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In This Issue:
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Volunteers Lend a Hand with Cleaning up Coastlines on International Day of Service
Bucs Baseball Team among Volunteers at
Barry University students and staff joined in coastline cleanup efforts recently in Miami-Dade County. They removed debris and discarded items from the coastlines and adjacent areas of the Oleta River State Park and another section of Biscayne Bay as well as Historic Virginia Key Beach Park and Pelican Harbor Seabird Station.
In all, 134 volunteers from Barry turned out on the third Saturday of September, the day dedicated to International Coastal Cleanup projects.
At Oleta River State Park, 38 volunteers from Barry joined more than 200 other volunteers to pick up about 780 pounds of debris. A total of 45 Barry volunteers, including the entire Bucs Baseball Team, did cleanup tasks at a section of Biscayne Bay beside the Florida International University campus. And 22 volunteers were assigned to Pelican Harbor.
At Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, 29 volunteers from Barry were among the nearly 300 who collected over 1,000 pounds of trash items. The volunteers recorded the number of items collected and provided the data to the project organizers for submission to Ocean Conservancy for its Ocean Trash Index.
“Many of us who went to Virginia Key collected at least five pounds of trash,” noted Isaly Ortiz, a student leader in the Barry Service Corps. “We were also able to interact with other organizations and schools to see the things they do to help the environment; for example, banning single-use plastic [containers].”
Staff members who joined the students on that day of service were Frédérique Fragé, manager of International Student Services and Multicultural Programs; Krystle Key, coordinator in the Office of Mission Engagement; Joyce Varela, an academic success coach in the Center for Academic Success and Advising (CASA); and Shaunie Wall Marshall, associate director of the Career Development Center.
Asha Starks of the Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) coordinated Barry’s participation in the International Coastal Cleanup projects. She received support from the OME’s Jaedyn Amaro and Kamilah Van. Starks, Amaro, and Van are Florida Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA members. | ||||
Women's Basketball Team Volunteers at Deering Estate on International Coastal Cleanup Day
By Dennis Jezek, Jr.
The Barry women’s basketball team participated in the 34th annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day at Deering Point and Deering Estate in Miami on September 21.
Deering Estate is one of Miami-Dade County’s seven Heritage Parks.
"We always have a sense of satisfaction when we do things to help our environment," Barry Head Coach Bill Sullivan said. "We take pride in the fact that our BarryU women's basketball team contributed to help beautify Miami's coastline. By volunteering at this event, we also helped fulfill one of Barry's core commitments of serving our local and global communities."
Over the past 34 years, Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup has brought together nearly 15 million people from over 150 countries to collect nearly 300 million pounds of trash along our coastlines and waterways.
Every year during Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup, volunteers comb lakes, rivers, and beaches around the world for trash, picking up everything imaginable along the world's shorelines: cigarette butts, food wrappers, abandoned fishing gear, and even automobiles and kitchen appliances.
"Today was a great opportunity to help the environment and become more aware about the negative impact humans have on Earth," freshman Josie Wiles said. "But we also learned how to help combat those effects for positive change. Our team was also able to bond and grow closer to one another."
The ICC is much more than just removing trash. Volunteers at ICC actively participate in a unique global citizen science project. They not only remove marine debris, but they also catalog and tally what they find using the Ocean Conservancy's data collection cards or Clean Swell App. The resulting item-by-item, location-by-location Ocean Trash Index, filled with amazing infographics and charts that Ocean Conservancy compiles each year, provides the only global snapshot of the marine debris littering coasts and waterways around the world.
"I think it was a great experience to participate in this event and be able to give back to society with my teammates," senior Emma Hergot said. "This event led to a humbling moment and learning about some of the history that lies within."
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Community Partners Come to Campus for Community Engagement Fair
Thirty-six community partners representing 24 organizations were on campus last Wednesday (Sept. 25) for the annual Community Engagement Fair in the R. Kirk Landon Student Union.
Dr. Victor Romano, associate vice provost for student success and undergraduate studies, welcomed community partners to the event and expressed gratitude for their role in supporting Barry’s educational mission. He noted that the event was “meant to provide an opportunity for our community partners to interact with our students, faculty, and staff in order to promote their work in the community.”
Romano told community partners: “In meeting and learning from you and your experience, we feel we are giving students the tools to not only improve themselves, but to improve society.”
Dr. Heidi Heft LaPorte – an associate professor of social work and the author Digital Healing, a book of art and poetry – conducted a workshop for community partners. Titled “Expressive Arts and Wellness,” the workshop engaged them in an expressive arts activity using the mandorla (two overlapping mandalas) as a metaphor for reflection.
The workshop was “designed to create space for a unique and culturally responsive dialogue” with the community partners, noted the CCSI’s Dr. Glenn Bowen, who introduced Heft LaPorte. He added that the workshop would help them observe the intersection between their “personal and professional worlds.”
Twenty-two community organization representatives participated in the 50-minute workshop.
Dr. Heather Johnson Desiral, project assistant for Barry’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), expressed gratitude to Heft LaPorte for the “informative workshop.”
At the end of the workshop, Experiential Learning Coordinator Liz James shared information on the Community Engagement Management System (CEMS), in which Barry’s community partners may post volunteer service opportunities primarily for students.
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Barry Student Leaders to Attend National Conference Addressing Food Waste
Barry Service Corps Fellows Paola Lopez-Hernandez and Samantha Ternelus will attend the 2019 National Food Recovery Dialogue (NFRD) in Philadelphia this weekend.
Lopez-Hernandez and Ternelus will be among student leaders gathered at Drexel University for the two-day conference organized by the Food Recovery Network (FRN). They will meet with food industry representatives and FRN partner agencies “to find ways to build a community that is more conscious about food waste,” Lopez-Hernandez said.
FRN prides itself on being “the largest student movement fighting food waste and hunger in America.”
Barry alumna Dominique McMillan, the program and outreach fellow at FRN, will lead an NFRD session titled “Faith and Food Recovery: Judeo-Christian Perspectives for Food Justice.”
A former Barry Service Corps Fellow, McMillan spearheaded the creation of Barry’s FRN chapter during the 2017–2018 academic year. Lopez-Hernandez and Ternelus are current chapter leaders.
Barry’s FRN chapter diverts food from the waste receptacles of the main campus dining hall to Miami Rescue Mission, a nonprofit community agency that provides social services and supplies to people in need. | ||||
Miami’s Grassroots Coalition Tackling Social Issues Gets Continued Student Support
Barry students will continue to support the work of a grassroots coalition that systematically tackles social issues affecting the people of Miami-Dade County.
Student leaders in the Barry Service Corps, students taking service-learning courses, and a number of volunteers will assist the coalition named PACT (People Acting for Community Together) with coordinating and hosting various events throughout the academic year.
The student leaders have begun to facilitate “House Meetings” on campus as part of PACT's “Listening Process.” The first meeting was held last Monday (Sept. 23); the second is scheduled for today (Sept. 30) and the final meeting for next Monday (Oct. 7).
PACT identifies issues through its extensive “Listening Process,” reaching more than 1,500 members.
Students will attend PACT’s Annual Meeting on October 28, when elected officials will report on the commitments they made and members will vote on suggested issues for the next year. Usually, three issues make the final list.
On February 24, students will attend a PACT Rally to assist in preparations for the coalition’s Nehemiah Action, an assembly scheduled for May 11.
“We will aim to take 100 people to PACT's largest and culminating assembly, where public officials are invited to make commitments on targeted social issues affecting Miami-Dade County,” said the CCSI’s Liz James, who is coordinating Barry’s participation.
Last academic year, Barry students, faculty, and staff contributed to PACT’s efforts as the coalition kept affordable housing, gun violence intervention, and immigration support high on its agenda. PACT is the largest faith-based, grassroots coalition in Miami-Dade County. The organization consists of nearly 40 churches, synagogues, mosques, and universities.
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State Senator Jason Pizzo to Participate in Legislative Forum on October 8
On October 8, State Sen. Jason Pizzo (D–38) will participate in a Legislative Forum on campus. It will be the second of two forums organized as part of Barry’s Campus Democracy Project (CDP).
Pizzo is expected to discuss Florida’s current legislative agenda and his specific plans for the district he represents in the Florida legislature. He will answer questions from the audience.
The CDP Committee, including student leaders of the BucsVote initiative, will host the forum in Room 110 of the R. Kirk Landon Student Union, from 6 to 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
State Representative Dotie Joseph (D–108) participated in the first Legislative Forum last Wednesday.
The Campus Democracy Project is a nonpartisan initiative aimed at promoting civic learning and democratic engagement through voter education, registration, and mobilization.
For further information, contact the CCSI at service@barry.edu or 305-899-3696.
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Bread for the World’s Racial Wealth Gap Simulation Set for this Thursday
Bread for the World’s Racial Wealth Gap Simulation will take place this Thursday (Oct. 3) in Thompson Hall’s Kostka Room, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
“In the simulation,” the organizers say, “participants learn how federal policies created structural inequalities – property ownership and education are just two of the many areas affected – and how these policies increase hunger and poverty in communities of color.”
The organizers explain that “the simulation guides participants to an understanding of why racial equity is so important to ending hunger and poverty in the United States.”
Barry Service Corps Fellows addressing food security issues will lead the simulation, to which students as well as faculty and staff are invited.
Bread for the World is “a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad.”
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Organizers to Discuss Plans for Alternative Spring Break During Wednesday’s Open House
The Alternative Breaks Executive Board will host an Open House for the AB Program on Wednesday (Oct. 2), from 4 to 5 p.m., in the De Porres Center, Thompson Hall. They will discuss plans for Alternative Spring Break (ASB).
ASB will run from February 29 through March 6. Trips are being planned for the Bahamas; McAllen, Texas; Tallahassee, Florida; and Port-de-Paix, Haiti.
For further information, contact the CCSI atservice@barry.edu or 305-899-3696.
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Faculty Learning Community for Engaged Scholarship to Meet on October 15
The Faculty Learning Community for Engaged Scholarship (FLC) will have its second meeting for the academic year on October 15, beginning at 1 p.m. The CCSI will host the hour-long meeting in Adrian Hall, Room 208.
All FLC members and prospective members are urged to attend.
For further information, contact any of the FLC facilitators – Dr. Laura Finley (lfinley@barry.edu), Dr. Pamela Hall (phall@barry.edu), or Dr. Celeste Landeros (clanderos@barry.edu) – or the CCSI.
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Student-Athletes’ Community Service Spotlighted in CCSI Annual Report
In its Annual Report for 2019, the CCSI put the spotlight on student-athletes’ service to the community last academic year.
The Barry women’s basketball team volunteered with Feed My Starving Children, helping the organization pack some of the 100,000-plus meals prepared in Miami. Team members also made their annual trip to the Miami Rescue Mission to serve meals to people experiencing homelessness.
During her senior year, Orianna Camargo, president of Barry's chapter of the Fellowship for Christian Athletes, was an outstanding volunteer with the American Cancer Society.
The CCSI Annual Report is divided into seven sections: Awards and Accolades, Service-Learning Program, Co-curricular Programs and Events, Civic Learning and Leadership, Community Partnerships and Participation, Community-Engaged Scholarship, and Other Community Engagement Activities.
Copies of the 60-page Report, whose theme is “Accelerating the Pace of Civic Engagement,” are available from the CCSI. | ||||
Box Tops for
Barry’s Box Tops for Education Drive remains underway; however, contributors should note that changes are coming. Participating brands are starting to change their packaging from a traditional Box Tops clip to a Box Top label that contributors should scan.
“Box Tops is changing to fit today’s families,” the program organizers have announced. “The new and improved Box Tops mobile app uses state-of-the-art technology to scan your store receipt, find participating products and instantly add Box Tops to your school’s earnings online.”
While traditional Box Tops clips are being phased out of production, they may still be found on many products and will continue to be accepted for the Box Tops for Education program. Eventually, it will become a digital-only program.
“If you see [the new] label, use the new Box Tops app to scan your receipt,” the program organizers explain. “Box Tops are still worth 10¢ each for your school. The app will find participating products purchased at any store and instantly add cash to your school's earnings online.”
Proceeds of Barry’s Box Tops for Education Drive benefit two South Florida elementary schools – North Miami in Miami-Dade County and Sheridan Hills in Broward.
The Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS) in association with the Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) organizes the drive.
Box Tops clips from household products – each with a clearly visible product acronym and expiration date – may be dropped in the labeled boxes found at several locations on Barry’s main campus, including the CCSI (Adrian 208), the Monsignor William Barry Memorial Library, and Thompson Hall. Alternatively, donations may be sent to Dr. Stephanie Bingham, the MAPS advisor, in the Department of Biology, Siena 309.
Cereals, household-cleaning supplies, paper products, and school supplies are on the list of eligible products found at the following site: <http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/participating-products>.
For further information, contact Bingham at sbingham@barry.edu.
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Organizers Seeking Volunteer Support for 2019 Walk to End Lupus Now
The Lupus Foundation of America, Florida Chapter is looking for volunteers for its annual Walk to End Lupus Now on November 16 at Marlins Park in Miami. The event is scheduled for 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., with the Opening Ceremony set for 5:30.
“We are in need of volunteers to help with crowd interaction, event coordination, registration, greeting, and store attending,” said Sarah Tedesco, events intern.
The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) and its national network conduct Walk to End Lupus Now events to raise money for lupus research, increase awareness of lupus, and rally public support for those who suffer from the disease. To register, visit LFA’s Walk to End Lupus Now website.
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Contact Brittney Morales, coordinator of FWS Community Service, at BriMorales@barry.edu.
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Community Engagement News
Posted On : September 28, 2019
