Ms. Robinson’s Neighborhood: A Network of Support for Women
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and often partner with her
in implementing programs.
Over the years, Robinson
has hosted many unique
programs to bring women
together, such as the crocheting
workshop, jewelrymaking
workshop, Women’s
History Month events,
and a mentoring program.
In pre-pandemic times,
a peek inside the Center
would reveal women of all
backgrounds gathered together
talking, nurturing,
and supporting each other
as they work toward their
common goal of obtaining
their college degrees.
Kingsborough is known
for its high-touch approach
to working with students.
Under the leadership of
Ms. Robinson, the Women’s
Center, with its welcoming
space, replete with services
to meet students’ needs, is
clearly one of its best examples
of this.
Dr. Claudia V. Schrader
is president of Kingsborough
Community College (KCC),
a 72-acre academic oasis in
beautiful Manhattan Beach,
Brooklyn that offers students
over 50 academic programs,
100% online degrees and affordable
two-year degrees
for their future. For more
information about Kingsborough,
visit the website at
www.Kingsborough.edu.
Caribbean Life, MAR. 26-APR. 1, 2021 17
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When Frances Robinson,
a licensed master social
worker, came to Kingsborough
Community College
(KCC) in December 2009 as
the Women’s Counseling
Center’s program director,
her supervisor told her
that the Center was not a
“hangout.” Robinson gave
the directive some thought
and talked to her supervisor
about her vision for the
Center and the need for students
to have a place to unwind,
talk to other women,
and bond.
As it turns out, Robinson’s
vision was on point.
The KCC Women’s Counseling
Center has evolved over
the years into a place where
women are welcomed to
spend time to unwind, have
a cup of tea, lunch, network,
and feel comfortable seeking
out free and confidential
counseling services.
Currently, due to COVID-19
regulations, meetings don’t
occur in person, but Robinson
continues to receive
new cases, counsel students
over the phone or via Zoom,
and implement monthly
programs. The Center’s
services are also open to
faculty and staff.
Robinson credits her
own experiences as a
mother and her experiences
working with pregnant
teens, families, and
women at agencies and organizations
across the city
as influencing her love for
the work that she does. The
Women’s Center is a neighborhood
within the college
community where women
gather, socialize, network,
and support each other toward
meeting their academic
and personal goals.
The Center sponsors programming
on topics such
as sexual harassment, domestic
violence, and health
& wellness. There is even a
private area in the Center
for new mothers to pump
breast milk and a refrigerator
to store it.
As the director, and
with the assistance of a
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part-time employee, Ms.
Robinson is responsible for
all the Center’s operations
and providing counseling
services to students. Still,
she credits its programming
to the support she
receives from faculty and
staff who refer students
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