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December 9, 2019 | ||||
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In This Issue:
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Barry Students Help Resettled Refugee Children Celebrate First Thanksgiving Part of Partnership with Church World Service Miami A small group of Barry students facilitated games and entertainment for resettled refugee children on the Saturday before Thanksgiving Day. Ashley Caleb, Bethany Floyd, Lance Powell, Anel Ramirez, and Samantha Ternelus helped to ensure that the first Thanksgiving for the children was extra special. The children enjoyed Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Jenga, ball games, musical chairs, and arts and crafts.
Eleven adults and 15 children from five countries – Afghanistan, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, and Cuba – attended the Church World Service (CWS) Miami event at the Miami Lakes Congregational Church.
“This was the fourth year that the CCSI has partnered with CWS Miami as part of efforts to make resettled refugees feel welcome in our community,” noted Liz James, experiential learning coordinator.
As part of their orientation, the Barry students learned that refugees are a unique type of immigrant group – people who fled their home countries, crossing an international border to escape danger or persecution. They fear persecution on the basis of race, religion, nationality, particular social group, or political opinion.
For Powell, the experience was “uplifting.” Participating as part of the service-learning requirement for a theology course, Powell saw the connection between classroom learning and community-based experiences.
“A big thank you to … all the students who participated,” wrote Najla Said, a CWS resettlement and placement case manager, in an email to James.
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Chemistry Students Showcase COACH Program at University Event A program known by the acronym COACH was in the spotlight at a major university event recently. The program contributes to advancing Barry’s community engagement goals.
COACH – Community Outreach Approaching Chemistry Hands-on – includes students completing service-learning projects in a 400-level chemistry course as well as students who volunteer for community-focused events.
Dr. Tamara Hamilton, professor of chemistry, and four student leaders – José B. Hurtado de Mendoza Roman, Emily Londono, Michaela Reyes, and Sidney Vest – were among the presenters at Barry’s Core Commitments Luncheon. They shared information on the history, activities, and outcomes of the COACH program, which started in 2013.
Through the program, students are expected to (1) understand the importance of public science literacy and their responsibility for increasing it; (2) act responsibly to design hands-on activities that fit with community partners’ goals; (3) apply and communicate scientific principles and demonstrate the relevance of science to participants’ lives; and (4) demonstrate leadership and active engagement with the community.
Community partners over the past year have included three schools: North Miami Elementary, St. Rose of
Program participants sometimes visit classrooms; at other times, students from partner schools come to campus to conduct experiments in the labs.
The Core Commitments Luncheon was a highlight of Barry Founders’ Week 2019, November 9–15. During the luncheon, students, faculty, and staff members presented exemplary collaborative projects that demonstrate Barry’s mission and core commitments. Presentations included “Nursing and Education International Learning Partnership (Project NEILP)” and “Community-Based Research: Haitian Head Start Program.”
The Office of Mission Engagement coordinated the Core Commitments Luncheon with special assistance from Dr. Karen Callaghan, dean of the
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Nominations for Community Engagement Awards 2020: Engaged Department Category Engagement Department is one of the seven categories for which Community Engagement Award nominations are being accepted.
Students, faculty, and staff members, as well as community partners, are invited to submit nominations by January 27.
The other award categories are Community Impact,Community Partnership, Community-Based Research, Engaged Scholarship, Community Engagement Educator, and Service-Learning Faculty.
The Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) will host Barry’s seventh annual Community Engagement Awards on March 25.
The nomination forms are available in CEMS, the Community Engagement Management System <http://web.barry.edu/service/ProgramView.aspx?ID=1494>.
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Presentation Proposals for 2020 Community Engagement Symposium Being Accepted The Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) and the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Implementation Committee is now accepting proposals for presentations at Barry’s seventh annual Community Engagement Symposium.
Students as well as faculty, staff, and community partners are invited to submit proposals for presentations by January 31.
The theme of the 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.
Proposals should address the theme of the symposium and identify the experiential learning practice that was implemented. Successful proposals will specify the course or co-curricular project, the social or community issue addressed, the related activities undertaken, and the actual learning outcomes. Proposals should also emphasize how the project was designed to be purposeful and how student awareness was translated into action.
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) titled “Fostering Personal and Social Responsibility through Experiential Learning.”
For additional information on the symposium, contact the CCSI at service@barry.edu.
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Community Partner Says Thanks for Support of Programs and Activities
The Virginia Key Beach Park trustees and staff have thanked Barry’s Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) for support of programs and activities at the park this year.
“Thank you for your support, time, and partnership in 2019. The impact you have made will have lasting effects for years to come,” they said in a thank-you card. “Words cannot express the gratitude felt by our staff and those who benefit from the Historic Virginia Key Beach … Park’s programs and activities. We look forward to many more years of completing meaningful work with your help.”
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Organizers of First Miami Walk to End Epilepsy Seeking Student Volunteers
The Epilepsy Foundation of Florida needs student volunteers for its Miami Walk to End Epilepsy, scheduled for March 14, 2020, at Zoo Miami.
The first such event in
Over 223,000 people in
“Our previous walk in
The Epilepsy Foundation
For answers to questions, visit https://epilepsyfoundationfl.org/ or contact Delgado at cdelgado@efa.org or 813-255-0840. |