I have been a student at Leo Williams’ Mind, Body and Spirit Martial Art Studio for quite a while.   I took classes for seniors that helped me learn how to live my golden years without daily fears.

       Recently, I was introduced to a class in Exercise and Nutrition and one in Preventing Falling. As I listened to a staff member explaining the new classes that began on October 3, 2008, they sounded exciting.  The Preventive Falling class will help many seniors learn to fall the correct way and avoid ending up in the hospital with a broken hip.

       The Nutrition and Exercise class will help us learn to eat the proper foods and use exercise to have a healthy body. This class is held on Fridays from 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.  The members of the class are seniors like you and me, and the coaches are seniors, too.  Pat Donovan informed us that the city of Springfield’s Department of Elder Affairs and Leo Williams’ Mind, Body and Spirit Martial Art Studio are offering a new three-week course on the Basic Foundations for Senior Martial Arts. The class will be held at the Greenleaf Community Center at 1187 ½ Parker Street. To pre-register, contact Kerri at 413-750-2873. You may also call the Mind, Body and Spirit Martial Art Studio located at 18 Maple Street, Springfield, MA. Their number is 413-739-6596 and parking is free.

       On August 26, 2008, I received a call from Juanita Allen of the Human Resource Department in Governor Deval Patrick’s office. Ms. Allen wanted me to work with her in getting information out about the Commonwealth Career Discovery Exposition that has been held in Boston for the last four years.  She said the Governor wanted the job fair to be held statewide.   I, along with Nicholas Camarato; Arlene Rodriguez, Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences at STCC; Rev. Karen Rucks, Vice President of Programs and Andrew Teasley, Social Services Manager Human Resources at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center; Dan Hall, Personnel Department of city of Springfield; and Morris Jones, former City Councilor, met with her.  I would have liked for more people to have taken part in this important meeting with Ms. Allen. She plans to meet with us again at a later date to be announced.

       The job fair was held on October 27, 2008 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the UMass Boston Campus Center on the third floor. Although the date has passed, anyone interested in more information may call the Boston office at 617-878-9724 or visit the website at www.mass.gov/hrd/expo. Access and accommodations for persons with disabilities were provided. Representatives from Executive Branch Agencies, MA State Universities and Colleges, The Transportation Authority and The Trial Courts were on hand.

       When I write my next column, you and I will have cast our votes and, yes, we will be beginning to make plans for our 2008 Holiday Season. We’ll also be looking forward to the inauguration of the next president of our United States. For me, as someone who has worked locally with our Democratic city chairperson, E. Henry Twiggs, along with many others in Springfield and across this country for the election of African American Barack Obama as our next president, I pray the work we have done will make it a reality.

       To a special little friend of mine, Happy Belated Birthday Nashaly Charisse Russell  Christmas will soon be here for you to enjoy.