Community comes together for schools

An intimate reception on Lido Isle hosted by the civic-minded Joe and

Judy Rosener brought together some 90 local citizens with a common

goal: A community-based organization called Communities in Schools of

Orange County.

The group works with public school systems to assist disadvantaged

children and works to build a bridge between families and the

education system serving the child.

To promote this effort, the Roseners invited principals from two

schools to address the crowd. Ken Killion of Rea Elementary and Julie

McCormick of Pomona Elementary discussed the development of the

various programs in their schools.

The committee supervising the local program is chaired by Sue

Mamer, with support from Kathy Johnson, Michael Gibbons, Barbara

Hayes, Mary Blake, Steve Cranford and Rosener.

Aims of the organization include empowering parents to become the

primary “point of influence” in their children’s education, reducing

drug use and gang involvement, and turning the local school into a

family community center.

Also attending the Lido reception were Judge Frances Munoz, Judge

Mary Robinson, Newport Mayor Steve Bromberg, Martha Flour, Dana

Black, David Brooks, Linda Sneen and former state Secretary of

Education Marion Bergeson of Corona del Mar.

To learn more about the programs of “Communities in Schools,”

please call (949) 673-0363.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.