County Executive Thomas Gulotta brought together an interfaith commission to establish the Holocaust Center that included Bishop John R. McGann and Rabbi Myron M. Fenster. The Center found a home at Welwyn Preserve, own by Nassau County and its mission statement called for the education of young and old on the horrors of anti-semitism and to show clearly that prejudice against any human being because of race, religion, national origin, sex or physical attributes can bring about the destruction of anyone within society.

The Center developed curriculum for Holocaust studies that is utilized as a supplement to social studies. It also provides teachers training programs as well as student and adult education. In addition to the formal curriculum the Center is a complete educational resource facility for the public providing, library, media center, speakers bureau and worldwide data access. Soifer expressed how gratifying the programs are and how relevant it is in the teaching of tolerance. With the influx of numerous ethnically diverse populations here on Long Island the curriculum offered by the Center is even more valid. Schools from Nassau, Suffolk and more recently Queens bring students ages 10 and above to the Center and Soifer added that they are booked though June of 2003.

She went on to talk about the Children’s Garden. Three years ago the Center launched a Million Pennies Project involving schools on Long Island to provide seed money for a Garden of Living Memorial to the million and half children, actually all children, who perished during World War II. The Olmstead Brothers, the designers of Central Park, designed the one-acre garden for the Pratt family. Utilizing the existing structures and adding brick and bluestone walks, the plans will include plant material that will bloom each season of the year.

As a compliment to the Glen Cove Youth Board, Soifer acknowledged the help of the Summer Youth Employment program. The gardener advised the kids, having shown up to work on the garden, that it was too hot for outdoor work. The kids move indoors and completed a mailing for the Center. The membership applauded Ms. Soifer for her informative talk and her offer of a docent-led tour.

The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 5, 2003, at 9 a.m. hosted by AHRC 20AB Village Square. Michael Famigletti, Pres. & CEO, YMCA and John Macari, N.C. Deputy Comptroller will speak at March meeting. For additional information on IAC please log on to our Website at www.iacglencove.org. IAC with more than 50-member agencies was established in 1971. The primary mission is to enhance the delivery of human services through collaboration and communication, and to provide mutual support among community agencies through sharing and networking. Please visit our website at www.iacglencove.org for more information about services, events, and our member agencies. Member agencies are encouraged to have a representative attend the monthly meetings.