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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