Wanda Rolon. Photo courtesy of MassLive.com.

Cheers to MassLive.com for running this article about social work student Wanda Rolon, who won the Irena Sendler Award from the Elms College and the New England Chapter of the  Kosciuszko Foundation.

The Kosciuszko Foundation promotes educational and cultural exchanges between the United States and Poland. The $500 Irena Sendler Award is given to honor social worker Sendler, who led a team of other social workers who saved more than 2,000 Jewish children from the Nazis during World War II.

Rolon, 38, had bouts of homelessness when she was younger and is dedicated to helping others in similar straits. She oversees homeless shelters in Northhampton, MA. Rolon, who is a National Association of Social Workers member, is also working toward a bachelor’s degree in social work from Elms College.

“I was homeless when I was younger,” Rolon said. “I was blessed to have friends.”

Image from Irena Sender film.

 

The documentary “Irena Sendler: In the Name of  Their Mothers” is airing on PBS channels on May 1. Director Mary Skinner offered NASW a special screening of the film in December. To read about that event click here. And to find out what channels the film is airing in your area click here.