Giving Back To Her Home Town
Urban studies major stays in Waterbury
By Sherry Fisher

Tania Nieves Rivera, a petite 13-year-old with a curly ponytail, saunters into the after school program she attends in downtown Waterbury, holding a large sheet of construction paper.
"I have the picture I drew for your room," says the perky eighth-grader. "I'm going to finish it today."

UConn student Delmaliz Medina smiles as Rivera proudly unrolls the construction paper and carefully lays it on a snack table. On the top, the word "Delmaliz" stands out in intricate lettering. Peppered in pinks and purples, the pictures centerpiece is a heart drawn in delicate detail.
"I really like it," Medina says. "It will look great in my room."
It's 2:30 p.m. on a Friday afternoon at the after school program where Medina, now a senior majoring in urban and community studies at UConn's campus in Waterbury, worked last year as an intern.
Medina developed a close relationship with Rivera, one of 14 inner city middle-schoolers in the program. "She has really touched my heart," Medina says.
The urban and community studies program prepares students to be city planners, town government officials, economic development leaders, or other service providers in the public or private sectors.
What attracted Medina to the urban studies program was that she could earn the degree in Waterbury, where she lives. "It would be hard to do everything I do and take classes someplace else," she says.
In addition to completing an internship, Medina has also worked with youngsters at Waterbury Youth Services and tutored at a local elementary school.
"I also like the interdisciplinary aspects of the program," she says. "At first I didn't know if I wanted to go into psychology, sociology, or social work, but the courses and internship have cemented my decision to go into social work." Medina, who will graduate in 2004, plans to earn a master's degree in social work at UConn. She says the internship was an "awesome experience. I've learned how one person can have an effect on a child. I've learned so much about kids. There is a strong need for social workers, particularly minority social workers, and I want to make a difference." Medina's supervisor, Katie Kologe, says the fact that Medina speaks Spanish has been an asset to the program, particularly when speaking to parents.
The urban studies program has given her direction, Medina says. "It may sound like a cliche, but I was born and raised in Waterbury. I'd love to continue to give to the community."