CCSI Newsletter

In this Issue:

Barry Students Support Women’s Breast Health Project

Miami-Dade School Principals Thank University

Next Wednesday’s Deliberative Dialogue to Focus on College Access

Community Service Projects Planned for September and October

Barry Students Support Women’s Breast Health Project

Five BarryUniversity students recently visited approximately 100 homes in North Miami’s Sunkist Grove neighborhood to promote awareness about women’s breast and heart health.

The students provided information particularly about free screenings offered in neighborhood medical centers and scheduled September mammogram appointments for women in six households.

The group included Barry Service Corps Leaders Akil Andrews, Mickaelle Celigny, and Seretse Davis as well as Austin Tucker and Andres Quevedo.

Quevedo is the coordinator of co-curricular events in the CCSI and a post-baccalaureate nursing student. He said the women appreciated the information they received.

Information included ways to improve nutrition, avoidance of smoking and excessive alcohol, exercising, and breast self-exams.

“We educated not only the women in the community but also their families,” Quevedo said. “This is very important for patient support.”

The project was organized by the Women’s Breast Health Initiative, a Miami Lakes-based organization whose mission is to “save lives by connecting at-risk women with the early detection necessary to fight breast cancer and heart disease.”

Miami-Dade School Principals Thank University

The principals of six Miami-Dade schools have thanked BarryUniversity for services rendered as part of Freshmen Experience Day.

Incoming Barry students assisted with various school-based projects in preparation for the new academic year.

In an email to CCSI Associate Director Courtney Berrien, North Miami Middle School Principal Patrick Lacouty said: “On behalf of the faculty, staff, and students of North Miami Middle School, I want to thank you and Barry University for this wonderful project. My teachers are going to be pleasantly surprised. I am glad that we were chosen for this needed project and looking forward to future endeavors with BarryUniversity. I can honestly say that BarryUniversity is a force beyond measure in this community and beyond. … All of the student leaders were phenomenal. They were positive, they were motivating and they worked really hard.”

Principal Nick Dorn of Doctors Charter School sent a thank-you card in which he wrote: “I just wanted to thank you, [CCSI Project Coordinator] Caitlin [Geis], and the army of volunteers sent by Barry to help us here at DoctorsCharter School. Because of those efforts we were able to accelerate several other projects and continue to beautify the school. We look forward to further and further collaboration!”

Dorn sent a follow-up email in which he commented on the “outstanding efforts” of the volunteers. “We accomplished so much, and I honestly could not have done it all without such giving hearts,” he said. “We were able to clean up a raised bed garden, transform two storage areas, uproot old landscaping in preparation for new plantings, and pressure clean the façade of our building. Here at Doctors Charter School of Miami Shores we truly would like to continue building bridges between our campuses and collaborate with Barry University in so many other ways.”

Before his students returned to school, the principal of Hubert O. Sibley K-12 Academy, wrote: “I cannot wait to see the smiles on the children’s faces. The work you did is really amazing.” And after the students returned, Principal Michael J. Charlot reported: “The efforts of the students did put a smile on my staff and students’ faces that Monday morning. Please know that we treasure the partnership that we have with Barry University and we will continue to support all of its endeavors and initiatives whenever possible. Until our next opportunity to work collaboratively, I want to extend my gratitude to your department and the university as a whole.”

Brownsville Middle Principal Dr. Edward G. Robinson noted that “the project went well and the leaders performed their duties wonderfully.”

Principal Yolanda Ellis of Frederick Douglass Elementary said the Barry students were “amazing.”

Vice Principal Maria De Armas of Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary noted that the Barry students “worked really hard” and the university staff “was very supportive.” She added: “There is no way we could have completed the project without them.”

The Center for Student Involvement in the Division of Student Affairs collaborated with the CCSI in organizing community service projects for Freshmen Experience Day.

Next Wednesday’s Deliberative Dialogue to Focus on College Access

“College Access and Rising Tuition” is the topic of the first forum in the Deliberative Dialogue Series for the 2014-2015 academic year. The forum will be held on Wednesday, September 23, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. in theAndreas Building, Room 111.

Community partners, students, alumni, faculty, staff, and will participate in this event.

The CCSI has adapted deliberative dialogue as a method of civic learning and engagement. Participants will work toward a shared understanding of the issue as well as practical solutions.

The event is free and open to the public.

For further information, contact CCSI Associate Director Courtney Berrien at cberrien@barry.edu or 305-899-4017.

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Community Service Projects Planned for September and October

The CCSI has organized community service projects for September and October.

A project for the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance took place last Saturday at the Ruben Dario Park in Miami.

This Saturday, September 20 , the International Coastal Clean-Up Project will take place at the Oleta RiverState Park in North Miami. Oleta is Florida’s largest urban park.

October 25 is Make a Difference Day. Community service projects are being finalized for various locations.

The CCSI is also sponsoring weekly service trips beginning in late September. Trips are being planned for UrbanPromise Miami on Tuesdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., Sanai Plaza Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Wednesdays from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., and Camillus House on Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Further information is available from the CCSI, service@barry.edu or 305-899-3696.