Museum Archives

Exhibits & Activities - 2007 (click on links to view details)

An Evening of American Travel with Lori Hein
June 6, 2007

“A journey through the heart and soul of America” 

Travel through the words and images with local author Lori Hein as she presented An Evening of American Travel. Lori will read from her book. Ribbons of Highway: A mother Child Journey across America and show slides from the 12,000 mile back road odyssey that the globetrotting writer took with her two children after September 11. Lori's work has appeared in regional, national, international and online publications, including the Boston Globe and Philadelphia Inquirer. A marathoner, she does some of her best writing while running. Hard-wired with wanderlust, Lori’s visited some 60 countries, and her travels inspire and inform much of her published freelance work in addition to her book. Her many travel photo credits include the cover of a national magazine. A magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Tufts University, Lori also studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and holds an MBA. She spent 20 years in the corporate world as a sales, marketing and organizational development executive for a major New England health care company.

Lori signed copies of Ribbons of Highway and donated an amount per copy to the Women at Work Museum.

The MADD Tapper
June 6, 2007

Erin Dunn (at right) is a dancer and writer who presents stories about women to the rhythm of her tapping feet. On Jun 6^th, Erin creatively illustrated how Clara Barton and Alice Paul wer connectef by Susan B. Anthony’s work for equality in the late 1800’s. Susan encouraged Clara to follow her passion and Clara busted barriers in order to care for soldiers during the Civil War and later founded the American Red Cross. Alice Paul was inspired by Susan and became the Susan B. Anthony of the 1900’s gaining recognition for the need for equality through her staged fastings. By starving, she brought attention to the movement for equality.

Black Holes and Exploding Stars
April 18, 2007

Leadership in Space & Around the World

Introduction to Space Telescopes and How They Work

Through hands-on activities, participants (students in grades 6 through 9) learned about how scientists use telescopes and other tools to describe the universe we live in. They learned how to be a space tourist and found out how they could save for a trip to space. The participants also explored career opportunities in fields related to space.

Participants visited Bristol Community College and used a robotic system of ground based telescopes, linked through computers, to produce photos of selected objects in space. After the photos were processed, students were sent their own copy of the observation.

Space Science Program Materials

Each participant was given a package of materials developed by NASA programs to present to a science teacher back at their school. The materials give teachers a resource for NASA and space science content and materials relating to the teaching of science, technology, engineering and math  (STEM) which have been tested and validated in a variety of educational settings. Contact information for staff at the Chandra  X-ray Center, NASA’s Universe Forum, and MIT’s Kavli Institute Education Program who are participating in this program was made available to provide further information about utilizing the materials in classrooms or in or out of school settings.

Presenters:

• Erica Reinfeld, Education Specialist, NASA-Smithsonian Universe Forum Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
• Dr.Irene Porro, Director of the MIT Kavli Institute Youth Astronomy Apprenticeship Program, MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research
• Mark Hartman, Education Specialist, MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research
  
• Kathleen Lestition, Educaion and Outreach Coordinator, Chandra X-ray Center – Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
• Susan Kelliher, National Heritage Federal Credit Union
• Katherine Honey, Director, Women at Work Museum
• Kathy Torpey Garganta, Director, Attleboro Center, Bristol Community College (BCC/Attleboro)

Wheaton College Students Lend a Helping Hand
September , 2007

Wheaton's Season of Service provides first-year students with an opportunity to learn more about their neighbors in the Greater Norton Metropolitan Area by participating in one of the College's many local community partnerships during their first six weeks on campus. Each First Year Seminar student joins returning students, faculty and staff in a half-day service project benefiting area children or seniors, addressing hunger issues, or improving the environment.

Career Exploration Day
September 22, 2007

“SO ….what do want to do when you grow up?”  This dreaded question has plagued young people for generations.  The often-used follow-up statement, “You can be anything you want to be,” seems to draw more anxiety than solace for the teen or twenty-something who is just beginning to explore where her professional passions may lie.

The Women at Work Museum, who’s mission is to honor the achievements of women throughout history while encouraging visitors to dream about what is yet possible for women to achieve, planned programs to help young women begin to sort through the options available to them.  On Saturday, September 22, from 11am-2pm, the Museum presented Career Exploration Day in association with the local School-to-Career partnerships.  The purpose of the program was to give high school and college women an opportunity to meet and talk with women who are successful in their chosen field.  “We specifically looked for a varied group of professionals to be represented,” explains Nancy Young, Museum President. 

At least 30 women participated, representing careers as diverse as engineering, medical, dental, legal, education, the trades, culinary, and personal services such as an esthetician, a personal trainer and massage therapist.  Many of these women run their own businesses and have built careers while raising families.  The young women had opportunities to ask questions to the participants and walk away with solid answers from established women in the field which will allow the young women to begin to decide how to proceed with educational choices in order to step into their career path. 

The Career Exploration Day has now become a part of the Young Women to Watch exhibit – from 13 to 30, a new exhibit that displays a wall of professional womens' information with a recording of each woman's interview for that day. Now young women can come into the Museum and listen to each of the professionals talk about their careers in their own words and pickup contact information to follow up with each woman who is in a career that is of interest to her.

Reaching for the Stars

2007 Auction & Reception  

The end of September brought the annual “Reach for the Stars” auction, chaired by Anne Bibeault of North Attleboro and Deborah Hegarty of Attleboro.  Months of work culminated in a successful evening with wonderful food, and a wide variety of auction items including original artwork by local artists as well as sports memorabilia and vacation getaways.  Proceeds from the auction will go to on-going programs for the Museum.

What Every Woman Should Know about Social Security
October 10, 2007

On Wednesday, October 10, Don Vinitti, a field representative for the over 25 years with the Social Security Administration, was the guest speaker discussing the topic “What Every Women Should Know About Social Security.”  This was an overview of the Social Security program including discussions around widowhood and divorce as well as retirement and disability benefits.  The class helped attendees better understand their Social Security protection and the important role it plays in planning for their financial future. This is a topic that has been featured in previous years at the Museum and is back by popular demand.  Whether a woman is single, married, divorced or widowed, chances are, they’ll have a question about social Security and this program is geared to begin getting the answers.

Leadership Starts with YOU!
October 17  & November 7, 2007

 Leadership Starts with YOU!  was featured over 2 evenings, October 17 and November 7.  This two-part series, created and facilitated by Janet Letourneau (photo at left), principal of Peak Performers,  provided an overview of two topics considered to be critical for successful leadership at all levels. Part One will cover style awareness, and its impact on others; while Part Two will take self-awareness (knowing your style) to deeper levels in order to meet the highest standards of integrity.  After all, every organization needs first-class leaders with integrity!

“It’s easy to complain about leadership from corporate, local, state and federal levels.  But has anyone stopped to think that great leadership starts with you, the individual?”  Ms. Letourneau tells her audience.  “All of your actions on a day-to-day basis, from being a student, a parent, an employee, supervisor, manager, vice president, business owner, have impact.  This series is appropriate for ages, high school and up.

Young & Emerging Leaders
November 7, 2007

A photography exhibit of young female up-and-coming leaders was featured.  This exhibit included work from young women ages 13-30 who are making a difference in their community, school or place of worship.  “We wanted a place for these young women who deserve recognition and we want to give these girls a chance to shine!  Although the exhibit went up in November, the Museum continued to add the young women’s stories to the exhibit.