November 30, 2020

IN THIS ISSUE

• Poster Competition to be a Highlight of Seventh Annual Community Engagement Symposium
• University Leaders Begin New Partnership Discussions with Mentoring Organization
• Psychology Professor’s COVID-19-Related Article to be Published in Experiential Learning Journal
• Service-Learning Faculty: One of Seven Categories of Awards for Community Engagement
• Activities Assistant Christa Jeanty Makes a Difference in the Lives of Nursing Home Residents

Poster Competition To Be A Highlight Of Seventh Annual Community Engagement Symposium

‘Engagement In Purposeful Projects’ Is The Theme

The Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) is accepting entries for the Student Poster Competition as part of Barry’s Seventh Annual Community Engagement Symposium. Open to undergraduates only, the competition will be a highlight of the event on the last Wednesday of March 2021.

The design and content of the posters should be based on the theme of the symposium, "Engagement in Purposeful Projects: From Awareness to Action.”

“In relation to community engagement, purposeful projects include experiential learning practices such as service-learning, community-based research, fieldwork, study abroad, capstones, and internships,” the symposium organizers explain. “Entries should address the theme of the symposium and identify the experiential learning practice that was implemented.”

As stated in the guidelines, “Successful entries will specify the course or co-curricular project, the social or community issue addressed, the related activities undertaken, and the actual learning outcomes. Entries should also emphasize how the project was designed to be purposeful and how student awareness was translated into action.”

The submission deadline for poster competition entries is March 15.

Entries will be exhibited in Room 112 of the Andreas Building on Barry’s main campus, and prize winners will be announced during the closing session of the symposium. The main prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third places, with consolation prizes for the next four places.

“The poster competition offers students an opportunity to showcase the important work they are doing with the community,” says Dr. Heather Johnson Desiral, the poster session coordinator. “The visual nature of the poster allows students to grab attention and quickly communicate their knowledge, experiences, and findings on issues that matter to them and the community. Posters allow students to demonstrate the connections between their courses and their engagement with the community.”

The annual symposium supports the continued implementation and evaluation of Barry’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). Scheduled for March 31, the 2021 symposium will highlight student learning outcomes of community engagement practices in the context of the QEP titled “Fostering Personal and Social Responsibility Through Experiential Learning.” Social responsibility is one of the key elements of the QEP.

The symposium is expected to feature a nationally recognized community engagement scholar as the lead presenter.

The Seventh Annual Community Engagement Symposium, scheduled for March 25, 2020, was cancelled in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

For additional information on the poster competition, contact Johnson Desiral at qep@barry.edu.

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University Leaders Begin New Partnership Discussions With Mentoring Organization

Although Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami (BBBS Miami) has been a Barry community partner for several years, neither the organization nor the university has begun to reap the benefits of the partnership. That is about to change, thanks to discussions between their leaders.

University President Dr. Mike Allen invited a small group to a lunch meeting on November 19 to renew the partnership based on clear goals for programs of mutual interest.

Representing BBBS Miami were Gale Nelson, president and chief executive officer, and Marianne Weiss, vice president of continuing education.

Joining Allen as Barry’s representatives were Dr. Phyllis Scott, dean of the School of Social Work and special assistant to the president for equity and social justice; Dr. Roxanne Davies, associate vice president for mission and student engagement; Roxanna Cruz, associate vice president of enrollment; Dr. Glenn Bowen, executive director of the Center for Community Service Initiatives; and Maritza Riviere-Glover, director of operations for extended learning.

The group discussed various BBBS Miami programs and initial ideas for participation. Programs include School to Work and Group Engagement and Mentoring. The group also talked about opportunities for continuing education at Barry.

Serving the community since 1958, BBBS Miami describes itself as “the premier nonprofit mentoring organization in South Florida.” The organization champions “hope, transformation, and social good, defending the potential of children who most need it.”

This is Barry’s 80th anniversary year. The university is “committed to serving local and global communities through collaborative and mutually productive partnerships,” according to one of the core commitments articulated in its mission statement. 

“We are looking forward to an impactful partnership between our two institutions,” Allen said.

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Psychology Professor’s Covid-19-Related Article To Be Published In Experiential Learning Journal

Dr. Pamela D. Hall’s “Reflection and COVID-19: How Students and a Professor Made the Best of Remote Education in a Service-Learning Capstone Course” has been accepted for publication in Experiential Learning & Teaching in Higher Education.

Hall is an associate professor of psychology. Her article will appear in Part 2 of a two-part special issue of the journal titled “Experiential Learning and Teaching During COVID-19.” 

In the article, Hall will acknowledge the participation of six students in Psych 497, a designated service-learning course, during the spring semester of 2020. The students are Rebecca Bobb, Samuel Elie, Christel Jeune, Alissa Lopez, Arshlyn Pierre, and Rachel Angulo.

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Service-Learning Faculty: One Of Seven Categories Of Awards For Community Engagement

Service-Learning Faculty is one of seven categories of community engagement awards in which nominations are being accepted. The nomination deadline is January 29.

The Service-Learning Faculty Award is presented to faculty members for exemplary integration of community service into the curriculum or for demonstrating excellence in using service-learning as a teaching and learning strategy. Instructors of designated service-learning courses are prime candidates for this award.

The winners of the Service-Learning Faculty Award for 2020 are Dr. Samuel Doss, an associate professor of marketing in the School of Business, and Dr. Raul Machuca, an associate professor of counseling in the School of Education.

Doss teaches digital marketing, a designated service-Learning course that involves the Google Online Marketing Challenge. The program matches nonprofit organizations with university student teams, who create online advertisements on behalf of the organizations.

Machuca has incorporated service-learning as the main experiential learning strategy for three of his courses. A former service-learning fellow with the CCSI, he has used service-learning specifically to facilitate students’ understanding of diversity, multicultural competence, advocacy, and social justice. Additionally, Machuca has presented on his service-learning teaching and research in local and national venues.

The other categories of awards are Community Impact, Community Partnership, Community-Based Research, Community-Engaged Scholarship, Community Engagement Educator, and Engaged Department.

The Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) has issued a call for nominations for the 2021 Community Engagement Awards. Students, faculty, and staff members, as well as community partners, are invited to submit nominations by the deadline. 

The CCSI will host Barry’s Eighth Annual Community Engagement Awards Ceremony on March 31, at 6 p.m. It is likely that the event will be held remotely, the organizers say. 

The nomination forms are available at the CCSI website <barry.edu/service>. For additional information, contact the CCSI at service@barry.edu.

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Activities Assistant Christa Jeanty Makes A Difference In The Lives Of Nursing Home Residents

Elderly negligence is an unfortunate and all-too-common occurrence in the state of Florida. Prior to COVID-19, assisted-living facilities were already facing challenges to meet demands—challenges related to inadequate medical treatment, maintaining sanitary and safe living conditions, and having well-trained staff to carry out the duties required of long-term care.

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the difficulties faced by our vulnerable senior citizens have worsened, with cases of elder abuse going unreported, a recent report says.  

Fortunately, some assisted-living facilities, such as Sinai Plaza Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, do excellent work in meeting the needs of their clients and residents. 

The Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) partners with Sinai Plaza, located across the street from Barry’s Miami Shores campus, and places students there for both service-learning and co-curricular service.

Barry Service Corps member Christa Jeanty was placed there for volunteer work as an activities assistant. The Barry Service Corps is a co-curricular program coordinated by the CCSI.

As a first-year student in Barry’s pre-nursing program, Jeanty understood that, at Sinai Plaza, she would have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the geriatric community while gaining a deeper appreciation for the roles and responsibilities of nurses working in long-term care.

“Elderly negligence is a major issue in the wider geriatric field,” Jeanty acknowledged. “Sinai Plaza takes it very seriously. The organization is committed to providing professional services, including skilled nursing and extended care.”

Before COVID-19 caused major changes, Jeanty’s specific role focused on assisting Sinai Plaza by facilitating social activities that aimed to increase interaction among residents. Activities were designed also to improve moods, contribute to an upbeat environment, and assist residents in maintaining a good quality of life. Board games were engaging; Bingo was a favorite. Cooking classes on Wednesdays would sometimes take the cake.

“Cooking classes allowed the residents to socialize while learning a new recipe,” Jeanty shared. “We liked to make blueberry muffins. In doing so, we were able to put a smile on [residents’] faces. Although we engaged in fun activities, we reaffirmed [the need for] a high level of care at the same time.”

In high school, Christa was able initially to explore her interest in becoming a nurse. However, it wasn’t until her involvement with the Barry Service Corps and her work at Sinai Plaza that she realized how important it is to be active in her community. 

As activities assistant, Christa Jeanty has made a difference in the lives of Sinai Plaza residents.

Sinai Plaza is one of five nursing centers in the Plaza Health Network in Miami-Dade County. The assisted-living facility provides a full continuum of care to enhance patients’ physical and psychological well-being.

“I am encouraging my peers to join the Barry Service Corps as I share about my positive experience working with Sinai Plaza Nursing and Rehabilitation Center,” Jeanty said.

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Contact Brittney Morales, Barry Service Corps program facilitator, at BriMorales@barry.edu.