Helping students “Envision Success” Over the last few years, the Polus Center for Social & Economic Development has focused its efforts in Massachusetts on helping people with disabilities find meaningful work that matches their skills, interests, values, and aspirations. With support from the MA
News
Step by Step
Photographs by Stephen Petegorsky Valley Photo Center , Tower Square 1500 Main St, Springfield, MA 01103 March 1-31, Tu-Fri 11 am-2 pm, Opening reception March 1, 6-8 pm Since 1998, Stephen Petegorsky has been documenting the work of the Polus Center for Social and Economic Development, a small
Landmine Survivor Speaks Out
One Empowered Survivor Finds His Voice
September 15th, 2002 was Adelmo Uni Jimenez’s 27th birthday. Walking along a bridle path In the Yanacona Indigenous community of Cauca, Colombia, Adelmo was rounding up his animals and thinking about a special birthday lunch, when a blast knocked him down to the ground and he lost consciousness
Field Report DRC
Recent Training Gives One Young Technician A New Beginning
West Virginian, Dave Evans is renowned for his expertise in making prosthetic limbs, and for helping amputees in war-torn countries throughout the world. Himself an amputee as a result of wounds received in Vietnam, Dave has worked with the Polus Center since 1997 establishing prosthetic rehabilitation programs and training technicians. In this months field report, Dave writes about his latest trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Dark to Light: A Syrian Child's Journey
Conflict, Healing & Hope
The Syrian war is exacting a heavy toll on an entire generation of children, who have experienced first-hand, the death, destruction, and violence of war. If left unsupported, these children will carry with them the debilitating scars of profound brutality and loss. We hope to draw attention and resources to the challenges they face.
Making an Impact
Lake Kivu Coffee Alliance
Polus Center and it’s Lake Kivu Coffee Alliance partners, Higher Grounds Coffee, and U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs/Office of Weapon’s Removal and Abatement, are helping coffee producers like Cifa (below) who have been injured by landmines and other explosive remnants of war by providing much needed support and rehabilitation.
Polus Center in the News
In this months issue of the Global Coffee Report, Polus Center Executive Director Michael Lundquist and Chief Operating Officer Theresa Kane talk about the coffee farmers biggest threat. Additionally, Cambridge College Magazine profiles Alumni Michael Lundquist, Executive Director of the Polus Center in this in-depth article by Jack Curtis.
Lake Kivu Coffee Alliance
A Delegation from the Polus Center arrived on the island of Idjwi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to meet with coffee cooperatives and assess how injured coffee producers, who have lost their ability to farm due to injuries sustained by landmines/explosive remnants of war, might return to work.
Keeping Hope Alive
Polus Center Celebrates 20 years of International Victim Assistance Work Dark to Light: Conflict, Healing & Hope A.P.E. Gallery, 126 Main Street, Northampton, Massachusetts. May 15 – 19, 2018 The Polus Center Celebrated it's 20 year anniversary supporting victims of conflict around the world, with
Stephen Petegorsky
Dark To Light: From Conflict To Coffee
In Dark to Light: From Conflict to Coffee, Stephen Petegorsky travels with the Polus Center to Colombia, Nicaragua and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, photographing coffee farmers and their communities that have been impacted by armed conflict.