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Seventh Annual Move-Out Drive Yields Variety of Items
The seventh annual Move-Out Drive yielded 2555 pounds of clothes, 350 pairs of shoes, 70 comforters, 20 mini-refrigerators, 9 microwaves, 46 lamps, 138 books, more than 350 food items, and approximately 100 toiletry items. The donations went to Miami Rescue Mission, Lotus House, Camillus House, New Life Family Center, Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church, and Becca’s Closet.
Formerly known as
This year’s project, which took place during the month of May, was the most successful. Mrs. Grizzle attributed the success of the project mainly to “the commitment and contributions from various departments and groups around campus.” The Residence Hall Association encouraged participation, as did the resident assistants.
Move-Out Drive is an opportunity to promote sustainable practices within the university while collaborating with community partners to provide underserved populations with needed resources, explained Caitlin Geis, coordinator of co-curricular projects in the Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI). Geis coordinated
Project volunteers included three staff members from the Software Solutions and Information Management Unit in the Division of Information Technology: Kerry-Quaan Stewart, director; Grace Ralfelt, solutions architect; and Joan Pascual, applications developer.
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Another Course Gets Service-Learning Designation
The Service-Learning Course Review Committee has approved another course for the service-learning designation. CS 305-01: Computer Science will be designated as service-learning in the course schedule and on students’ transcripts.
Dr. Ricardo “Rick” Jimenez, assistant professor of computer science, designed this course and is the instructor. Students are required to apply computer system concepts and theories in addressing “digital-divide challenges” in neighborhoods near campus. Like other SL-designated courses, CS 305-01 requires at least 10 hours of service benefiting the community and critical reflection in the classroom.
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University Hosts Session on “Building Strong Communities”
Barry hosted Feeding South Florida’s “Building Strong Communities” listening session on May 26. Six community-based agencies and a number of community stakeholders participated together with representatives for three
Feeding South Florida is the leading domestic hunger-relief organization serving
The session at Barry was the final in a series of three sessions held in
According to a Feeding South Florida analysis of food insecurity, 12 percent of the Miami-Dade County population currently is food insecure, with 306,330 people not knowing the source of their next meal. In
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Barry Students Featured in Community Partner Newsletter
Three Barry students are featured in an article in the Redlands Christian Migrant Association (RCMA) newsletter. Among students who participated in this year’s Alternative Spring Break (ASB), Rajon Wright, Tamara Vuckovich, and Quayneshia Smith are singled out in the article.
During spring break, a group of 11 Barry students and two adult supervisors took a trip to
Sophomore Rajon Wright, a Barry Service Corps leader, spent time with a group of boys in the RCMA childcare center. The boys were delighted by his visit.
Vuckovich, a junior majoring in early childhood education, was “enchanted” by RCMA’s Immokalee Community School (ICS) next door. According to the Redlands Christian Migrant Association Spring News, Vuckovich said: “I think it’s a wonderful school. It’s like my dream school where I would like to teach.”
ICS is a charter school for grades K-6. Vuckovich pointed out that the school’s staff seemed to be close-knit, and the students looked happy.
“You couldn’t tell that they came from low-income, disadvantaged families,” she was quoted as saying.
Quayneshia Smith, a social work major and ASB leader, also was impressed by the charter school. Smith “was struck by innovations such as English and math memory aids involving interactive body movement, the school’s emphasis on producing bilingual students and the quiet time set aside before important tests,” the newsletter article said.
Courtney Berrien, associate director of the Center for Community Service Initiatives, is quoted in the article as well. She explained the significance of the trip to Immokalee, a community where the university is developing a long-term relationship with social service agencies.
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Staff and Faculty Urged to Render Service this Summer
The Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) is urging Barry staff and faculty members to render service in the local community this summer.
“Collaborative service in community settings advances the University’s mission,” according to a statement from the CCSI. “Employees should continue to take pride in supporting efforts to address social, economic, and environmental issues in the communities surrounding Barry’s campuses and program centers.”
Among the many voluntary service opportunities available to staff and faculty are the four outlined below.
For additional information on how to get involved this summer, contact the CCSI at service@barry.edu or 305-899-3696.
The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL) Thursday, June 18 ¦10:00 a.m. ¦750 NE 55 Terrace, Thursday, June 18 ¦10:00 a.m. ¦6861 SW 196 Avenue, Pembroke Pines, FL 33332
Volunteers will assist in building awareness about the importance of teaching children to swim and thus help to prevent drowning. On June 18, waterparks, pools, and other aquatic facilities around the world will host local WLSL sessions simultaneously at 10 a.m. This will be an attempt to break the Guinness World Record. Swimming is a life-saving skill for children and a vital tool to prevent drowning, the second leading cause of unintended, injury-related death of children (ages 1-14).
For further information on the
Summer Learning Day at DeVos-Blum Family YMCA of Boynton Beach Friday, June 19 ¦8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. ¦ 9600 South Military Trail, Boynton Beach, FL 33436
Summer Learning Day is a national advocacy day organized to spread awareness about the importance of summertime learning for our nation’s youth, to help in closing the achievement gap, and to support healthy youth development in communities across the country.
For more information on Summer Learning day, contact Mary Swinford at Prime
Adopt Saturday, June 20 ¦9:00–11:30 a.m. ¦ 7929 Atlantic Way, Miami Beach, FL 33141
The City of
Prospective volunteers may sign up by visiting HandsOn Miami.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Saturday, June 27, 2015 ¦09:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. ¦ 20811 South Dixie Highway, Miami, FL 33189
The Habitat ReStore sells donated building materials, furnishings, tools, and appliances. Proceeds from the sale of those items are used to build homes for low-income families throughout
To volunteer, contact Jackie Llerena at 305-634-3628 or jackie.llerena@miamihabitat.org. Volunteers also should complete, print, and take the registration form found at www.miamihabitat.org.
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Engagement News Being Published Twice a Month
Engagement News is being published twice a month during the summer terms. The next issue of the newsletter is scheduled to appear on June 29, and other summer issues are slated for July 13 and 27.
Regular weekly issues of Engagement News will resume on August 17.
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CCSI Newsletter
Posted On : June 15, 2015
