HarborOne U® Celebrates Banner Year

More than 2,000 community members benefit from diverse classes and resources

HarborOne U®, one of the country’s first centers devoted to financial education, life and career support services and small business assistance, today recounted a successful 2011. More than 2,000 community members benefitted from the diverse number of classes offered, designed to enrich and educate members both personally and professionally. The more than 100 classes explored business oriented topics including the popular Intro to Quickbooks, Intro to WordPress and Google 101 as well as personal topics such as Piggy Bankers, Lifestyle Options for Aging Loved Ones, First Time Homebuyer and yes, even Zumba! The classes were designed with every community member in mind. The U also celebrated its first Gallery Gala, featuring local artists and their work from throughout the year. To view photos from the event visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/HarborOneU.

2011 Highlights:
• 114 classes held
• More than 2,000 attendees
• Nearly 170 community uses of the meeting space(s), driving more than 2,500 additional traffic in the U
• 5 featured local artists
• 20 youth financial education programs reaching 800 youths (including Mansfield School system)

“The U offers a unique opportunity for community members of all ages to learn something new, participate in the community and make connections they may not have made otherwise. We are grateful to our teachers who selflessly give their time to the U and to community members for their support and enthusiasm as we continue in our mission to serve the needs of the community,” said Maureen Wilkinson, Director, HarborOne U®. “We look forward to continuing our efforts to offer even more classes, and welcome feedback as we look to expand our offering in the coming year.”

“I’ve been fortunate to participate in nearly a dozen classes at the U, ranging from Intro to WordPress to The Business of Art. Unlike any other continuing education programs, the experience at the U has been positive and rewarding, where classmates become friends and everyone feels a strong sense of community,” said Don Swavely. “As an artist, I’ve also had the privilege of displaying my work in the halls of the U and am grateful for the resources the U provides and the connections I’ve made as a result.”

To learn more about the programs offered at HarborOne U® find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HarborOneU or follow us on https://twitter.com/#!/HarborOneU.