CCSI Newsletter

Community-Based Research Mini-Grants Available to Faculty

The Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) has announced the availability of five mini-grants to support community-based research (CBR) by fulltime faculty members collaborating with students and community partners. Applicants may request up to $500. Successful applicants will be required to submit a brief project report by the end of the academic year.

The application form is available through the Community Engagement Management System (CEMS), www.barry.edu/service (see Resources). For further information, contact CCSI Director Dr. Glenn Bowen, gbowen@barry.edu.

Meanwhile, the CCSI will host a Community-Based Research Workshop this Thursday, October 17, from noon to 1:15, in Adrian 208. The workshop is open to all faculty members – both those who intend to submit CBR mini-grant applications and those who simply want to learn more about CBR. To register, send an e-mail (with “Workshop” in the subject line) to gbowen@barry.edu.

Barry receives support for mentoring program

For the second straight year, Barry University was selected to be a host for the College Access and Success AmeriCorps Program. This program is dedicated to providing skills training to college students so they can serve effectively as mentors to at-risk youth in grades 6 through 12 as well as first-generation college students enrolled in developmental education courses.

Seven Barry students will serve as mentors at Miami Edison Senior High School, a Title 1 school located in Little Haiti. Each Barry student will earn an education award of $1,175 for completing 300 hours as part of the mentoring program.

The College Access and Success AmeriCorps Program is supported by the Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI) in collaboration with the Adrian Dominican School of Education’s Family CARE Center as part of the College Reach-Out Program (CROP).  Florida Campus Compact, through a grant from Volunteer Florida, has provided funding for the program.

“We are thrilled to host this program again and to continue the work at Edison High School that was initiated last year,” CCSI Associate Director Christina Leaño stated. “This new partnership will also allow us to bring in long-standing expertise and experience from CROP to benefit both Barry and Edison students.”

Service-learning workshop this Tuesday

The CCSI will host a “Service-Learning 101” workshop for faculty this Tuesday, October 15, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m., in Adrian 208. Service-Learning Fellows Dr. Celeste Fraser Delgado and Dr. Pamela Hall will conduct this introductory service-learning workshop.

A full schedule of service-learning workshops is available from the CCSI, service@barry.edu.

External grant to support service-learning projects

Over the past 10 years, kynamatrix Research Network has granted awards to graduate student projects at several universities across the country. This year, kynamatrix is expanding its grant program to include service-learning projects at the college and university level in Florida. The network plans to award up to eight support grants of $500 each, for “unrestricted use within selected service-learning projects.”

The request-for-proposal (RFP) link is http://www.kynamatrix.org/grants/kRN-2014RFP-SL.pdf and the deadline for submission to kynamatrix is October 30, 2013.

Service Opportunities

      October 18: Farm Share Serves Hungry Families

      October 19: Miramar Community Garden Volunteer Workday

      October 19: Trash to Treasure Creative Re-use Recycling

Farm Share Serves Hungry Families
Friday, October 18 | 9:00 AM – Noon | J.C. Bermudez Park, 3000 NW 87 Avenue, Doral, FL 33172

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.

Mayor Luigi Borla will be hosting the next Farm Share food distribution event on Friday, October 18, at J.C. Bermudez Park. To volunteer, call the event contact, Gonzalo Bello, at 305-593-6725.

Miramar Community Garden Volunteer Workday

Saturday, October 19 ¦ 8:00 – 11:00 AM ¦ Fairway Park, 3700 Largo Drive, Miramar, FL 33023

The 3,150-square-foot Miramar Community Garden located at Fairway Park is the first demonstration “micro farming system” in Broward County. It is an environmentally and economically sustainable system that creates a network of healthy food sources of naturally grown vegetables and fruits, a social network for garden volunteers to learn about the urban agricultural industry, and an opportunity for vocational training.

Volunteers are needed for tidying up the garden, checking irrigation, and completing any special and ongoing projects.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring gardening tools, dress appropriately, and drink plenty of water. To volunteer, call the Miramar City Coordinator, Elsi Rose, at 954-602-3270.

Trash to Treasure Creative Re-use Recycling

Saturday, October 19 ¦ 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM ¦ 1100 NW 53 Street, #1,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309

Trash to Treasure is a non-profit organization that collects clean, re-usable materials (called "clean scrap") and redistributes these items as valuable educational and artistic resources to the community. Collected materials include wine corks, bottle caps, VCR tapes, magazines, jars, fabric, and Styrofoam containers.

Volunteers will assist with receiving items, sorting and stocking the shelves, and ringing up customers. Volunteers must wear closed-toe shoes and are encouraged to bring a snack. To volunteer, call the Trash to Treasure Coordinator, Jennifer Udan, at 888-828-8242.