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Barry Continues Participation in National Initiative on Civic Learning, Democratic Engagement Students Serve Miami-Dade, Broward Communities on Make a Difference Day Students Still Putting Pressure on Fast-Food Company to Support Fair Food Program Community Engagement Award Nominations: Community Impact Category Newsletter Putting Spotlight on Students Contributing to Community Impact Buccaneers Provide Positive Messages, Practical Advice to Youth Golfers
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Barry Continues Participation in National Initiative on Civic Learning, Democratic Engagement
Barry University is continuing its participation in a national initiative focused on civic learning and democratic engagement.
Coordinated by NASPA–Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, the LEAD Initiative on Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement is aimed at encouraging and highlighting the work of student affairs in making civic learning and democratic engagement part of every student’s college education. The program offers unique professional development opportunities, targeted resources, networking opportunities, and recognition for the participating institutions.
Barry has participated in the program since 2012 and is one of some 70 colleges and universities selected to take part this year.
“Throughout the academic year, Barry will emphasize the implementation of its Civic Action Plan while also promoting the Campus Democracy Project,” said Dr. Scott Smith, vice president for mission and student engagement.
The Civic Action Plan supports the improvement of teaching and learning, research, and service as integrated elements of comprehensive institutional action designed to advance the public good. Coordinated by the Center for Community Service Initiatives, the plan calls for the development and enhancement of specific programs and projects to deepen and strengthen civic engagement for positive community impact.
The Campus Democracy Project, or CDP, is a nonpartisan initiative that promotes civic learning and democratic engagement mainly through voter registration, education, and mobilization. CDP Committee members include student affairs and academic affairs administrators as well as faculty and students.
Stephanie King, assistant director for NASPA’s civic engagement, knowledge community, and social justice initiatives, congratulated Barry on being selected as a LEAD Initiative Institution for 2018-2019.
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Students Serve Miami-Dade, Broward Communities on Make a Difference Day
More than 170 Barry students and staff members took part in collaborative service projects in Miami-Dade and Broward counties on Make a Difference Day. The projects were designed to address primarily food insecurity, homelessness, and related issues.
The community sites in Miami-Dade were the Urban GreenWorks Cerasee Farm in Liberty City, La Salle Educational Center in Homestead, Apostolic Faith Church in Little Haiti, Pridelines Youth Drop-in Center, and La Paloma neighborhood.
Students serving at Pridelines organized and displayed donated clothing that would be made available mainly to LGBTQ adolescents experiencing homelessness.
At the same time, a group of students assigned to Apostolic Faith Church refurbished materials used in a childcare program.
In Broward, students served at Dania Beach PATCH (People’s Access to Community Horticulture). As gardening volunteers, they supported a program that provides ways to improve nutrition, promote therapeutic activities, and strengthen neighborhoods.
On campus, dozens of students assisted with early preparation for vegetable plots that will be part of the Barry Urban Garden. The students laid cardboard and spread mulch in spaces adjacent to Powers Hall.
Students enrolled in Barry’s undergraduate orientation course and some service-learning courses were among the participants. The project facilitators were student leaders from the Barry Service Corps. Staff members representing the Office of Mission Engagement and International and Multicultural Programs also contributed to the service projects.
Asha Starks, an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) member in the Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI), coordinated the day of service.
The CCSI organized the Make a Difference Day projects with support from the Major Days of Service Committee. Members of the committee include Monique Armbrister, Amanda Knight, Susan Kramer, Genesis Lopez, Carolina Rios, Karen Subran, Kimberly Timpone, Kamilah Van, and Karen Zuniga.
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Students Still Putting Pressure on Fast-Food Company to Support Fair Food Program
Barry’s chapter of the Student/Farmworker Alliance (SFA) is keeping up the pressure on Wendy’s, demanding that the company support the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ (CIW) Fair Food Program.
Joined by other students, SFA chapter members will stage a protest action outside a Wendy’s restaurant in North Miami Beach on November 17.
“It’s important to continue pressuring Wendy’s to join the Fair Food Program because [the program] is the only way to ensure dignity in the fields,” said Paris Razor, a member of the SFA national steering committee. “As consumers, we must keep corporations accountable for their role in perpetuating abuse, as corporations have a responsibility to provide products and services without causing harm.”
The SFA chapter will rally students to demonstrate with colorful signs and banners calling on The Wendy’s Company to support the Fair Food Program. They will gather at Uleta Park at noon before heading to the restaurant at 25 NE 167th Street.
The SFA is “a national network of students and young people organizing with the CIW to uproot exploitation in the fields and build a food system based on justice, respect and dignity for farmworkers.”
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Community Engagement Award Nominations: Community Impact Category
“Community Impact” is among the categories for which Community Engagement Award nominations are being accepted. That category is reserved for students – individual students as well as student organizations.
Students, faculty, staff, and administrators are invited to submit nominations by January 28, 2019.
The other award categories are Community Partnership, Community-Based Research, Engaged Scholarship,Community Engagement Educator, Service-Learning Faculty, and Engaged Department.
The Center for Community Service Initiatives will host Barry’s sixth annual Community Engagement Awards on March 27.
The nomination forms are available in the Community Engagement Management System <http://web.barry.edu/service/ProgramView.aspx?ID=1494>.
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Newsletter Putting Spotlight on Students Contributing to Community Impact
Students whose civic engagement has contributed to community impact will be featured in Community Engagement News this academic year.
This year’s series will begin next week with the spotlight on Orianna Camargo, a volunteer with the American Cancer Society.
Evan Dixon, a graduate assistant in the Department of Communication, is the writer of the series of short features.
“Community impact involves sustainable improvements or lasting changes in community conditions that improve people’s lives,” says the editor of Community Engagement News. “As we did last year, we will profile students who demonstrate the knowledge, skills, values, and motivation to address issues of public concern and to make a difference in the community.”
To nominate a student to be featured in this year’s series, send an email to the editor, Community Engagement News, at service@barry.edu.
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Buccaneers Provide Positive Messages, Practical Advice to Youth Golfers
The BarryU women's golf team volunteered with the First Tee Program at the Melreese Country Club on October 26, spending time practicing with aspiring youth golfers and giving them advice on their futures.
The women discussed several topics with the girls – topics such as time management and balancing academics and athletics – and gave them practical advice.
The girls heard positive messages about setting goals and overcoming adversity.
In addition, they got some help with their swings and touch on the greens.
“The program that the First Tee offers is really special, and if we can help (the girls) in any way, then we are happy to participate and make a positive impact on them," Buccaneer golfer Noemie Pare said, "I tried to go talk to each girl individually. I really loved to see the stages that these girls were at in their lives, because I could see a little bit of myself in all of them."
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