Finding their inner artists

Author Richard Padova is teaching a course on presidential politics at Northern Essex Community College. (Mark Wilson/Globe Staff/FILE 2006)

Raw Art Works is continuing its outreach to communities beyond its home base of Lynn.

The innovative nonprofit arts organization, founded in 1988, is offering classes for children ages 9 to 14 at the Jewish Community Center of the North Shore in Marblehead in January. Utilizing unconventional concepts, the group gives youths an opportunity to express what is going on in their lives.

Laura Mennuci, a visual artist, creative arts therapist, and teacher, will teach the classes in Marblehead. Mennuci co-leads two groups, Art Tag and Experimental Teen Summer Studio. She also creates and leads new groups, including Pop Art for younger children, a group for Marblehead Alternative High School students, and other initiatives.

At the Jewish Community Center, Mennuci will teach Artz Alive and Cre8Art. Artz Alive, for ages 9 to 11, shows young artists how to express their ideas in colorful new ways. Using high quality art supplies, they experiment with painting, drawing, mask-making, sculpture, and print-making. The eight-week class begins Jan. 10 and runs Thursdays, 3:15-4:15 p.m.

Cre8Art, for ages 11-14, helps students use art to investigate and explore the world, as well as develop skills and unique art styles. The eight-week class begins Jan. 10 and runs Thursdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

The cost for each program is $175 for the public; $145 for JJC members. Call 781-631-8330 or visit jccns.org.

A TIMELY POLITICAL COURSE: If you want to learn more about the 2008 Presidential campaign, there's a class for you at Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill.

The three-credit course, "Quest for the Presidency," is being taught by Richard Padova, author of "First in the Nation: One Insider's View of the New Hampshire Presidential Primary."

The recently published book recounts Padova's experiences, both serious and humorous, on the campaign trail in New Hampshire.

In addition to looking at the candidates and the issues, the class explores how elections are won and lost.

Padova teaches in the department of history, government, philosophy, and economics at Northern Essex, and in the international studies department at Bentley College.

The class runs Tuesdays through Thursdays, 9:15-10:30 a.m., Jan. 22 through May 8. The cost is $111 per credit hour, and it is open to the public. Call 978-556-3297 or visit necc.mass.edu.

NORTH SHORE TEAM TAKES FED CHALLENGE CROWN: Six members of the Economics and Finance Club at North Shore Community College won the national championship in the community college category of the 2007 College Fed Challenge.

The contest is sponsored by the Federal Reserve to help economics students learn about the Fed's role in setting US monetary policy.

Students are judged on their knowledge of the Federal Reserve system, monetary policy, the quality of their analysis of the current economy, forecasting of the economy, recommendations for the Federal Open Market Committee, and teamwork and cooperation.

The students met with their faculty adviser, professor Moonsu Han, several times a week - often staying past midnight - for three weeks to study for the competition. Via videoconference, the students made a 20-minute presentation and participated in a 15-minute question-and-answer session with a panel of judges. They competed against teams from throughout New England and around the country.

The NSCC team included Amanda Bridge of Boxford; Daniel Brock and Raynier Marcelino, both of Lynn; Nicholas Chapman of Manchester-by-the-Sea; Michael Craveiro of Danvers; and Andrea Culli of Beverly.

In addition to a championship trophy, the team received $3,000 to share and a $2,000 donation to the college.

WHO'S WHAT WHERE: Katherine Koch is the new assistant to the director of the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce. She is a lifelong resident of Marblehead, with 11 years of work and volunteer experience in town. She previously was corporate office manager for Glee, a small chain of retail clothing stores headquartered in Beverly. . . . Jackie L. Long-Goding of Beverly, dean of health professions at Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill and Lawrence, has been named a fellow in the American Association of Respiratory Care Fellow Program. Fellowships are given to people who have excelled in the practice of respiratory care and contributed to the field beyond their job. Long-Goding is currently a doctoral candidate in philosophy, with a concentration on leadership in higher education, at Capella University in Minnesota.

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