Recorded March 17 2026
(0:30) I'm Georgian Lussier, your host, and I'm delighted to introduce today's guests, Paulette (0:35) Fox and Marchelle Pendelton with OIC of New Britain. (0:41) Paulette is the executive director, and she's been there many years. (0:46) And Marchelle is the youth prevention coordinator, and she's also been there at least 15 years.(0:53) Paulette is an award-winning executive director, and Marchelle belongs to many community organizations (0:59) and boards, including the Breast Health Initiative. (1:03) Welcome ladies. (1:04) Welcome.(1:05) Good evening, Georgie. (1:06) Paulette, congrats on another successful, at least 10 years, since the last time you (1:12) were on our show here at OIC New Britain. (1:16) And you've continued to emphasize the importance of collaboration and partnerships as being (1:21) key to OIC's success.(1:24) Absolutely. (1:25) If you don't collaborate, you will evaporate. (1:28) And I use that phrase because, more so today, in the last five years, you have to collaborate (1:36) on grants, on partnerships.(1:39) You have to be in bed with everybody in your community. (1:42) It's no longer applying for grants in isolation. (1:46) You have to be at the table with multiple partners.(1:51) Capital Workforce Partners and I have been a partner now for over 41 years. (1:56) The United Way and I have been partners since 2001. (2:00) The school district is 41 years.(2:02) I've been a partner with them. (2:04) The New Britain Chamber of Commerce is a partner. (2:06) The police department, fire department and, of course, the city of New Britain.(2:10) And I can go on with all of the nonprofits. (2:13) We gather together once a month, and we have a local prevention council, where everybody (2:19) in New Britain is a member. (2:21) So collaboration and partnership is critical.(2:25) And what do you see as the big picture, as we look forward for OIC, of New Britain, in (2:31) terms of programming, emphasis? (2:34) I'm excited because OIC has always been ahead of the curve. (2:38) And right now, we are focusing on career pathways for youth who are entering sixth grade all (2:45) the way through high school and out-of-school youth. (2:48) We want to make sure that youth develop a career pathway when they leave fifth grade.(2:53) They need to have an idea of what they want to be. (2:57) And parents need to help us with this. (2:59) The community needs to help us, and the school district, because it's doable.(3:04) By having a lot of partners and collaborating with people, we can put youth in the different (3:10) departments at the city, the police department, the fire department. (3:13) We can have them role model as teachers to see what a teacher's day is actually like. (3:19) So we have the opportunity to really be real creative in New Britain.(3:23) And I'm excited about that. (3:25) Terrific. (3:25) So I've always thought of OIC as being a forward-moving workforce development.(3:32) Are there other auxiliary programs, or is it largely workforce development? (3:37) It's largely workforce development and education. (3:41) And now we're looking at the different opportunities that our youth can go into, especially at (3:48) New Britain High School with the academies. (3:49) And my favorite one has always been the Allied Health Academy up there, because there's such (3:56) a great need.(3:57) I'm in that age group where we are going to need certified nurses assistants, licensed (4:03) practical nurses, RNs. (4:05) We are going to need an array of people in the Allied Health fields. (4:09) Great opportunities for youth.(4:11) And that's where I first met you, actually, through Maria, in my involvement with the (4:17) board of the Hospital for Special Care. (4:20) They were a partner in that program. (4:23) Right? (4:23) Absolutely.(4:23) Again, a number of years ago, and having all those work experiences, and whether they work (4:28) in the summer, after school, part of the school curricul
