time-limited but significant new governments funds have become available to help prepare our youth for 21st century careers. We need to do a better job of inspiring private donors to get involved. Carver donors are there for us in amazing ways in this effort and local employers are welcoming our paid student interns into their workplaces. We were able to place daytime counselors (we call them Future Readiness Coordinators) in Brien McMahon and Norwalk High Schools to support Carver students in their individual academic and career discovery journeys. But there is so much more to do.”
Q: What does Black History Month mean to you?
“Of course, the example of our namesake, George Washington Carver, is an ever-present inspiration. This month and always my greatest inspiration comes from Carver alumni, especially those who have been a part of my life since I joined Carver in 2004. There are so many wonderful stories to share of our young people making their mark in the fields of law, government, medicine, finance, entertainment, professional sports, technology, education, entrepreneurship, the creative arts, among many other careers. These impressive Black women and men embrace and carry forth Carver values into their careers.”