Community Engagement News

Barry Students and Faculty to Make Community Engagement Presentations at Upcoming Conferences

Presentations will be made at the TQR Conference, Gulf-South Summit, EERA Annual Conference, and AERA Annual Meeting, as well as a qualitative research conference in Mexico.

Barry graduate students and faculty members will make presentations on community engagement topics at several conferences this year. The conferences will be in regional, national, and international settings.

At least three presentations will draw on the findings of community-based research with Ukrainian refugee families. The focus of one of those presentations will be the “belongingness” among displaced Ukrainians, as revealed by the research.

On the list of conferences is the 8th International Qualitative Research Conference—VIII Conferencia internacional de investigación cualitativa—in Guanajuato, Mexico, in late June.

A group from Barry will travel to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, this week to make presentations at the EERA Annual Conference. The conference is organized by the Eastern Educational Research Association.

A presentation from a Barry graduate student is slated for the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). The meeting will take place in Chicago, Illinois, on April 13–16 and virtually on May 4–5.

Presenters will include doctoral students (L–R) Caroline Gillingham-Varela, Heather Johnson-Desiral, Emmanuel Ikpuri, Michael Portnoy, and Marie Jasmin. –CCSI file photos by Glenn Bowen

Also on the list of conferences are the 14th Annual TQR Conference, hosted by Nova Southeastern University, later this month, and the 2023 Gulf-South Summit on Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Through Higher Education, hosted by the University of Georgia on its Athens (Georgia) campus, in April.

Presenters will include doctoral students Marie Jasmin, Michael Portnoy, Deshanna Brown, Emmanuel Ikpuri, Anette Zayas, Betty Eugene King, Caroline Gillingham-Varela, Heather Johnson-Desiral, Philip Corr, and Orlando Cardozo.

Dr. Ruth Ban, a professor of education, will be a presenter at four of the five conferences. And Dr. Laura Monsalvatge, a Barry alumna and faculty member at Florida International University, will join her for the presentations.

Dr. Monsalvatge participated in the community-based research project with Ukrainian refugees. It has been “a rewarding experience” for her, and she sees significance in answering the late Ernest Boyer’s “call for higher education to work to advance society through research focused on social justice issues.”

The Center for Community Service Initiatives supports student and faculty participation in conferences that contribute to the advancement of community-engaged scholarship at Barry University.

Two Forums Remain on Spring Semester Schedule for Campus Democracy Project

The second Legislative Forum, on March 22, will focus on an update from the Village of Miami Shores. Mayor Sandra Harris and Village Manager Esmond Scott will be invited to participate. Pictured at right is Dr. Sean Foreman, professor of political science, moderating the first Legislative Forum for this year, on January 25. (Photo at right by Glenn Bowen)

Two forums remain on the spring semester schedule for Barry’s Campus Democracy Project (CDP). They include a “Legislative Forum” next month.

The focus of the Legislative Forum on March 22, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., will be on an update from the Village of Miami Shores. Mayor Sandra Harris and Village Manager Esmond Scott will be invited to participate.

It will be the second of two Legislative Forums this semester. The first took place last month, when Sen. Jason Pizzo, D-Miami, fielded questions about a variety of issues—from property insurance and gun control to gender affirmation surgery and the removal of AP African American Studies from the curriculum.

At the forum on January 25, Sen. Pizzo also answered questions about Florida’s Paycheck Protection Program and security deposits paid by renters; and, in the process, he provided insights into the workings of the state legislature.

On April 19, a “Democracy Forum” will engage participants in a discussion on “Preparing for the Future: Getting Ready for the 2024 Elections.” The two-hour event is slated to begin at noon.

The CDP organizers are encouraging students, faculty, staff, and alumni to attend those forums as well as a forum in the Deliberative Dialogue Series this Thursday (see below).

The CDP is a civic learning and democratic engagement project under the aegis of the CCSI. A university-wide committee of students, faculty, and staff members organizes project activities throughout the academic year.

University Will Continue to Participate in National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement

As part of Barry’s Campus Democracy Project, NSLVE data have informed efforts to increase students’ civic learning and democratic engagement.

Barry University will continue to participate in the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement (NSLVE). President Mike Allen has reauthorized the use of university data in the study of elections from January 2023 through August 2033.

A statement from the National Student Clearinghouse said: “NSLVE offers colleges and universities an opportunity to measure the voting and registration rates of their students, to use such information to study the effectiveness and improve the instruction of its educational programs, and to increase student civic learning and engagement in democracy.”

As part of the study, data on whether a student registered to vote, whether the student voted, and the vote method are collected. Vote choice is not included in the data collected.

The Institute for Democracy and Higher Education (IDHE), based at Tufts University, conducts the national study. IDHE will use the university’s de-identified enrollment data in its aggregate reports regarding student civic learning and engagement in democracy.

Barry participated in NSLVE during the 10-year period ending last year. As part of the university’s Campus Democracy Project, the data informed efforts to increase students’ civic learning and democratic engagement.

Community Partner Seeking Volunteers for Food Pantry, Weekend Kitchen

The Salvation Army – Miami Area Command is looking for volunteers for its food pantry and weekend kitchen at 1907 NW 38th Street, Miami.

Weekend kitchen volunteers will assist the kitchen staff with serving meals on Saturdays and Sundays. They will also help the staff to clean up the kitchen.

The three-hour breakfast shift begins at 6 o’clock, the two-hour lunch shift at 11, and the two-hour dinner shift at 5 o’clock. Prospective weekend kitchen volunteers are asked to register via GivePulse.

Food pantry volunteers will pack grocery bags and assist with the distribution of grocery bags to community members. Prospective food pantry volunteers are asked to register via GivePulse.

Throughout the United States, the Salvation Army provides shelter from the elements, beds, food, and basic hygiene resources to people in need. In addition, the organization helps to combat long-term homelessness by providing physical, emotional, and spiritual support.

Additional information on volunteer opportunities is available from Keila Bazile at the Salvation Army – Miami Area Command, keila.bazile@uss.salvationarmy.org or 305-916-1937.