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November 11, 2019 |
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In This Issue:
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Students Demonstrate Against Fast-Food Chain’s Refusal to Support Fair Food Program
March in Miami was part of National Day of Action
Nearly 60 Barry students took part in a recent demonstration against Wendy’s, the fast-food chain, because of its refusal to support the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ (CIW) Fair Food Program.
Joined by students of five other universities and farm workers from Immokalee, they staged the protest action outside a Wendy’s restaurant in southwestern Miami-Dade.
The demonstrators gathered at
According to a report, the demonstrators assembled on the sidewalk there to “denounce how Wendy’s spends millions on advertising to youth while actively denying farmworkers in its supply chain a voice in addressing labor violations.”
In all, about 150 persons took part in the demonstration, which, the report said, was effective in “bringing Wendy’s disdain for farmworkers’ rights to the attention of hundreds of
A six-member delegation, including Barry Service Corps Fellows Martina Muñoz and Anel Ramirez, met briefly with the restaurant manager and to present him with a letter. The letter contained information about the Fair Food Program and the need for farmers who pick tomatoes and other produce to get a better deal.
Barry Service Corps Fellow Melissa Tumbeiro coordinated Barry students’ participation in the demonstration in Miami. She expressed support of the CIW’s work and urged students to boycott Wendy’s until the company signs on to the Fair Food Program.
“This was totally worthwhile,” Tumbeiro said as she reflected on the protest action. “It was for a good cause.”
An agricultural hub in
The Fair Food Program reflects a partnership among farmers, farmworkers, and retail-food companies that ensures humane wages and working conditions for the workers who pick fruits and vegetables on participating farms. Participating buyers commit to paying the Fair Food premium on top of the regular price they pay for tomatoes.
The CIW has said the small premium helps to alleviate the economic hardship faced by farmworkers.
The demonstration, on October 28, was part of a National Day of Action in the Wendy’s Boycott. In nearly two dozen protest actions in 14 cities, students, community allies, and faith-based groups took to the streets, from
The protest actions set the stage for the CIW’s Wendy’s Boycott next Monday (Nov. 18) in
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Barry Students Assist Miami-Dade’s Grassroots Coalition at Annual Meeting
Barry students have continued to support the work of a grassroots coalition that systematically tackles social issues affecting the people of Miami-Dade County. On October 28, about 25 students attended the Annual Meeting of the coalition named PACT (People Acting for Community Together).
Barry Service Corps Fellows on the Faith in Action team, together with students taking service-learning courses in theology and sociology, assisted the organizers of the meeting. They helped with venue setup, registration, ushering, and other tasks.
Staff member Liz James of Barry’s Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) facilitated the caucus and vote-counting processes.
At the meeting, PACT announced its decision to keep affordable housing, immigration support, and gun violence intervention as the areas of focus for the coming year. Members voted to join a statewide initiative to address “unnecessary” arrests across Florida.
The largest faith-based, grassroots coalition in
PACT is an affiliate of the Direct Action and Research Training Center, or DART, the organization leading the initiative to address the issue of unnecessary arrests.
The Annual Meeting was hosted by Greater Bethel AME Church in Overtown. Pastor Willie Barnes welcomed the PACT member organizations.
After the meeting, students reflected on their experience and commented positively on what they had learned about the community and the issues being addressed.
“You never really know what is going on in the community unless you attend something like this,” one student remarked.
Another said, “I was really interested in hearing what the officials had to say about the issues.”
Barry students will attend a PACT Rally on February 24 to assist in preparations for the coalition’s Nehemiah Action, an annual assembly scheduled for May 11.
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Nominations for Community Engagement Awards 2020: Community-Based Research Category
Community-Based Research 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, Engaged Scholarship, Community Engagement Educator, Service-Learning Faculty, and Engaged Department.
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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CCSI Invites Faculty to Apply for Community-Based Research Incentives
The Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) is inviting faculty to apply for Community-Based Research Incentives. The incentives support the development and implementation of CBR projects.
CBR incentives are awarded through a competitive process to full-time faculty members who teach undergraduate and/or graduate courses. Up to three CBR awards are usually available each year. Applicants may request $500–$1,000.
Community-based research is a collaborative process of critical inquiry into problems or issues faced by a community. Faculty (and sometimes staff) members and students collaborate with community partners on applied research projects that address specific problems or issues and simultaneously promote social change. Research questions emerge from the needs of the community. The goal of the research is to produce and disseminate information that will benefit community members or agencies serving the community.
Through CBR, students learn research design, data collection, data analysis, and reporting.
A CBR project may be conducted by an entire class, or by a group or team. Each team must include at least one student, a faculty member (as co-investigator and/or mentor), and a community partner. Staff members may be included on the research team.
The assessment of proposals is based on six criteria, with categories including Community Rationale, Community Partnerships, Student Participation, and Budget. A document with a detailed description of the program, the application form, and the rubric used by the Review Committee for assessing applications are available in CEMS, the Community Engagement Management System.
CBR proposals may be submitted at any time this semester. For further information, contact Dr. Glenn Bowen in the CCSI at gbowen@barry.edu.
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Newsletter to Put Spotlight on Students Contributing to Community Impact
Students whose civic engagement has contributed to community impact will be featured in Community Engagement News this academic year.
This year’s series will begin next week with the spotlight on Odet Sanchez, a Barry Service Corps member assigned to the Center for Human Rights and Social Justice in the School of Social Work. The CCSI’s Stephanie Wong will be the writer of the series of short features this year.
“Community impact involves sustainable improvements or lasting changes in community conditions that improve people’s lives,” says the editor of Community Engagement News. “As we did in 2017 and 2018, we will profile students who demonstrate the knowledge, skills, values, and motivation to address issues of public concern and to make a difference in the community.”
To nominate a student to be featured in this year’s series, send an email to the editor, Community Engagement News, at service@barry.edu.
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Box Tops for is Coming
Barry’s Box Tops for
“Box Tops is changing to fit today’s families,” the program organizers have announced. “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.
“If you see [the new] label, use the new Box Tops app to scan your receipt,” the program organizers explain. “Box Tops are still worth 10¢ each for your school. The app will find participating products purchased at any store and instantly add cash to your school's earnings online.”
Proceeds of Barry’s Box Tops for
The Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS) in association with the Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) organizes the drive.
Box Tops clips from household products – each with a clearly visible product acronym and expiration date – may be dropped in the labeled boxes found at several locations on Barry’s main campus, including the CCSI (Adrian 208), the Monsignor William Barry Memorial Library, and Thompson Hall. Alternatively, donations may be sent to Dr. Stephanie Bingham, the MAPS advisor, in the Department of Biology,
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>.
For further information, contact Bingham at sbingham@barry.edu. |
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Community Engagement News
Posted On : November 11, 2019
