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School of Podiatric Medicine Maintains Community Engagement Tradition
Barry’s podiatry students have been maintaining the tradition of community engagement established by the School
Each fall and spring semester, podiatry students take part in Fit Feet, performing foot screenings for Special Olympics athletes. This academic year, the students have logged 440 hours on the Fit Feet project, reported Community Engagement Liaison Sandra Rampersad.
The Fit Feet Fall Classic, last November, saw 20 Barry participants traveling to Orlando, where they clocked 320 hours, over a two-day period, providing foot examinations for Special Olympics athletes. Student Sarah Shipley served as the volunteer coordinator.
For Fit Feet Spring, on April 2, a 15-member team of podiatry volunteers rendered 120 hours of service. Students Kelly Brennan and Stephanie Kane were the volunteer coordinators and Dr. Jon Houseworth, assistant professor, the clinical director.
Special Olympics describes itself as “a global movement of people creating a new world of inclusion and community, where every single person is accepted and welcomed, regardless of ability or disability.” Through its Fit Feet project, the organization offers podiatric screenings to evaluate ankles, feet, lower extremity biomechanics, and proper shoe-and-sock gear of participating athletes.
“Many athletes suffer from foot and ankle pain, or deformities that impair their performance,” the organization has explained. “In fact, up to 50 percent of Special Olympics athletes experience one or more preventable or treatable foot conditions that can affect their sports participation. Often, these individuals are not fitted with the best shoes and socks for their particular sport.”
Special Olympics developed Fit Feet in collaboration with the American
Rampersad, the administrative assistant for research operations in the School
Students Najwah Hayman and Aasin Tareen coordinated volunteer involvement on behalf of the American
Earlier this semester (on March 19), a 25-member team of students and faculty performed foot exams at the Missionaries of Charity Mother Teresa Home for Women in Distress, in Miami. The Florida Podiatric Medical Student Association (FPMSA), led by Stephanie Kane, the president, coordinated student participation. Dr. Luis Rodriguez Anaya, assistant professor and interim clinical education director, supervised the students.
Last semester (on November 8), FPMSA provided foot assessments, vascular exams, and basic treatment at a health fair hosted by St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Miami Beach. Stephanie Kane and Jason Spector were the student coordinators and Dr. Houseworth the faculty supervisor.
Community engagement liaisons assist the Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) with planning, monitoring, assessing, and reporting community engagement activities.
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Nursing and Social Work Students Recognized for Community Impact
Nursing students Angela Greggs and Jill Williams and social work student Anthony Torres were finalists for this year’s Community Impact Award. The Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) presented certificates to the three students prior to the Community Engagement Awards Ceremony on March 30.
The Community Impact Award is presented to individual students and student organizations for exemplary community engagement – including service, research, and/or advocacy – that has a measurable impact on the community. The individual winners – Bethany Dill (Adrian
Four student organizations also received the Community Impact Award this year.
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Barry Volunteers Support Fundraising Event Benefiting Babies
Barry volunteers supported the March for Babies at Nova
Students Liza Avila, Destiny Correa, Asiana Dunn, Leslie Lee, Aruna Ragbir, and Alexus Sergeant joined Liz James, CCSI experiential learning coordinator, at the fundraising event hosted by the March of Dimes Broward County division. Their main assignment was to capture images of various activities and participants throughout the day.
The previous day, James and her CCSI colleagues Courtney Berrien, Dr. Glenn Bowen, Alicia Santos, and Ashton Spangler helped organizers with set-up for the event.
About 380,000 babies are born premature every year in the United States, the March of Dimes has reported. In
The March of Dimes works to end premature births and other problems that may be detrimental to babies. The nonprofit organization helps women have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.
Directing her thoughts to a premature baby, Barry volunteer Leslie Lee said: “I serve today in hopes that you grow up healthy and strong.”
Approximately 5,000 walkers helped to put the March of Dimes Broward County division within reach of its $889,000 fundraising goal. The March for Babies raised more than $850,000. The organization says it spends 76 percent of the money raised from the event on research and support programs for premature babies and their mothers.
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Student Leader Calls for Accountability among Law-Enforcement Officers
A Barry student leader has deplored the large number of deaths at the hands of law-enforcement officers.
“In 2015 alone, exactly 1200 citizens were killed by police officers around the country, 78 of them right here in the Gunshine State,” said Christopher Riker. “The issue is that every year, police officers in this country are breaking their own record numbers of citizens they kill in the line of duty.”
Riker, who chairs the Progressive Caucus of the Florida College Democrats, said many citizens have been killed without any significant punishment of the officers involved.
“The names behind these deaths are more than just names; more than mistakes; more than excuses of a scared officer or flawed protocol. These are lost human lives at the end of the gun of the state,” he said at a recent rally organized by Barry student leaders.
Riker called for more accountability among law-enforcement officers and continued vigilance by citizens so their civil rights would be protected.
The “Unity for Change” rally took place in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood, where Barry students demanded justice for civilians considered unjustly killed by law-enforcement officers. Riker, together with Asha Starks and Quayneshia Smith, planned and coordinated the rally.
Riker announced that he had authored a bill to require body cameras on all police officers in Florida. He said the bill was “the natural next step in accountability and protection for citizens and officers alike.”
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Institutions Provide Variety of Community Engagement Supports
Higher education institutions across the United States use a variety of approaches to foster community engagement, Campus Compact has reported.
Campus Compact member institutions foster curricular and co-curricular community engagement by using approaches ranging from offering student awards for community engagement (80%) to providing physical space and communication mechanisms for peaceful student protest (62%).
According to Campus Compact, the use of Federal Work-Study funds to support engagement “remains pervasive” among its member institutions. On average, 15 percent of Federal Work-Study funds were dedicated to community service positions in 2015.
Campus Compact recently issued its 2015 Annual Member Survey report titled “Preparing to Accelerate Change: Understanding our Starting Line.”
The organization conducted an online member survey for 12 weeks, beginning in October 2015, to capture student and faculty involvement in communities; assess institutional support and culture; and gather information on community campus partnerships, tracking mechanisms, and the like. Of 1,079 Campus Compact member institutions, 400 responded to the survey, with a national response rate of 37 percent.
Barry University was one of the survey respondents. The Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) completed the survey on behalf of the university.
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Volunteer Placements Available in Costa Rica
International Service Learning (ISL) is offering volunteer placements in Costa Rica.
“Teeming with life forms of every kind, Costa Rica is a land of vibrant natural wonder,” ISL says. “Its warm and welcoming people, exotic wildlife, and complex ecosystems are unlike any found elsewhere in the world.”
Despite the richness of the Central American country’s landscape and wealth from tourism, many communities are struggling to meet basic needs, the organization says. ISL partners with those communities and organizes teams to help residents in need.
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D.C.-Based Organization Announces Fellowship for Minority Students
The Aspen Institute Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation (PSI) is accepting applications for the fall session of its William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fellowship program.
The fellowship, which is based on academic excellence and need, is open to both undergraduate and graduate students of color. The Hearst Fellow serves as an intern with PSI in the Washington
Through Hearst Endowed Fellowship program, PSI seeks to introduce a diverse group of students to issues and challenges affecting philanthropy, social enterprise, nonprofit organizations, and other actors in the social sector. Hearst Fellows undertake research, writing, and logistical and administrative support for PSI’s leadership initiatives, public programs, and meetings. Recipients may arrange with their colleges or universities to receive academic credit for that experience.
“Candidates for the fellowship are highly motivated, current, graduate or undergraduate students from underrepresented communities of color,” according to the Aspen Institute announcement. “Each candidate should have an excellent academic record and a demonstrated interest or experience in nonprofit organizations, philanthropy, and the social sector; excellent research and writing skills; demonstrated financial need; and be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.”
Selected fellows must be able to work as an intern for 12–15 weeks in Washington
See the Aspen Institute PSI website for complete program information and application procedures. The application deadline is July 18, 2016.
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CCSI Newsletter
Posted On : May 09, 2016
