https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Neighborhoods-Fishing-season-is-a-go-13765787.php

WATERSIDE The Center for Immigrant Opportunity was awarded a grant of $10,000 at Generation Impact’s “Big Give” event in Greenwich, according to a news release.Generation Impact is a program for high school girls in Fairfield County to learn more about the needs of the community and make change. The $10,000 will support B1C’s engineering club for low-income immigrant children, a program that began in 2018 in partnership with the Bruce Museum.Despite it being Generation Impact’s inaugural year, the group received 38 grant applications from Fairfield County-based organizations.Of the four finalists, Building One Community, an immigrant resource center in Stamford, was selected to be Generation Impact’s first grantee, the release said. The group of young philanthropists also surprised each of the runner-up organizations with a $1,000 grant.Building One Community’s Engineering Club is an after-school opportunity for immigrant children to learn about STEM topics (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).Corinne Flax, the school and community partnerships manager at the Bruce Museum, teaches the children through hands-on projects and the creation of science journals at the Engineering Club’s monthly meetings.Thanks to Generation Impact’s support, the Engineering Club will now be able to meet four times per month. GLENBROOK On April 24 at 3 p.m., the Hope & Joy children’s group from The Archangels Greek Orthodox Church will perform their annual community service during Lenten season at the Lower Fairfield County Food Bank, foodbanklfc.org.During the visit, the food bank’s executive director, Kate Lombardo, will speak about the importance of donating food to those in need. The children, who range in age from 5 to 11, will see firsthand how the food bank operates. CITYWIDE Service learning programs across the Stamford Public School system will be starting later this month.The program integrates community service with instruction to enrich the classroom experience and teach civic responsibility. Some upcoming activities are already scheduled:April 23, from 11:20 a.m. to 12:05 p.m., UConn-Stamford mentors and Hart Elementary fourth graders will be creating dog and cat toys for the Pet Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), which will also be bringing volunteer coordinator Lisa DiDonato to speak with the kids about how their service benefits shelter animals.April 25, from 11:20 a.m. to 12:05 p.m., Dolan Middle School eighth grade mentors and Toquam Magnet School fourth grade mentees will be cleaning up and planting flowers in front of Dolan.May 7, from 10:15 to 10:45 a.m., Stamford High School mentors with Julia A. Stark Elementary School fifth graders will be donating the food they’ve collected all month to the Food Bank on Glenbrook Road. DOWNTOWN The First Congregational Church of Stamford will host a community Easter egg hunt April 20 at 10 a.m. at Latham Park, between Bedford and Prospect streets.Advanced registration is required. Register at fccstamford.org/events or call 203-323-0200.The event is for children ages 12 and under.One of the nation’s leading voices in combatting domestic violence will be the keynote speaker for the Domestic Violence Crisis Center’s 2019 “Voices of Courage” luncheon at the Stamford Marriott Thursday.Kiersten Stewart, director of public policy for Futures Without Violence, is a major player in providing information for members of Congress on how to reduce and prevent domestic violence against women and children. Futures Without Violence is a Washington, D.C.-based national organization that develops programs, policies and campaigns to support those organizations working to end violence against women and children. A major part of those efforts include training of professionals such as doctors, nurses, judges, and athletic coaches on improving responses to violence and abuse.“Lives depend on us to break the cycle of domestic violence — even here in upscale Fairfield County,” said Kevin Shippy, executive director of DVCC, in a press release. “Domestic violence lurks in every geographic and demographic corner, as recent cases such as the suitcase murder in Greenwich or still unresolved beating fatality of a Stamford woman can attest.”Last year, DVCC provided direct services to 3,789 individuals as well as reaching out to nearly 18,000 students and youth groups via classroom presentations to help identify and manage healthy, safe relationships.DVCC’s Board of Directors Chair John B. Watkins, of Stamford, will be honored with the annual Voices of Courage award for his 26-year history of volunteer leadership. For additional information on DVCC, and the luncheon, visit dvccct.org.DVCC serves the communities of Stamford, Norwalk, Darien, New Canaan, Wilton, Westport and Weston. The center provides confidential legal, counseling, sustainability, preventive education, telephone help line support, and emergency safehouse services to nearly 4,000 clients annually. WEST SIDE The Elks Lodge in Stamford will host an annual Easter egg hunt Friday from noon to 3 p.m.The event is for children from the age of 3 to 12.