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Volunteers may tutor resettled refugees A variety of remote service-learning and other civic engagement opportunities have been offered to students, faculty, and staff as the United States and the global community continue to grapple with the crisis caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). From raising awareness about domestic violence and advocating “a just hunger policy” to tutoring resettled refugees, opportunities for civic engagement from a distance are available. The Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) has posted many of the opportunities to a webpage. Rather than waiting to see what civic engagement opportunities the CCSI would offer in response to the stay-at-home imperative, one of its student leaders got going by translating informational materials about COVID-19 from English to Haitian Creole. (See separate story below.) Students are participating in the College Brides Walk Memorial Project, raising awareness about domestic violence and advocating. The project requires students to conduct secondary research to capture the stories of homicides resulting from domestic violence and dating violence in the Through the project, students are putting a face to this startling statistic from the National Domestic Violence Hotline: “1 in 4 women (24.3%) and 1 in 7 men (13.8%) aged 18 and older in the United States have been the victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner.” Furthermore, says Stephanie Wong, the project coordinator, “students will be able to motivate others to promote healthy relationships.” “We here at Barry value our partnerships with local community organizations and will do our best to maintain, if not strengthen, our collaboration during this crisis,” said Dr. Glenn Bowen, executive director of the CCSI. “Of course, we are mindful that most of our community partners are not able to keep any part of their operations open and will undoubtedly experience immense challenge when this crisis is behind us. As the situation allows, we will find creative ways to continue our work together for mutual benefit, and for the greater good.” Meanwhile, the CCSI is partnering with Bread for the World to offer students the opportunity to advocate “a just hunger policy.” Bread for the World emphasizes that access to good nutrition for mothers and children should not be a partisan issue. Another community partner,Church World Service South Florida, is seeking support to help resettled refugees develop English proficiency and attain academic success through remote tutoring. As part of the resettlement process, refugees are required to take classes if they arrive not knowing how to speak English. Because of COVID-19, these individuals need to adhere to social distancing rules but remain in need of the language lessons. Volunteers will be paired with individuals or households and will be asked to commit to providing at least two hours of video-based tutoring service each week. One of the notable projects offered by the CCSI involve support for Miami-Dade’s PACT (People Acting for Community Together). Another involves the promotion of women’s breast and heart health. Advancing PACT’s “Action from Afar” Agenda Students have created a campaign on social media to promote support for an initiative by Miami-Dade’s PACT (People Acting for Community Together) aimed at pressing for a reduction in gun violence and “unnecessary arrests.” The campaign helps to advance PACT’s “Action from Afar” agenda. This year, for the first time in its 32-year history, PACT did not hold its largest annual assembly, Nehemiah Action. Originally scheduled for March 16, the event was cancelled because of the COVID-19 outbreak. The interfaith coalition launched “Action from Afar” to engage members and supporters in addressing the issues of affordable housing, gun violence, immigration, and unnecessary arrests. Students are supporting this campaign in a number of ways, noted Liz James, experiential learning coordinator in the CCSI. Regarding gun violence, James said, PACT is working with the City of Miami Gardens in a continued push for the municipality to fully adopt Group Violence Intervention (GVI), a “proven strategy” to reduce gun violence in metropolitan areas. Recently, students joined PACT organizers and congregation members for a discussion with Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert regarding the GVI strategy. Regarding unnecessary arrests, PACT is working with several other Florida DART (Direct Action and Research Training Center) affiliates to seek “increased transparency” when youth are arrested instead of receiving civil citations. “There were over 4,000 children arrested last year [when they] could have been given a civil citation and avoided a lifelong arrest record,” PACT notes at its website. “The reason listed as to why these children did not receive a civil citation is ‘No Reason Available.’ This is not acceptable. We want the Department of Juvenile Justice to … follow the law and require a legitimate reason be given when a child is not offered a civil citation for a first-time, misdemeanor offense.” The CCSI’s Liz James said the students’ social media campaign is focused on the need to cease unnecessary arrests. The students have also urged their peers and community members to send email messages to the state’s secretary of juvenile justice, Simone Marstiller. The email messages are expected to recommend that if law enforcement officers or those entering data into a computer system do not know the reason for the arrest of a juvenile, the arrest should automatically be changed to a civil citation. “This will ensure that children face sanctions for misbehavior without receiving a life-long criminal record,” they are expected to add. Promoting Women’s Breast and Heart Health The CCSI has asked students to participate in the Women’s Breast & Heart Initiative’s (WBHI) Virtual Breast Cancer and Heart Disease Advocate Program. Interested students are required to attend a 30-minute online orientation, take an online quiz, and create social media posts. After their completion of the requirements, each student will receive an advocate certificate. Barry distinguished alumna Andrea Ivory is the founder and executive director of the Miami Lakes-based WBHI. |
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Student Leader Johania Charles Focusing Efforts on Migrant Farmworker Community Barry student leader Johania Charles has been assisting Haitian residents of Immokalee to cope with the coronavirus, COVID-19. She has translated flyers and other informational materials about COVID-19 from English to Haitian Creole for posting and distribution throughout the community. The flyers and other materials contain information on the hours that stores in the community are open, community events and gatherings to avoid, the importance of washing hands after arriving home, and social distancing guidelines. Charles is also helping to raise awareness about how the farmworker community is uniquely impacted by COVID-19. The farmworkers provide essential food service and therefore need to go to work, she says. Because of the nature of their work and the housing situation in Immokalee, “there is no way for farmworkers to isolate,” she explains. Immokalee is an unincorporated community of mostly migrant farmworkers in A Barry Service Corps Fellow with the Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI), Charles is urging people in the Miami area to sign a CIW petition asking Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to protect farmworkers during the COVID-19 crisis by providing a field hospital and protective gear for community residents. Anyone may sign the petition, which is available via this web link: <https://www.change.org/p/florida-governor-ron-desantis-governor-desantis-protect-florida-farmworkers-during-the-covid-19-crisis> Charles is a member of the Student/Farmworker Alliance (SFA) Steering Committee. The SFA is a national organization that supports the work of the CIW. |
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Barry Nursing Educators Help Refine COVID-19 Prevention Plan for Dr. Mureen Shaw, an assistant professor of nursing, and Tamara LaCroix, an adjunct professor of nursing and doctoral student, have engaged in a series of consulting calls with Barry’s community partners in Since 2016, Barry has supported the public health efforts of Caritas (Catholic Charities) Port-de-Paix, a social services organization that provides a substantial amount of the limited public health programming that exists in Julmisse, a Haitian priest, has hosted groups from Barry during Alternative Breaks programs and faculty/staff trips to Port-de-Paix. He also met with nursing faculty during a visit to Barry’s According to Julmisse, the Port-de-Paix Diocese, which encompasses A recent BBC article detailed how ill-prepared As part of their consultation with Julmisse, Shaw and LaCroix reviewed Caritas’s COVID-19 prevention plan. The plan includes delivering food to families who are ill (in order to prevent them from having to go to a crowded market to obtain food) and installing public handwashing stations. Caritas health workers will also disseminate information about the virus through radio and by driving vehicles equipped with large speakers on their roofs through busy streets, markets, and other areas where people gather. The nurses’ consultation was given within the context of Barry’s long-term nursing and education partnership in In order to assist Caritas in implementing their COVID-19 prevention plan, several Miami-based organizations who participate in the sister-diocesan partnership are raising funds, including the Archdiocese of Miami Global Solidarity Partnership, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, Amor en Acción, and Barry. Part of the monies raised will be used to employ women in the Atelye Thevenet artisan cooperative to sew masks that will be distributed by Caritas. Barry students have been supporting the cooperative, based in On a second consultation call, the Barry nurses also spoke with Semilfort St. Hubert, the president of the COCANO coffee and cacao cooperative. The cooperative has played an important role in public health education in the region during recent public health crises, including outbreaks of cholera. This is because the coffee farmers work through networks in remote areas that Caritas cannot reach, like the mountain villages where coffee grows. St. Hubert has met with several Barry groups during their visits to northwest Also in 2018, Shaw and Dr. Claudette Chin, assistant professor of nursing, advised COCANO’s leadership team in treatment of the water supply in rural areas during the cholera outbreak. The cooperative provided education through their farmer-network about how the disease spreads and distributed bleach tabs and buckets provided by Barry through a Project ADVICE grant from the Shaw, who teaches public health and international nursing courses at Barry, has visited Caritas Port-de-Paix during several trips to the region. When speaking with Julmisse and LaCroix, who is a native Haitian Creole speaker, served as the translator during the calls. She also spoke about the importance of providing accurate information to the Haitian public about COVID-19 symptoms, how the disease spreads, and how the spread can be prevented. Courtney Berrien, associate director of Barry’s Center for Community Service Initiatives, arranged and participated in the calls along with Anthony Vinciguerra, director of the Archdiocese of Miami’s Global Solidarity Partnership. |
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Students, Faculty, and Staff Asked to Report Involvement in Civic Engagement Activities The CCSI is documenting remote service-learning and other civic engagement activities as well as their outcomes and impacts. Students, faculty, and staff are asked to report their involvement in such activities. Students may use a form to report activities to faculty teaching service-learning courses. In a statement, CCSI Executive Director Dr. Glenn Bowen has expressed gratitude to students, faculty, and staff for their continued community-engaged work. “Thank you for your participation and support as the University continues its service-learning and other civic engagement activities in the face of the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic,” the statement says. “Even as we practice physical distancing, your service has been contributing to the enrichment of student learning and the improvement of community life.” Information about service-learning projects may be emailed to QEP Project Assistant Dr. Heather Johnson-Desiral at hjohnsondesiral@barry.edu. Experiential Learning Coordinator Liz James <ljames@barry.edu> Is gathering information about co-curricular/volunteer involvement. |
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CCSI Looking for Students Interested in Civic Learning and Leadership Development Xxxxx The CCSI is accepting applications from undergraduates interested in becoming Barry Service Corps Fellows. The select group of students will participate in a yearlong program designed to foster civic-mindedness. In this civic learning and leadership program, the CCSI’s Courtney Berrien explains, “Fellows work directly with community organizations to address social justice issues, including food insecurity, education inequity, economic injustices tied to globalization, community violence, and discrimination against marginalized populations.” For program and application details visit the CCSI website or contact Berrien at cberrien@barry.edu. |
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Students Urged to Get Counted in the Census as Part of Democratic Engagement As part of their engagement in the nation’s democratic processes, students are being urged to get counted in this year’s census. College students living in on-campus housing are counted through their university as part of the U.S. Census Bureau’s “Group Quarters Operation,” which counts all students living in university-owned housing (residence halls). In general, students in colleges and universities temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic will still be counted as part of this process. “No matter where you were on Census Day, April 1, you should be counted where you live and sleep most of the time,” students are being reminded. “In most cases, students living away from home – at school, that is – should be counted at school, even if you are now temporarily elsewhere due to COVID-19. “ On its webpage, Barry’s Campus Democracy Project (CDP) has provided links to two videos about Census 2020. |
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Former Student Leader Now Helping to Institutionalize Democratic Engagement on College Campuses Former Barry student leader Dominique McMillan was recently hired as program coordinator for the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge at Civic Nation. According to its mission statement, “The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge strives to change civic culture and institutionalize democratic engagement activities and programs on college campuses, making them a defining feature of campus life.” A 2018 graduate who majored in history with a minor in political science, McMillan was a Barry Service Corps Fellow. Her post-graduation experience includes a fellowship with the Food Recovery Network, championing collegiate-based food recovery programs to build community and combat climate change. |
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Course Instructors Invited to Apply for Service-Learning Designation The Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) is inviting faculty members whose courses include a service-learning component to apply for the service-learning designation. Sections of courses, internships, practicum assignments, field education, capstones, community-based research, and similar community-focused or community-based work also may be designated as service-learning. For additional information on the service-learning designation, contact the CCSI’s Dr. Glenn Bowen at gbowen@barry.edu. |
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Literature Available in Community Engagement Management System A variety of community engagement literature is available through the Community Engagement Management System (CEMS). Among the literature are books and book chapters, journals and journal articles, manuals, and fact sheets. The literature may be accessed directly from the “Resources” section of CEMS. |
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Save Box Tops Labels to Assist Two Schools with Fundraising Please save your Box Tops labels to assist two elementary schools meet their fundraising goals. That’s a request from the coordinators of Barry’s Box Tops for Proceeds of Barry’s Box Tops for After the university campuses reopen, Box Tops clips from various products may be dropped in the labeled box in the CCSI, Adrian 208. Contributors should note that changes to Box Tops for Education are being made. Participating brands are starting to change their packaging from a traditional Box Tops clip to a Box Tops label that contributors should scan. “Box Tops is changing to fit today’s families,” the program organizers announced a few months ago. “The new and improved Box Tops mobile app uses state-of-the-art technology to scan your store receipt, find participating products and instantly add Box Tops to your school’s earnings online.” While traditional Box Tops clips are being phased out of production, they may still be found on many products and will continue to be accepted for the Box Tops for Education program. Eventually, it will become a digital-only program. Cereals, household-cleaning supplies, paper products, and school supplies are on the list of eligible products found at the following site: <http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/participating-products>. After the coronavirus-forced university closure ends, Box Tops clips may be dropped off in the CCSI or sent via interoffice mail to Dr. Stephanie Bingham, the MAPS advisor, in the Department of Biology, For further information on Barry’s Box Tops for Education Drive, email Bingham at sbingham@barry.edu. |
Community Engagement News
Posted On : April 27, 2020
