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March 16, 2020 |
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In This Issue: Community Engagement Symposium Cancelled in Wake of Coronavirus Crisis Student Voter Guide Available at Campus Democracy Project Website Dignity Day at Florida State Capitol Provides Opportunity to Engage in Legislative Process Literature Available in Community Engagement Management System |
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Community Engagement Symposium Cancelled in Wake of Coronavirus Crisis Community Engagement Awards postponed Barry’s seventh annual Community Engagement Symposium has been cancelled in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. The seven-hour event was scheduled for March 25. The seventh annual Community Engagement Awards Ceremony, scheduled for that evening, has been postponed. Last Thursday, President Mike Allen announced that, beginning today (March 16), all University-sponsored events or meetings, on and off campus, that include large gatherings of individuals in indoor spaces are canceled until further notice. In an update regarding Barry’s ongoing response to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Allen said, “This continues to be a rapidly progressing situation with circumstances and guidance from public health authorities evolving daily.” The annual symposium serves as a venue for sharing outcomes of community-engaged work. Held on the last Wednesday of March, the event features a nationally recognized civic engagement scholar as the lead presenter, with a Student Poster Competition as one of the highlights. The Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) plans to reschedule the Community Engagement Awards for later this year. The event is a celebration of the participation, contributions, and achievements of students, faculty and staff members, departments, and community partners in various areas of community engagement. In his update on Thursday, President Allen noted that there were “currently no cases of COVID-19 at Barry University,” and added that it was “necessary to implement social distancing in the interest of public health.” Allen asked employees and students for their “patience, flexibility and thoughtfulness as we navigate this difficult and unprecedented set of circumstances.” He encouraged everyone “to embrace our resiliency as a university community and our collective will to persevere.” |
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Student Voter Guide Available at Campus Democracy Project Website A Student Voter Guide is available at the website of Barry’s Campus Democracy Project (CDP). The guide is a publication of the Campus Election Engagement Project (CEEP). The CDP is a nonpartisan initiative that promotes civic learning and democratic engagement through get-out-the-vote activities, including voter registration, education, and mobilization. The CDP Committee is composed of students – including a CEEP Fellow – faculty, and staff members from various university units. Dr. Sean Foreman, professor of political science, and Antonio Rodriguez, a Barry Service Corps Fellow, are the committee co-chairs this year. The CEEP Fellow is Holly Kachler, currently a sophomore majoring in political science. |
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Dignity Day at By Joulinsa Jean Charles Last month, I traveled to Tallahassee for Dignity Day 2020 in order to support the passage of the proposed Tammy Jackson Act. The bill was named after a woman who was involved in a traumatic incident at a Tammy Jackson was a young woman who was forced to give birth in solitary confinement. After being in labor alone for seven hours, Tammy was transferred to a hospital where a physician took her baby and she was immediately sent back to jail. The Tammy Jackson Act was designed to prevent incidents like this from happening to other women who are incarcerated in the state of Tammy’s mother and family stood beside members of The New Florida Majority and other Dignity Coalition members throughout Dignity Day. The goal of the coalition is to ensure that women feel protected, supported, and treated with dignity and respect while incarcerated. The day started with a political education training and breakfast at a supporting church for all Dignity volunteers and staff. Next, we traveled to the Florida State Capitol for a press conference – and, boy, was it moving! Valencia Gunder, The New Florida Majority’s campaign manager, spoke about the unjust and vile act perpetrated against Tammy Jackson. Tray Johns, the organization’s criminal justice organizer, spoke about the lack of information provided to Tammy’s family about her baby. Florida Representative Shevrin Jones from the 101st district, which includes southeastern Florida Senator Jason Pizzo, representing District 38 in the northeastern part of During the hearing, I and the other participants completed a statement of our support, which was shared with the committee. I scanned the room in awe. With every person who approached the row of senators came slight anxiousness on how they’d vote on our bill. Within due time, Senator Pizzo approached the podium and spoke on all our behalves about the Tammy Jackson Act. When it came time to vote, our row of senators each voted “yes.” One senator even declared, “Heck, yes!” I appreciated the opportunity to engage actively with this legislative process. As a forensic psychology major, I value what this experience helped me understand about our criminal justice system. Dignity Day left me with a feeling of admiration for the women and community activists of Dignity Florida. Editor’s Note: Joulinsa Jean Charles is a Barry Service Corps Fellow. |
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Literature Available in Community Engagement Management System A variety of community engagement literature is available through the Community Engagement Management System, or CEMS. Among the literature are books and book chapters, journals and journal articles, manuals, and fact sheets. The literature may be accessed directly from the “Resources” section of CEMS. |
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Information: Contact Dr. Stephanie Bingham, sbingham@barry.edu |
Community Engagement News
Posted On : March 16, 2020
