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January 21, 2020 |
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In This Issue:
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List of Community Partners Grows as CCSI Registers Ten Organizations Number of Registered Community Partners Increases to 177 By Stephanie Wong The Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) has added 10 names to its list of registered community partners, bringing the total number to 177. The following organizations were recently registered as community partners: A New Start; Baton Youth Services; Blue Missions; Bound by Beauty; the Epilepsy Foundation; the Lupus Foundation of America, Florida Chapter; Meagan’s Academic Tutorial Center; The Seed School of Miami; South Florida CARES; and Youth Environmental Alliance. A New Start is a nonprofit organization that “intend[s] to bring a different set of business values and collaborative efforts in order to solve societal problems.” Through programs such as financial literacy, career development for the disabled, and youth internships, A New Start “envision[s] a world where community-based organizations actively collaborate together and work in unison to find solutions to societal problems that are innovative, appropriate, [and] sustainable, and [that] tackle problems at the root.” The mission of Baton Youth Services is to “transfer truth, skills, and resources to the next generation.” The vision of the Miami-based organization is to “see our youth live out their purpose and contribute to their community’s self-sustainment for continual success.” Blue Missions seeks to “[improve] public health by providing families with clean water and sanitary environments.” According to the organization, “through sustainable, community-owned projects, our team works with locals to empower progress and transform rural communities for the better.” Bound by Beauty is a nonprofit organization, started by volunteers, that “recognize[s] the transformational power of butterflies when used as a positive proxy for combating climate change and sea level rise.” The people behind the organization believe that “By saving butterflies, we can save ourselves.” As an “unwavering ally for individuals and families impacted by epilepsy and seizures,” Epilepsy Foundation works to “prevent, control, and cure epilepsy through community services; public education; federal and local advocacy; and supporting research into new treatments and therapies.” The mission of the Lupus Foundation of America, Florida Chapter (LFA Florida) is “to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus through programs of research, education, support and advocacy.” As part of the national force devoted to solving “the cruel mystery of lupus,” LFA Florida “hosts several events throughout the year with the help of informed volunteers, lupus medical experts, and committed and caring supporters.” Meagan’s Academic Tutorial Center is an after-school center “where students receive … homework assistance in all core subjects such as reading, math, and writing.” The Center’s goal is to “ensure every child has advanced past their potential in all subject areas.” The Seed School of Miami is a college-preparatory, public boarding school serving South Florida. The school’s mission is “to provide an outstanding education program that empowers students to be successful, both academically and socially, in college and beyond.” Founded in 2014, the Miami school is the third of its kind in the United States. The South Florida CARES Mentoring Program is a “pioneering, community-mobilization initiative dedicated to healing the effects of centuries of structural disparities that are destroying multitudes of Black children’s lives.” By training culturally competent mentors who “build a bridge of healing and mental wellness in schools,” CARES is breaking the cycle of generational Black poverty. Since 2005, the Youth Environmental Alliance “has been instrumental in delivering hands-on educational programs focusing on Florida's fragile ecology and restoration and recreational opportunities.” Its mission is to “deliver education programs and facilitate participation in environmental activities to diverse persons of all abilities.” The CCSI coordinates Barry’s partnerships with organizations and institutions in the local, national, and global communities. |
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Dr. Tamara Hamilton to Make Service-Learning Presentation at National Meeting in March Dr. Tamara Hamilton, professor of chemistry, will make a presentation at the American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting and Expo in March. In the presentation titled “Service-Learning in a Capstone Course for Chemistry Majors,” Hamilton will describe how students engage in classroom discussions of the importance of scientific literacy within society and the responsibility of professional scientists to increase public understanding of science. She will explain that students then engage with a community organization – often an under-resourced school or young people’s group – to design, test, prepare, and explain a hands-on activity that fits within the goals of that organization. Hamilton’s presentation will be part of the ACS Division of Chemical Education Symposium, “Fundamentals of Chemistry Outreach Education: From Program Design to Assessment.” The Spring 2020 ACS National Meeting and Expo will take place on March 22–26 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. |
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Photography Student Serves as Assistant Editor in Efforts to Teach Peace-Making Skills By Stephanie Wong As a first-year Barry student majoring in photography and minoring in education, Soné Keith had big dreams and an even bigger desire to make a positive impact in her new community. Attracted to the university’s Federal Work-Study Community Service Program, Keith was not sure of where exactly she wanted to create that impact, but she knew she was in the right place to figure it out. Originally from the Bronx in New York state, Keith had always thought fondly of her experience as a participant in the work of local non-profits. Some of her favorite memories are of DreamYard, an organization whose mission is to build pathways to equity and opportunity through the arts. While with DreamYard, Keith was a member of the Bronx Arts Collective. Each month, she and her peers used a different social justice theme to collaborate on visual art projects involving collage, painting, and other art forms. She also distinctly recalls the opportunities she received through DreamYard to travel nationally and internationally, and to learn about art around the world. It was from that experience Keith felt inspired to give back. Two years later, Keith is still making contributions outside the for-profit world. Now, as a member of the Barry Service Corps, she is serving as an assistant editor with the Peace Education Foundation, whose home is on Barry’s main campus. Keith has been responsible for revising various lessons for a volume titled “Peace Making Skills for Little Kids.” She found particular enjoyment as she worked on it, because she realizes the importance of the six peace-making skillsets targeted to children: Community Building, We Listen to Each Other, Hands are for Helping, I-Care Language, Expressing Feelings, and Taking Responsibility. Reflecting on the impact that editing the book has had on her, she shares: "My mind has changed through the realization that children need to learn more than just reading, writing, and math. Children also need to understand how to communicate effectively and how to deal with their anger. As a student earning a minor in education, I know that these are skills I plan to teach my future students so that they have a grasp on skillsets beyond the basic subjects schools teach.” In addition to books, the Peace Education Foundation offers peace-building curricula that are translated into various languages, including Spanish. The material is then made available internationally. A few countries that have received the organization’s curricula are the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Colombia, and Jamaica. The Peace Education Foundation’s multilingual curricula are currently used in more than 20,000 schools and community centers around the world. There is little doubt that the same book Keith has worked on will be made available internationally as well, making her dream to create a positive impact a global reality. The PeaceWorks curricula have specifically shown decreases in disruptive behaviors as well as in internalized problems amongst children. Furthermore, the Peace Education Foundation programs have increased students’ social competence and social connectedness, which are very important indicators of future success. “I know that there are organizations who have been exposed to the work of the Peace Education Foundation. It feels wonderful to know that I had a hand in creating the impact that this will have on generations to come,” Keith remarks. Because of contributors like Soné Keith, the Peace Education Foundation's programs and resources continue to play an effective and important role in our community. For that, we are grateful. |
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Bread for the World Highlights Partnership Activities with Barry in 2019 In its 2019 Report, Bread for the World has highlighted its partnership activities with Barry University. Among the activities was a six-week Advocacy Training Series. The target group for the Advocacy Training Series consisted of about 25 social work students taking a service-learning course. To cap the series, students engaged with longtime Bread members from St. Louis Church in Miami, with Congresswoman Donna Shalala in attendance. Bread also staged its Cost of Poverty Experience at Barry, where students played roles highlighting real-life scenarios of living in poverty. Members of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Orlando facilitated the event. In October, students from Barry, as well as Miami Dade College, Rollins College, the University of Central Florida, and Joshua’s Heart Foundation, became simulation trainers. They also became trainers for Bread’s Offering of Letters, an annual campaign involving the writing of letters to Congress. Bread for the World describes itself as “a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad.” According to Bread, “By changing policies, programs, and conditions that allow hunger and poverty to persist, we provide help and opportunity at home and far beyond where we live.” Barry Experiential Learning Coordinator Liz James reported that last March, Bread’s Florida organizer, Florence French Fagan, presented the Racial Wealth Gap Simulation with two social work students during Barry’s Sixth Annual Community Engagement Symposium. During the current semester, James said, Bread will assist with training for fellows in the Barry Service Corps to advocate improved hunger policy. |
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Nominations for Community Engagement Awards to be Submitted by Last Monday of January The Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) has issued a call for nominations for the 2020 Community Engagement Awards. Students, faculty, and staff members, as well as community partners, are invited to submit nominations by next Monday (January 27). Nominations are being accepted in seven categories: Community Impact, Community Partnership, Community-Based Research, Engaged Scholarship, Community Engagement Educator, Service-Learning Faculty, and Engaged Department. The CCSI will host Barry’s Seventh Annual Community Engagement Awards on March 25, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., in Andreas 111. The nomination forms are available in CEMS, the Community Engagement Management System. For additional information, contact the CCSI at service@barry.edu. |
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Submission Deadline for Symposium Presentation Proposals is February 3 February 3 is the deadline for the submission of proposals for presentations at this year’s Community Engagement Symposium. The theme of the seventh annual symposium is "Engagement in Purposeful Projects: From Awareness to Action.” In the context of community engagement, purposeful projects include experiential learning practices such as service-learning, community-based research, fieldwork, study abroad, capstones, and internships. Scheduled for March 25, the 2020 symposium will highlight student learning outcomes of community engagement practices in the context of Barry’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). The Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) is accepting proposals from students, faculty, staff, and community partners. The submission guidelines and proposal form are available in CEMS, the Community Engagement Management System. For additional information, contact the CCSI at service@barry.edu or the QEP desk at qep@barry.edu. |
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Faculty Invited to Apply for Service-Learning Fellowships for 2020–2021 Academic Year The Center for Community Service Initiatives is inviting faculty members to apply for service-learning fellowships for the 2020–2021 academic year. Each faculty member awarded a fellowship receives a three-credit course reduction each semester (fall and spring). The Service-Learning Faculty Fellows Program is designed primarily to enhance the quality of service-learning courses and to promote the scholarship of teaching and learning based on the pedagogy. The service-learning fellows attend seminars and participate in the Faculty Learning Community for Engaged Scholarship. |
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Faculty Learning Community for Engaged Scholarship to Meet This Thursday Afternoon The semester’s first meeting of the Faculty Learning Community for Engaged Scholarship (FLC) will be held on Thursday (January 23). The CCSI will host the meeting from 1:00 to 2:15 p.m. in Adrian 208. The FLC is a cross-disciplinary group of faculty members who participate in a collaborative program focused on the scholarship of engagement, or community-engaged scholarship. FLC members exchange ideas and learn from one another’s experiences. All FLC members and prospective members are urged to attend Thursday’s meeting. |
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Organization Looking for Volunteers for Saturday’s Human-Trafficking Awareness Project YWCA of Greater Miami-Dade is seeking volunteers for its human-trafficking awareness project this Saturday (January 25). The SOAP (Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution) project will be implemented ahead of Super Bowl LIV. SOAP is a charitable, educational organization whose work is focused on educating the public to increase awareness of the prevalence of human trafficking; to restore trafficked survivors; and to prevent teens from being victimized by sex trafficking. The project will involve labeling and delivering 60,000 life-saving bars of soap and makeup wipes to hotel rooms in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, leading up to next month’s Super Bowl. Volunteers are asked to register as individuals or team members. |
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Community Engagement News
Posted On : January 21, 2020
