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Four Faculty Members Receive Awards for Community Engagement
Four faculty members are among the recipients of this year’s awards for community engagement. Two of them have been honored for integrating service-learning into their courses.
Dr. Kevin Kemerer, associate professor of accounting, and Dr. Mitchell Rosenwald, associate professor of social work, are the winners of the Service-Learning Faculty Award. Each has taught a service-learning-designated course.
Through his service-learning course (ACC 362-01: Federal Income Tax), Kemerer supervises his students as they provide tax-preparation service to low- to moderate-income members of the community. The students do so as part of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA), sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS senior tax consultant has praised the effective and accurate tax-return preparations made by Kemerer and his students.
According to Dr. Karen Callaghan, associate vice president for undergraduate studies, Kemerer has done “exceptional work as a service-learning course instructor and the Barry VITA site coordinator.”
Rosenwald co-developed and taught Service-Learning and Social Work Practice (SW 323), a three-credit course in the undergraduate social work program. Each student is required to provide at least 45 hours of service that addresses a specific community need or social issue. The community partners have included Feeding South Florida, Food for the Poor,
Students taking this course have supported efforts to relieve hunger, attend to children with special needs, and assist with organizing events for persons with intellectual disabilities. The students have documented their experiences in journals and reflection papers and have made group presentations at an end-of-semester symposium.
Callaghan presented the Service-Learning Faculty Award to Rosenwald “for his exemplary work in developing this service-learning-designated course and serving as the instructor.”
A former Service-Learning Fellow, Rosenwald received a service-learning award last year from the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of South Florida.
The other faculty awards went to Dr. Pamela Hall, associate professor of psychology, and Dr. Ricardo “Rick” Jimenez, assistant professor of computer science. Hall received the Engaged Scholarship Award and Jimenez the Community Engagement Educator Award.
Dr. Victor Romano, chair of Barry’s Faculty Senate, presented the Engaged Scholarship Award. He said: “This faculty member employs service-learning as an approach to teaching; she does community-focused participatory research; and she regularly serves alongside her students in the community. Furthermore, she has effectively interconnected her teaching, research, and service to exemplify what Ernest Boyer called the scholarship of engagement.”
During the summers of 2012–2015, Hall implemented a literacy and empowerment program, funded by The Children’s Trust to the tune of $296,000. The program benefited more than 400 Haitian adolescents and their families in Miami-Dade
Hall has disseminated her scholarship through peer-reviewed presentations and publications, most with students and faculty colleagues.
Dr. Jill Farrell, dean of the Adrian Dominican school
“Since 2009, he has devoted himself to supporting information technology projects that benefit community agencies and residents,” Farrell said. “Together with his service-learning students and volunteers, he has refurbished more than 150 donated computers. He has also assisted with onsite installations and support in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods such as Liberty
Jimenez’s students admire his work ethic; his faculty colleagues praise his civic-mindedness; community partners call him “an empowering collaborator,” Farrell also pointed out.
The four faculty members were among the recipients of 18 major awards in six categories presented on March 30 at the CCSI-organized event.
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Four Students Honored for Creating Community Impact
Undergraduates Bethany Dill, Laura Gagliardi, Christopher Riker, and Asha Starks were honored recently for creating community impact. Dr. Scott Smith, vice president for student affairs, presented each with a plaque at Barry’s Third Annual Community Engagement Awards last month.
Dill is completing her education degree requirements as she prepares for a career in global advocacy for education of at-risk students. She has developed a keen interest in addressing refugee issues, interned in the Refugee Rights Program at Human Rights Watch, and planned to research educational challenges faced by Syrian refugees. She also interned with International Justice Mission, where she analyzed data for 18 international field offices.
A Stamps Scholar, Dill supported development programs at Inca Link International in Trujillo,
Gagliardi has participated in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, Make a Difference Day, College Brides Walk, and other community service events; and she was a volunteer with Ayuda, Inc. In 2015 she was a campaign assistant for a village council candidate and the eventual appointee as mayor of Miami
“Civic leadership is this student’s hallmark,” VP Smith told guests at the Community Engagement Awards.
Riker is a student activist who has endeavored to hold officials accountable by working directly with law enforcement officials, legislators, and community organizations.
“As a Barry Service Corps Fellow, he organized university students to attend PACT’s annual Nehemiah Action, a community organizing assembly that promotes fair juvenile justice policies and affordable housing,” said VP Smith. “Taking on the issue of police brutality, he authored a bill to promote the use of body cameras in law enforcement agencies. His extensive research to document instances of questionable or unwarranted police actions has been shared with lawmakers and community organizations locally and across Florida.”
As the current president of Florida’s College Democrats, Riker also has organized fellow students to support “progressive policy and progressive candidates” throughout the state.
Starks is a civil rights activist and youth mentor who has “tangibly impacted the welfare of Miami’s communities of color” while promoting
Also a Barry Service Corps fellow, Starks has facilitated weekly service trips to Gang Alternative and Little Haiti Optimist Club.
The Community Impact Awardis 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. Four student organizations also received the award this year. The Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) organized and hosted the Third Annual Community Engagement Awards on March 30.
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Students Support Affordable Housing and Restorative Justice Efforts
More than 30 Barry students, faculty, and staff members participated in the recent PACT (People Acting for Community Together) Nehemiah Action Assembly to urge support for initiatives pertaining to equitable housing policy and juvenile justice.
They were among hundreds of citizens representing 38 local congregations and three universities participating in the event at the New
The Barry group included social work graduate students, students enrolled in service-learning courses, and students participating in the Barry Service Corps (BSC) Fellows Program.
A team of four BSC fellows have worked closely with PACT this year. Their contributions include translation of program materials, research on local policy and officials, preparation of audiovisual presentation aids, and general program assistance.
At the Nehemiah Action Assembly, law enforcement officials committed to continue supporting the expansion of civil citation programs for youth and building allies at the local and state levels for the next Florida legislative session.
Representatives of Miami-Dade County Public Schools agreed to work with PACT to develop restorative justice programs as an alternative to punitive methods of dealing with behavior management, such as out-of-school suspensions.
According to its website, PACT is the largest grassroots organization in South Florida, representing more than 50,000 people. Since 1988, PACT has successfully worked with local officials on initiatives related to neighborhood safety, public transportation, employment, affordable housing, education, and crime prevention.
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Students Lead “Unity for Change” Demonstrationin Miami
Barry students took to the streets of Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood recently to demand justice for civilians considered unjustly killed by law enforcement officers. The peaceful “Unity for Change” demonstration drew attention to current and historic concerns about deaths at the hands of police officers in South Florida while emphasizing the importance of cooperation among
Student leaders Christopher Riker, Asha Starks, and Quayneshia Smith planned and coordinated the demonstration as part of their participation in the Barry Service Corps (BSC) Fellows Program. They worked with Wynwood businesses and the Miami-Dade Police Department to ensure that the event met safety requirements.
Through their support of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the Dream Defenders, Smith and Starks previously led peaceful demonstrations for human rights. According to Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) Associate Director Courtney Berrien, “Unity for Change” marked the first time they planned and led a demonstration without the assistance of professional community organizers.
“Unity for Change” brought together students representing Barry’s African American, Hispanic, European American, and Caribbean populations. Smith said it was important to generate awareness and build unity within ethnic communities, for both short-term and long-term social gains.
Riker, chair of the Florida College Democrats Progressive Caucus, used the demonstration to build awareness of a bill calling for Florida law enforcement officers to wear body cameras while on duty in the community. He authored the bill, which was debated during the Florida House’s winter legislative session.
The BSC Fellows program is a civic learning and leadership initiative. Berrien, the CCSI associate director, coordinates the program.
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Forum Focuses on Sea-Level Rise in South Florida
The most recent forum in Barry
Coinciding with the university’s Earth Justice Mini Conference, the forum brought students, faculty, staff, and community experts together to consider the causes and consequences of that climate-change phenomenon.
Leading the discussion were Dr. Keren Prize Bolter, South Florida Regional Planning Council’s policy and geospatial analyst; Mitchell A. Chester, director of The CLEO Institute and a civil trial lawyer; and Dr. Jeremy R. Montague, professor of biology and president of the Florida Academy of Sciences. Dr. Sean Foreman, associate professor of political science, facilitated the forum.
In addition to exploring the science behind sea-level rise and the resulting impact on infrastructure, the economy, public health, and physical spaces, participants considered how communities could prepare themselves for that phenomenon.
Bolter spoke about the effects of a changing climate such as the rising of sea levels off the coast of South Florida by about eight inches in the 20th century, saltwater intrusion into aquifers, and health risks caused by sewage in severe storm surges.
Suggestions offered during the deliberative dialogue included burning fewer fossil fuels and reducing the emission of pollutants such as carbon; enacting legislation to use alternative energy sources; making innovative engineering and architectural design changes, including drainage improvements; and pursuing community-based environmental education.
Among university administrators in attendance at the forum were President Sister Linda Bevilacqua, OP, PhD; Leticia Diaz, dean of the Barry School of Law; and Dr. Jill Farrell, dean of the Adrian
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Barry Group Attends Amnesty International’s Annual Meeting
A group of Barry students and faculty members attended Amnesty International’s annual general meeting (AGM) in Miami earlier this month. An educational exhibit on Barry’s College Brides Walk was mounted in “Action Alley,” the AGM’s exhibition area featuring human rights efforts.
The AGM provided a forum to create awareness about local and international human rights violations and to seek solutions. Barry group members attended different sessions and, during a post-AGM reflection activity, shared what they learned from each session. Some members of the group served as volunteers at the three-day meeting.
Dr. Laura Finley, associate professor of sociology and criminology, coordinated Barry’s participation and served as a host committee member at the meeting. Dr. Lisa Konczal, associate professor of sociology and criminology, also attended the meeting.
Students in attendance included Miguel Alava, Lavell Applewhite, Nayza Davila, Angela Duff, Alexia Hunter, Sterling Llewellyn, Aatiyah Malik, Paola Montenegro, Asha Starks, and Zahria Scott.
Starks said she and the other students appreciated the opportunity to learn from professionals and local citizens committed to working for human rights.
“The conference organizers were impressed with the crew from Barry, which appeared to be the largest contingent from one school,” Finley reported.
For the past three years, Amnesty International USA, through its Special Initiative Fund, has supported the College Brides Walk, an annual event that brings attention to domestic and dating violence.
Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 7 million people who “take injustice personally” and campaigns “for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all.” The movement’s motto is: “Better to light a candle than curse the darkness.”
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CCSI Newsletter
Posted On : April 25, 2016
