CCSI Newsletter

In This Issue:

• Community-Supported Agriculture Project Reaps Benefits During First Four Months
• New Member Appointed to Community Advisory Committee
• Barry Student Leaders Urge Support for Farmworkers  
• Social Work Students Share Service-Learning Experiences
• Community Engagement Symposium Called Well-Organized Event, Wonderful Model
• Community Engagement Awards 2017 in Pictures
• Frequently Asked Questions Answered at QEP Website

Community-Supported Agriculture Project Reaps Benefits During First Four Months

During its first four months of operation, Barry University’s project to advance community-supported agriculture has provided produce from sustainable small farms to campus customers, yielding over $3,000 in sales.

Barry FairShare has supported efforts to eradicate food deserts and encourage healthy eating, the organizers said in a statement thanking university staff, faculty, and students for purchasing produce.

The Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) developed the project in partnership with Urban GreenWorks, a local environmental and food-access organization, whose Cerasee Farm is located in Liberty City.

“Thank you for your tremendous support and patience in the process of this venture,” said Ashton Spangler, an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) member serving as project coordinator. “Your orders of locally sourced organic produce have supported local agriculture and urban food desert eradication efforts.”

With the local growing season at an end, Barry FairShare has taken a break beginning last week. During the hiatus, the organizers will continue discussions with Urban GreenWorks and make plans to improve and expand the project.

Spangler coordinated the project with support from a team of students participating in the Barry Service Corps Fellows Program.

According to her, the results of the collaborative project so far indicate that “we are building a successful, vibrant community-supported agriculture project at Barry.”

New Member Appointed to Community Advisory Committee

Provost Dr. John Murray has appointed Heather Burdick, program director at MCCJ, to Barry’s Community Advisory Committee.

Founded in 1935 as the Miami branch of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, MCCJ seeks “to advance understanding and respect among people of all cultures, religions and races, through advocacy, education, dialogue and conflict resolution.”

Burdick (BA in Education) is a former teacher and the juvenile justice chairperson for the Greater Miami Chapter of ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) of Florida. She replaces Sister Michelle Fernandez, principal of St. Mary’s CathedralSchool.

The nine-member Community Advisory Committee supports the implementation of Barry’s Quality Enhancement Plan.

Social Work Students Share Service-Learning Experiences

Social work students completing a service-learning course reflected on their experiences during a symposium recently. The students had worked in two groups to provide collaborative service benefiting the community.

Each of the 15 students provided approximately 45 hours of service as part of SW 323: Service-Learning and Social Work Practice.

The students noted how much they learned about themselves and others throughout the semester as they provided service to recently arrived refugees and nursing home residents.

For at least one student, the service to refugees was enlightening as he learned about life in the homelands they fled and the struggles they had experienced.

“When we take time to learn their stories, we become better as a society,” said John Thomas reflecting on his service to refugees.

Thomas, together with Matenin Sherrif, Tiffany Hodgson, Manuela Pierre-Pierre, Sabrina Meli, Sha’novia Warren, and Mercy Mtaita, had been assigned to the Church World Service immigrant and refugee office in Miami.

Faica Gaboton, Tara Gleba, Kety Joseph, Morgan Perkins, Stephanie Rodriguez, Autumn Leone, Liza Avila, and Josephine Vargas served at Sinai Plaza Nursing and RehabilitationCenter in North Miami.

At CWS Miami, the group’s mentor was Kenneth Fuentes, a caseworker. At SinaiPlaza, Activities Director Nelson Ramirez was the group’s mentor.

Fuentes and Ramirez participated in the Fourth Annual Service-Learning Symposium hosted by the School of Social Work on April 25 in the Kostka Room of Thompson Hall.

Preeti Charania, the course instructor, and Dr. Jennifer Williams, the undergraduate program director, thanked Fuentes and Ramirez for supporting the students’ service-learning projects.

Also in attendance at the symposium were the school’s dean, Dr. Phyllis Scott; other social work program directors and faculty members; and representatives of the Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI).

Community Engagement Symposium Called Well-Organized Event, Wonderful Model

Barry University’s Community Engagement symposium has been described as “a well-organized event” and “a wonderful model.”

Here are excerpts from some of the comments sent to the CCSI following the March 29 event:

• “It was a well-organized event with great presenters and useful information.”  – Wendy M. Viciana, Community Outreach Manager, Chapman Partnership
•  “I really enjoyed the day and it was wonderful to be at Barry!” – Michael Norris, Director of Campus Engagement, Florida Campus Compact
• “Barry University … is indeed a special place … and you have built together a wonderful model in the CCSI and the Community Engagement Symposium. I was so honored to be a part of this event … I wish you continued success in the community engagement work you do – and know it is deep and impactful work!” – Dr. Patrick M. Green, Director, Center for Experiential Learning, Loyola University Chicago
• The quality of the presentations and, of course, the contributions of the lead presenter, Dr. Green, were again outstanding and have helped move us forward in achieving our community engagement goals. – Dr. Karen Callaghan, associate vice president for undergraduate studies, Barry University
• “It was great. I really appreciated it and I enjoyed the presentations …” – Larry Perez, Director, Center for Student Involvement, Barry University
• “Very helpful for my projects in my work. Noting fantastic ideas!”
• “The speakers from Barry U and Lynn U were really great.”
• “Knowledgeable people, loved it.” 

Frequently Asked Questions Answered at QEP Website

What is the relationship between “PSR” courses and designated service-learning courses? This is one of the questions answered at Barry’s QEP (Quality Enhancement Plan) website.

In all, 17 questions about the QEP are answered in the FAQ section of the website. “PSR” (personal and social responsibility) is the focus of the QEP.

The Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) coordinates the service-learning designation process.