CCSI Accepting Proposals for Community Engagement Symposium

The Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) is accepting proposals for Barry University’s inaugural Community Engagement Symposium. Proposals should focus on such topics as service-learning, civic engagement, community-based research, community-focused fieldwork/internships, community-engaged scholarship, and community partnerships.

Scheduled for March 12, 2014, the symposium will bring together campus and community stakeholders to network and explore community engagement projects, practices, and perspectives.

Goals of the symposium are to (1) identify community needs and resources for building capacity to address social, economic, and environmental issues; (2) share strategies for effective university–community partner collaboration; (3) explain the concepts of service-learning, community-based research, and community-engaged scholarship; and (4) explore methods for evaluating community engagement outcomes for various stakeholders.

Proposals are being accepted for 45-minute concurrent presentations, including panel discussions and roundtables, during two sessions of the symposium. There will also be a poster session.

The proposal form and further information are available at www.barry.edu/service. December 9 is the proposal submission deadline.

SL designation for theology, sociology courses

Two more courses have been approved for the service-learning (SL) designation. They are THE 201-07: Theology: Faith, Beliefs and Traditions, taught by Steffano Montano, and SOC 426/526-01: Sociology of Violence, taught by Dr. Laura Finley.

The courses will be labeled “SL” in WebAdvisor and on students’ transcripts.

Service-learning workshop set for Thursday

A service-learning faculty workshop, “Reflection: Strategies for Connecting Course Objectives to Service-Learning,” will be held this Thursday, November 14, from 4:00 to 5:50 p.m., in the conference room of the School of Adult and Continuing Education (instead of Adrian 208).

Conducted by Service-Learning Fellows Dr. Celeste Fraser Delgado and Dr. Pamela Hall, the workshop is open to all faculty members.

Physician Assistant students raise funds for Ronald McDonald House

Barry University’s Physician Assistant Student Association (PASA) recently raised $6,000 from a walk in support of the Ronald McDonald House operations.

The Ronald McDonald House is a not-for-profit organization that provides a “home away from home” for families whose children are undergoing medical treatment at Tampa Bay area hospitals. The House relies on the support of individuals and organizations in the community to provide services to families in need.

The Ronald McDonald House of Tampa Bay acknowledged PASA in the Friends Helping Friends publication as “a demonstrated supporter.”

Service Opportunities

·        November 16: Farm Share Serves Hungry Families

·        November 24: Feeding South Florida at Dolphins Stadium

·        November 28: Become a Branches Thanksgiving Volunteer

Farm Share Serves Hungry Families
Saturday, November 16 | 9:00 AM – Noon | Miami Dade College, Kendall Campus, 11011 SW 104 Street, Miami, FL 33176

Farm Share is a large-scale food bank and charitable packinghouse working to end hunger. Farm Share specializes in getting donated fresh fruits and vegetables from Florida's farmers and putting these items into the hands of the millions of low-income families in need of nutritious food. Families receive fresh produce, a variety of non-perishable food, prepared meals, drinks, toiletries, shoes, and other items. The next Farm Share food distribution event will be this Saturday at Miami Dade College, Kendall Campus. To volunteer, telephone 305-252-4300.

Feeding South Florida at Dolphins Stadium

Sunday, November 24 ¦ 8:00 AM–Noon¦ Sun Life Stadium, 2269 NW 199th Street, Miami Gardens, FL 33056

Feeding South Florida’s mission is to end hunger in South Florida by providing immediate access to nutritious food, leading hunger- and poverty-advocacy efforts, and transforming lives through innovative programming and education. The organization will be packing 50,000 meals for seniors in South Florida with AARP and the Miami Dolphins. Volunteers are needed to package these meals at the Sun Life Stadium. Volunteers are encouraged to dress comfortably and arrive a few minutes early. All volunteers must wear closed-toe shoes. Prospective volunteers should email Emily Teachout at eteachout@feedingsouthflorida.org or call 954-518-1818.

Become a Branches Thanksgiving Volunteer

Thursday, November 28 ¦ 8:00 AM–2:30 PM ¦Branches, 11500 NW 12th Avenue, Miami, FL33168

Branches has proudly served the South Florida community – more than 20,000 people – on Thanksgiving Day since 2000, thanks to the support of 5,000 volunteers. The organization partners with dozens of agencies that help to identify clients who would otherwise be hungry and alone at Thanksgiving. Branches is looking for volunteers to serve at eight sites in Miami-Dade and Broward on Thanksgiving Day. Volunteers must register by November 21, 2013. Call 786-507-3996.