NeighborWorks to host Carbondale Parties in the Parks<\/p>\n
NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania, in partnership with the city of Carbondale, will host afternoons at local parks throughout Carbondale this summer, starting Saturday, June 27.<\/p>\n
The events provide new opportunities for community members to come together by building friendships, connecting with neighbors and celebrating what makes Carbondale unique.<\/p>\n
Parties in the Parks highlight the importance of connecting residents with local services, organizations and activities. Each event will feature different activities and organizations.<\/p>\n
The schedule for Parties in the Parks is as follows:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Saturday, June 27: Gravity Park.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Saturday, July 25: Carbondale Block Party at Greater YMCA Park and Splashpad.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Friday, Aug. 21: Memorial Park (Pioneer Nights).<\/p>\n
\u2022 Saturday, Sept. 26: Cerra Park (West Side Park).<\/p>\n
All activities will take place from noon to 2 p.m. The Carbondale Block Party, an annual NeighborWorks event, will take place from noon to 4 p.m.<\/p>\n
For more information, or organizations interested in participating, contact Emily Arcaro, community development specialist, at earcaro@nwnepa.org or 570-558-2490.<\/p>\n
Wright Center names first chief philanthropy officer<\/p>\n
A Marywood University and Misericordia University alumna who has spent the last two decades advocating for and securing investments to support higher education has joined the Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education as its first chief philanthropy officer and vice president of grants and strategic initiatives.<\/p>\n
Ren\u00e9e Gregori Zehel, Ph.D., worked in business development in the health care industry for seven years before she returned to Northeast Pennsylvania in 1998 to serve in leadership roles at Misericordia and Marywood universities. There, she led transformative advancement initiatives, helping secure significant philanthropic investments that increased educational access and strengthened institutional sustainability. Most recently, she was vice president of university advancement at Marywood, where she led the successful completion of a $30 million campaign to expand health sciences programs.<\/p>\n
At the Wright Center, Zehel will spearhead the development of a new philanthropic foundation and guide its related endeavors. She will design overarching fundraising strategies and direct philanthropic events to build community support. She will also be responsible for driving grant development efforts across the organization.<\/p>\n
After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication arts from then-Marywood College and a Master of Science degree in education from then-College Misericordia, she completed a Doctor of Philosophy degree in human development at Marywood University. Across the region, Zehel has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including the African Sisters Education Collaborative and the Patient Safety Council at Lehigh Valley Hospital \u2014 Dickson City.<\/p>\n
She and her husband, Shawn Zehel, reside in Scranton and have two adult children.<\/p>\n
Johnson College to host babysitting safety workshop<\/p>\n
Johnson College will host a Child and Babysitting Safety workshop on Monday, June 29, from 4 to 6 p.m. at its Scranton campus.<\/p>\n
The interactive workshop is designed for teenagers and young adults who are interested in starting a babysitting business or who have caregiving responsibilities for younger family members. The program equips participants with the essential skills needed to babysit safely and successfully.<\/p>\n
The curriculum covers fundamental business setup, strategies for working effectively with parents and children, and vital safety, caregiving and first aid instructions. To engage young learners, the program utilizes a modern, magazine-format CABS guide and vlogger-style educational videos.<\/p>\n