STUDENT CREATES WOMEN„S CRAFT COOPERATIVE FOR ROSIE'S PLACE

Barbara Summers, a student in the Adult Baccalaureate College, recently received a $10,000 grant from the Baker Foundation to support a program she developed for residents of Rosie's Place, a women's shelter in Boston.

The "Women's Craft Cooperative" will seek to empower poor and homeless women personally and economically by teaching them to make and sell craft products. The project arose out of an independent study Summers conducted under the guidance of Associate Professor Judith Beth Cohen. With Cohen's support, Summers researched and examined similar cooperative organizations, and then using elements of these already existing models, developed an action plan for Rosie's Place.

Summers' idea is to teach the women to create a marketable product line, as well as learn all aspects of merchandising. She chose to produce jewelry made out of buttons. "I've always been fascinated by buttons," she explains. "There's something very timeless about them. My mother told me that during the Depression people didn't buy jewelry, and buttons were used as accessories. To me, buttons are humble and modest, but what you do with them is what makes them precious."

Maintaining product quality is essential to Summers, for both the personal development of the women and also the perception of the product. "I wanted to sell something that really stands on its own," she says, "not just because someone feels bad for these women." Summers is ensuring that the jewelry is reasonably priced. All of the proceeds go back to the co-op members. Volunteers are still needed to assist in the production of the crafts. Training and support will be provided by Summers and her associate, Alev Danis.

Volunteers will work side by side with the women of Rosie's Place, to create a sense of camaraderie and commitment to the project.

"I think we live in a time now when there is a lot of people who want to do some community involvement," states Summers, "but it's hard because the backbone has always been women, who are now in the work market and can't give the time that they once could." Her solution is to ask volunteers' involvement for short periods of time -- time that works for them and around their lifestyle.

Donations of clothing buttons are also needed. Summers originally received contributions from several sources including a leading button manufacturer, and a button drive by local girl scouts. The Lesley community is asked to aid the effort by dropping off any unused buttons to the Office of Student Affairs.

Anyone wishing to volunteer should contact Barbara Summers at 734-6663.