YMCA Alliances names Hamblett new chief

Meagan Hamblett of East Boothbay, Maine, has been named executive director of the YMCA Alliances of Maine and New Hampshire/Vermont.

The YMCA Alliances of Maine and New Hampshire/ Vermont support collaboration amongst the three states’ Ys and community partners to increase its impact and advocate for positive change in their communities.

There are 27 YMCAs with more than 100 branches and daily program sites across Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont — all locally organized and volunteer-led. Due to its unparalleled reach, the Y is a powerful advocate for communities and familiar with the needs of the children, families and individuals throughout the region.

Hamblett is a 28-year YMCA career professional who embodies the Y mission, core set of values, and focus areas of healthy living, youth development and social responsibility. For the past five years, she has served as CEO of the Central Lincoln County YMCA in Damariscotta, Maine. As a result of her leadership, the CLC Y has been transformed form a small, recreational facility into a vibrant community center for people of all ages. Her strategic work while at CLC included a master facility design, capital campaign and a $6.75-million renovation and new construction project.

For information on the Alliances, visit https://ymcasofnh.org/ and www.ymcamaine.org.

Curriculum now requiring genocide education

CONCORD – The New Hampshire Senate passed SB 727-FN-L, 24-0. The bill, introduced by Sen. Jay Kahn, D-Keene, would make genocide education part of the curriculum in New Hampshire schools. The bill, as amended, will add four words to New Hampshire’s criteria for an adequate education, “Holocaust and genocide education.” The amended standard in RSA 193-2 would then read, “an adequate education shall provide all students with the opportunity to acquire … knowledge of civics and government, economics, history and Holocaust and genocide education to enable students to participate in the democratic process and to make informed choices as responsible citizens.”

“Seventy-five years after the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp prison 2/3rds of millennials don’t know what Auschwitz is and 25 % never heard of the Holocaust,” Sen. Jay Kahn, D-Keene, said. “When the survivors are gone, how will we impart to students historical facts about the Holocaust and other genocides and how intolerance, bigotry, antisemitism and national, ethnic, racial and religious hatred and discrimination and efforts that demonize or dehumanize any part of our communities have evolved in the past and today still evolve, into genocide and mass violence.”

“We heard from the Jewish Federation of New Hampshire President Sarit Itenberg that 30 New Hampshire incidents of antisemitism were reported to the Anti-Defamation League between 2017 and 2019, including in Manchester, Jaffrey, Portsmouth, Concord and Keene, Kahn added. “Schools need a systematic approach to incorporating Holocaust and genocide studies into the school curriculum standards. SB 727 addresses that. I am grateful for the support of New Hampshire students, teachers, religious leaders, and my colleagues in the Senate for their support and look forward to moving this important legislation forward.”

Newsletter