East House College Enrichment Program opens June 2

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Walter DeRouen, therapist at Strong Ties, is the keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony for this year’s East House College Enrichment Program.

Forty participants of East House Career Services will take part in a two-week college enrichment experience June 2-5 and June 9-12 at Rochester Institute of Technology. The experience is designed to broaden other treatment and rehabilitation services and to encourage participants who are recovering from mental illness or substance abuse disorders to pursue educational goals to achieve independence and self-sufficiency.

Participants attend a variety of classes ranging from academic, art therapy and physical fitness classes taught by RIT and Monroe Community College staff and faculty, East House staff, and professionals from a variety of community organizations. Participants are also able to use RIT’s facilities during the two weeks of the program including classrooms, computer labs, the library, the student life center and the gym.

Each component of the program mirrors a college experience from applying for school, raising funds for the experience, orientation, course selection and registration, attending classes, eating lunch on campus, homework assignments and graduation.

At the end of the two weeks, students participate in a graduation ceremony and reception. This year’s event takes place at 4 p.m. on June 12 in Ingle Auditorium in RIT’s Student Alumni Union. The keynote speaker is Walter DeRouen, therapist at Strong Ties.

Since 1996, more than 500 students have benefited from this educational program series. Many have gone on to earn their GED or enroll in local colleges.

Contact Michelle Lanphear for more information about the event at 585-475-4329 or mllgrl@rit.edu.