With finals looming ahead, winter break is just around the corner, and with it a chance for every student to let go of stress, school, and grades. Retreating home for the holidays is often a great relief: an opportunity to return to a world not governed by a schedule. However, we all at Elon Volunteers! believe the time we are given over breaks continues to be just as valuable as our time at Elon, and these are just a few reasons why:
It's a way to celebrate the holidays. Most often, the holidays inspire a season of giving within the hearts of every part of a community. What better reason to give back to your community than in the spirit of the season? Don't get me wrong, when you go home this winter break, do take time off from all activities you are involved in on campus. But also allow the same motivation you feel to volunteer on Elon's campus to follow you home. There's no better way to bond than by taking a Sunday with the family to volunteer at a soup kitchen together. It's a means of celebrating your own holiday while at the same time making others' that much better. It's a crucial time of the year. Celebrating giving is easy enough a prospect for those who have the means to give. For poor or impoverished families in your community, however, the holidays can often be a source of stress and turmoil. Instead of celebrating, many families are left struggling to find the means to carry on a normal life. Help out by finding a local donation box or a clothing drive by searching local churches in your community, or getting in touch if you are a part of one. Schools at this time of year will often organize toy drives, and could use the help of willing students to carry bags or boxes. If you're truly looking to make a memorable difference in someone's life this season, volunteering with your community to make a memorable holiday is the way to do it. Connect with your community. One of the biggest advantages of being a part of EV! here at Elon is the doors it opens to getting in touch with the communities surrounding campus. If you had experience volunteering with an organization before you left for Elon, your winter break is the perfect opportunity to reach out, reconnect and pick up where you left off! If you began volunteering at Elon, by transferring this outward drive to volunteer from Elon's campus to your home town you may see your own community in a new light. What better way to get to know your city, town or neighborhood by making it just a bit better? Learn more. Now that you're motivated, there is research to be done! Start by searching for your local church or volunteer organization online, and look for holiday volunteer options. Or, try VolunteerMatch, a search engine that finds opportunities for you to volunteer in any location! If you're still not persuaded, read this article. It's never too late to make a difference. Happy Holidays and Happy Volunteering!
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This past weekend, EV! student leaders joined faculty, staff and students from Elon and surrounding North Carolina colleges to discuss the intersections of leadership, service, and social justice at this year’s Intersect Conference. In addition to engaging with various presentations and round table discussions, a few of EV!'s student leaders also presented. One of them, Sarah Holdren, gave a presentation called, “Our Polarized World- Different Definitions of Doing Good” alongside peers Rob Bullard and Halaj Mack. If you missed the presentation, don't fret! This is what Sarah had to say about her presentation at Intersect:
We live in a world with very visible and tangible problems. Many avid volunteers- something I would consider myself to be- find that the best way to solve these issues is to “do.” Volunteering, after all, is often a very action-oriented service. However, when we really begin to look deeper at service, we find that some service isn’t always the best way to fix the issues at hand. In collaboration with DEEP, Elon’s social justice student organization, we began to pull apart these issues in a 50-minute interactive presentation. Service-learning and civic engagement, when utilizing a social justice lens, can be a very powerful force of change, but it is important to consider the components necessary to make service good service. The active citizen’s continuum, produced by Breakaway is a great resource to show what is necessary to do service in a way that produces justice. We ended our presentation with a discussion about what types of service we are all comfortable with and uncomfortable with. For example, are you more comfortable challenging a friend’s biased views of a particular group or working with campus kitchen to help with food security in Alamance county? The answers to this question can be varied, but they are certainly attributable to the amount of privilege we bring with us when doing service. That is something worthwhile for us all to consider as we work to move service from fixing a need to the complete elimination of it. Amy Belfer also contributed to the Intersect Conference in leading a discussion in collaboration with the Hall for Change. Belfer noted the accomplishments and significance of Keynote Speaker Kat Blaque, a YouTube personality and transgender rights activist. EV! collaborated with the Hall for Change, the student directed living learning community committed to social justice to present a round table on the intersections of poverty and diversity. I, alongside Sophia Diaz, led a discussion on disparities in healthcare, education, housing, and political representation. The table discussed the interconnectedness of these issues and the many systemic barriers individuals face. One example discussed was that if a child does not have access to food or secure housing, it may be harder for them to focus or succeed in school. Participants specifically touched on how people of color and immigrants (and especially immigrants who are undocumented), often have higher rates of poverty and lower rates of access to adequate health care or educational resources. To end on a note of hope and an action plan, participants discussed things their communities are doing or systemic changes that need to occur to work to alleviate poverty and end these disparities. This year’s keynote speaker was Kat Blaque. Kat Blaque refers to herself as an “intersectionality salad” and she identifies as black and as a transgender woman. During her keynote address, she discussed many transitions throughout her life including her gender transition, and her transitions into college and the workforce. She spoke about how she tried to be “stealth” (pretend she was a cisgender woman and not a transgender woman.) She bravely shared many obstacles she overcame in her life, including being outed as transgender to her peers and being kicked out of her home for being transgender. Despite people not taking her seriously and not believing in her ability to succeed in animation, she continued to follow her dreams. She has now worked on several high profile videos, and she shared a video about inclusivity she collaborated on. For a long time, Kat feared Google searches would out her. However, after working on a Buzzfeed video where she shared her experiences as a black transgender woman, she realized that even as people found out she was transgender, she still had her friends, family, relationship and career. She has let go of her fears of being visible, and serves as an inspiration to many by openly sharing her experiences and identities. Sarah Holdren and Amy Belfer are EV! student leaders at Elon University who participated in the Intersect Conference this past weekend. If you are interested in being a guest writer for EV!'s blog or know someone who would be, contact [email protected]. Whether you're a student LINCS with semesters of experience volunteering for an organization under your belt, or a first-time volunteer looking to find a way to satisfy that ELR requirement, service can be a challenge. Here are some of the most important things to remember when driving to that off-campus location or strolling into the Kernodle Center for the first time.
1. Keep an Open Mind & Be Flexible Separating from the Elon bubble means getting in touch with an environment you may not be used to. Some organizations have specialized systems of operating, and will expect you to be flexible. Other organizations may lack such a structured system, but will nonetheless require the same flexibility. You may find yourself in situations where you're forced to think on your feet, but take these moments in stride, and use them as opportunities to engage with the outside community. 2. Work Hard and Take It Seriously Volunteering is not an obligation or a duty to the community, it is an opportunity. To volunteer means to take responsibility not only to give back, but to work hard and seriously so that other members of the community may accomplish their goals, whatever that may be. The harder you work, the more you'll get to see it pay off, whether it be through your mentee getting straight A's, a senior resident cracking a joke, or seeing the finished house you helped build. 3. Remember Why You're There Even if you may think you're only volunteering because it's a requirement for your service learning class, there may be other reasons at work. The population you're working with is in need of something, and you've been lucky enough to be able to help provide it. You're there to make as much of a difference as you can. 4. Smile, Spread the Positivity & Have Fun You may stumble upon someone who's had a particularly rough day, or who isn't used to asking for assistance. Smile, be optimistic and sensitive to everyone around you. You never know what someone might be going through. Take these opportunities to look on the bright side of things, and have fun while you're at it! Make yourself as accessible as possible, and don't shy away from making real connections with others, whether they're someone in line at a food shelter or a student in the Village Project. 5. Reflect on Every Day Take the walk or ride home to remember everything you learned and experienced. What were some things that took you out of your comfort zone? What did you do that made volunteering easier for yourself and the rest of the community? Look forward to your next experience with these things in mind. No matter how many times you volunteer at a site, there will always be something new to learn. Find a lesson in everyday, and use it to make a greater positive impact on the community. For fall break, I decided to sign up for an alternative break trip. As a first- year student, I figured this would be a wonderful way to meet new friends and get more involved in the Elon community. I participated in the Community Education trip in Asheville, NC. We worked with Artspace Charter School. Artspace is a K- 8 school with an arts integrated curriculum. We first met up with a woman named Robin at the school’s thrift store. The school gets a lot of their money through the thrift store where Robin works. Robin gave us a tour of the school, and I was blown away. I was very impressed with the school, their approach to learning is very interesting. At Artspace, the teachers do not “teach to the test”, but instead teach their students how to think. They implement art into all their subjects, including math and science. On Saturday Morning, we left Elon and went straight to Artspace to begin working. On Saturday and Sunday, we did a lot of groundwork. We had to weed gardens and spread a lot of mulch. The gardening was very tedious, but I knew that this work was going to be very appreciated. As a Charter school, Artspace is not able to bring in landscapers everyday to keep the gardens looking nice. After we saw what the completed garden looked like with no weeds and brand- new mulch, it became clear why the work we were doing was very important. Keeping an academic environment beautiful and clean can give these kids a positive space to learn. Monday was the day that many of us looked forward to the most. This was the day that we were able to work in the classrooms with the students. I was assigned to work in a first- grade classroom with another Elon participant. We were given the responsibility to make corn husk dolls with the students. It was so enjoyable to get to work with the students and get to know the type of kids that attend Artspace. Observing the teacher, I noticed her teaching style. She had a great way of teaching the kids, where instead of giving them information she made them show their thinking process and how they got to their answer. The kids were great too, they all seemed to have a positive attitude towards their school. After the hours, we spent at Artspace, we were able to go relax in downtown Asheville and the River Arts District. Asheville has a lot of amazing, well- done street art. It was fun to be able to explore Asheville, the community that surrounds Artspace. In the evening, we would head back to the Montreat Center and have a group dinner made by our facilitators and then reflect on the day. I really enjoyed my fall break and was happy that I was able to attend and learn more about Artspace and how charter schools work. I would definitely recommend taking advantage of Elon’s alternative breaks because it gives opportunities to work in or outside the Elon community, and it helps and allows you to learn about different issues that is going on all around us. Nettie Leepson is a first year who participated in the 2017 Community Education Fall Alternative Breaks Program. As a part of the program, Leepson was one of many students who got to experience life engaging and educating students in Asheville. The EV! Alternative Breaks Program is a way for students to dedicate their breaks to participating in service. The program is offered over fall and spring breaks, with a variety of topics, such as Sustainable Agriculture, Criminal Justice Reform, and Disaster Relief. The locations of the programs range from here in North Carolina to Georgia, Texas and Jamaica, to name a few. To apply for an Alt Breaks Program, visit: https://www.elon.edu/u/service-learning/current-students/alternative-breaks-program/ If you are interested in being a guest writer for EV!'s blog or know someone who would be, contact [email protected]. Turtle Island: An Environmental Issues--based Experience The smile did not leave my face the whole trip. The moment we arrived at Turtle Island I knew I was someplace that was going to change me. I fell in love with it all- even the outhouses! It felt like going back in time to some fairytale- there were horses just roaming, gorgeous trees and everything was handmade out of various types of wood. It was a privilege to help Turtle Island's creator, Eustace Conway, in any small way we could. He is a wonderful man and I could listen to him talk all day, he is so wise and knowledgeable- he made me eager to get to work and make him smile and proud of us. I was lucky enough to also help out in the kitchen and learn that work as well. All of it gave me so much appreciation for what we were doing and even the food we were eating- which was amazing! Overall, the experience taught me so much about finding the deeper meaning to everything you do and to be mindful of the planet. I feel truly inspired to pass on all that I learned and to be a model for this alternative way of life. Lara Struckman is a first year who participated in the 2017 Environmental Issues Fall Alternative Breaks Program. As a part of the program, Struckman was one of many students who got to experience life without electricity and running water for a long weekend at Turtle Island Preserve in North Carolina. The EV! Alternative Breaks Program is a way for students to dedicate their breaks to participating in service. The program is offered over fall and spring breaks, with a variety of topics, such as Sustainable Agriculture, Criminal Justice Reform, and Disaster Relief. The locations of the programs range from here in North Carolina to Georgia, Texas and Jamaica, to name a few. To apply for an Alt Breaks Program, visit: https://www.elon.edu/u/service-learning/current-students/alternative-breaks-program/ If you are interested in being a guest writer for EV!'s blog or know someone who would be, contact [email protected]. Social media may not be the first thing that pops into your head when you think of service, but it is one of the most important parts. Instagram, Facebook and Twitter all offer valuable insight to an organization that relies on the participation of volunteers. Such accounts can be used to spread information about an organization quickly and easily, but this doesn’t apply to every organization.
How many service or local, nonprofit organization accounts do you follow on social media? The social-media presence of service-driven organizations are few compared to the amount of big-name companies. On Twitter alone, Target flashes a following of 1.93 million people. The official Habitat for Humanity Twitter account, a nonprofit organization well known, like Target, across the country, sports a following of 996,000 people -- about half of Target’s followers. But the numbers are even worse for local organizations. Some of the organizations partnered with EV! have no followers or no independent social media at all. So why is there such a difference in the amount of followers between nonprofits and companies? The answer may lie in an obvious lack of resources, usually of the financial type. Small, local nonprofit organizations usually can’t afford to hire a public relations company or specialist to run their independent social media accounts. But as college students, many of us are familiar with the inner workings of Twitter and Instagram. If the organization you volunteer with does not have any independent social media or is not active on social media, consider speaking with an advisor about creating an account or taking over. The result could be incredibly important to the success of the organization. Hannah Alcock, a sophomore at Elon University, began volunteering at Positive Attitude Youth Center last semester when she volunteered to help with social media. She says that her experience has shown her why social media is so important. “Nonprofits run on two things: volunteers and funding. To reach audiences that provide both of those things, the main goal of nonprofits is often awareness for their mission and programs.” Alcock said that this awareness is often spread through the channels social media offers. “With social media, we have such a unique opportunity to reach a variety of audiences and share some of the great work going on in our local communities,” Alcock said. “It gives people more of an opportunity to interact and be involved in our work because there is another level of connection with the cause when you are seeing pictures or videos versus just reading an email or getting a phone call.” Social media serves as a great link for connecting communities, a resource that allows service organizations not only to grow, but to thrive. The Service Learning Community (SLC) has defined my college experience thus far, as it is the place where I have met my closest friends, had my worldview expanded and challenged, and gained a deeper understanding of various social injustices within our society. The SLC is a Living Learning Community for first year students with a passion for service. The cohort lives on the same hall, attends weekly service events, and engages in reflections about the service performed and social issues. For me, the SLC served as a catalyst for changing my worldview, as students not only critically examine social issues in general, but also critique how we perform service and the effectiveness of such service. Many of us have engaged in the feel good, one and done service that is emphasized in high school. That was certainly what I was accustomed to prior to attending Elon. The SLC provided me with a new model for performing service, one in which community partners are considered just that, partners, rather than recipients in dire need of assistance. This simple shift in mentality has resulted in a radically different form of service, in which both parties are equals and in which sustainable, effective service that is desired by the community (rather than convenient for those performing service) is performed. This new perspective allows the individuals being served the opportunity to regain the dignity and respect due to them. I now strive to engage in effective and sustainable service, in which all individuals involved benefit from the interaction. I am now one of three Service Learning Leaders for the SLC, and find myself in a very different role. As opposed to directly engaging in service, my peers and I are charged with initiating conversations that challenge past perspectives and beliefs regarding current social problems, the individuals being served, what constitutes service, and how to effectively serve others. Our past service opportunity this weekend is indicative of how the SLC seeks to redefine service. The SLC traveled to Greensboro and attended the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, which contains the Woolworth counters where the sit-in protests during the Civil Rights movement began. The museum offers a compelling and critical analysis of the the evolution of racism and segregation in our nation, and examines the harsh realities of a segregated world. While attending a museum to learn about the Civil Rights Movement is not what most consider service, it was an activity intended to provoke students to consider the role race has played in our nation and how they can continue to further the cause of racial justice in America. Such activities are intended to allow students to become advocates for social justice and social issues, a nuanced form of service that many individuals are unaccustomed to and have little experience with. We have also planned more direct service for the SLC this semester, and have partnered with organizations such as Allied Churches, Kopper Top, Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Club, and Campus Kitchen. Such service sites are intended to break the Elon bubble, and allow students to acquire a greater understanding of social issues in Alamance County. The area surrounding Elon University serves as a microcosm for the greater United States, as members of the community face challenges such as food insecurity, homelessness, and affordable housing. We hope to educate the current SLC students about the very real social problems surrounding us, effective means to combat social injustices, and to empower students to become active community leaders with the ability and desire to make the world around them a better place. Fiona Zahm is a junior Service Learning Leader and a former member of the SLC. As part of her role, she plans service sites, hosts weekly meetings and leads reflections. To find out how to get involved with the LLC or service learning in general, contact McClaren Hipp or Katie Shifflette, or visit the SLC online at: https://www.elon.edu/u/service-learning/prospective-students/service-learning-community/ If you are interested in being a guest writer for EV!’s blog or know someone who would be, contact evpublicrelations@gmail.com. |
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