The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Vol. 6, No. 1 Summer, 1986 University of St. Jerome's College Waterloo, Ontario Canada N2L 3G3 "Doing what needs to be done" Working Centre founders receive alumni honours The highlight of this year's June Reunion Weekend celebrations, and a proud moment for the College, was the presentation of the first annual Father Norm Choate Distinguished Alumni Award to the husband and wife team of Stephanie (nee MacDonald) Mancini (BA '82) and Joe Mancini (BA '81 MA '82) in recognition of their founding of The Working Centre and the St. John's Soup Kitchen in Kitchener. The Mancinis were among a group of six high-calibre nominees for this award which marks the first time St. Jerome's has formally honoured its graduates for their achievements. The nominees included Richard Dominico (BA '69) of Toronto, David Morrell (BA '66) of Iowa City, Iowa, Gail Young (BA '66) of Toronto and Kathy Zettel (BA '79) of Kitchener. (see accompanying article) Joe and Stephanie Mancini established The Working Centre four years ago to provide a counselling and retraining service for jobless people in the KW area. Its impact has been significant. In the first five months of 1986, The Working Centre had 1,800 visits. Of those, 300 received individual employment counselling on two to three separate occasions. Others have used several of the Centre's job search support services such as typewriters, newspapers, workshops and telephones. In April 1986 alone, The St. John's Soup Kitchen served 3,600 meals. The Mancinis are responding to an obviously pressing need in their community. Using a "pastoral circle" model, they have studied the causes of unemployment and examined ways of promoting economic development. The "pastoral circle" involves participants experiencing first-hand the reality of poverty and unemployment by being present with and assisting those in need. The societal and economic factors related to unemployment are studied from an ecumenical faith perspective and a strategy for action is then developed. The Working Centre itself evolved out of this process. The Mancinis give numerous talks to government officials, church groups, schools and business people. The Centre also provides resources for educating the public about unemployment, poverty and community economic development. They publish a regular social justice newsletter to highlight these issues. Research currently being done by The Working Centre in the area of job-sharing enabled them to produce the first Canadian Manual of Employer/ Employee Guides to Job-Sharing. The Canadian Mental Health Association has used this manual extensively. "It's really nice to see that people appreciate our work," says Stephanie. "This recognition has helped to make The Working Centre more known in the community. I've long since forgotten that most people think Joe Mancini (BA '81, MA '82) and wife Stephanie (nee MacDonald) (BA '82) recipients of the 1986 Father Norm Choate Distinguished Alumni Award. (Photo by C. Valeriote) the work we are doing is different. We do what we see needs doing and it's quite exciting and challenging." Adds Joe, "It's great to be recognized for what we are doing in the community. It will make it a lot easier to approach funding groups for money to support our work." The Centre is currently funded by government grants and private donations. Upon their acceptance of the award, the Mancinis received a standing ovation from the many alumni and friends in attendance. It was an almost tangible display of affirmation. Named in honour of the College's president and former chaplain and lecturer, the Distinguished Alumni Award was established to recognize annually a St. Jerome's graduate who has made an outstanding contribution to his/her society, church, career or alumni development at St. Jerome's. Alumni Affairs Director Rob Donelson introduced the award at the June dinner and presented Father Norm Choate with a replica of the award -- a bronze College crest embedded in a six-inch high lucite slab. A photograph of this year's recipients will be placed in the main hallway of the College to further recognize the achievements and contributions College alumni are making to society at large. A SELF- HELP UNEMPLOYMENT RESOURCE CENTRE Opening doors for the unemployed and the hungry of Kitchener-Waterloo has been the goal of Joe and Stephanie Mancini pictured in front of The Working Centre's new location on Queen Street South in Kitchener. (Photo by C. Valeriote)