IN THIS ISSUE:

*Events
*Volunteer Opportunities
*Internships, Jobs, and Beyond...
*In the Spotlight: Forming Ties, Building Links






EVENTS
Chicago Urban League Presents: Campaign for High School Equity
Tuesday, December 2
6:00pm-8:00pm
4510 S. Michigan Ave.
Hear from the Grand Boulevard Federation and the Dyett High School youth & and administration about the data-driven progress made, learn solutions for addressing the achievement gap, identify policies to be addressed, and discuss how we can turn this model into a replicable model across communities. R.S.V.P Katherine Raglin at (773) 451-3565 or kraglin@thechiagourbanleague.org

Bronzeville Alliance Forum
Saturday, December 6
8:00am-2:00pm
244 E. Pershing Road, Wendell Phillips High School
Residents, elected officials, and key stakeholders meet to discuss the community’s status and plan its future in celebration of Wimuel D. Black, a leader of the movement to elect Harold Washington as mayor, a mentor to a young Barack Obama, and a lifelong Brozeville resident and activist. Reserve a place at the Forum by calling 773-373-5700


VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
The Center for Economic Progress is looking for volunteers to assist in helping families with taxes. No prior experience is needed as training sessions will be offered beginning in January with the closest location in Bronzeville (4804 S. Cottage Grove). Please check www.economicprogress.org for a comprehensive list of site locations available positions along with the volunteer application. Contact Erica Maslanka, Volunteer Services Manager, at 312.630.0244 or emaslanka@economicprogress.org with any questions

High School chemistry tutors needed for afternoon 1-on-1 sessions. If there is anyone who is willing to assist in this area, please contact Ms. Brazelton at 312-886-0396.

The Dearborn REALTIST Board, an advocate for education concerning public housing matters ensuring Democracy in Housing for all. They are looking for any direction in obtaining volunteer assistance in updating their current website, www.dearbornreb.com. Please contact Tracey Taylor at 312-980-5182.

November is Chicago Arab Heritage Month and the city is hosting many events throughout November. For information about these events, check out http://www.chicagoarabheritage.com.

Family Focus Englewood is looking for volunteers who can assist with the design and construction of the Children's Peace Statue. They can specifically use art, architecture, engineering, and interior design majors or just anyone who is willing to volunteer their time to make a difference in the community. For more information, contact Mary E. Usdrowski at 773-962-0366 extension: 213.

Common Threads, a non profit organization that runs an after school cooking program for children throughout the city of Chicago, is looking for volunteers who are willing to devote a few hours, once a week for their 12-week program. Cooking experience is not required but they are looking for individuals who enjoy working with children and are committed to making a difference in their community. For more information e-mail Elsa Soto at intern@commonthreads.org.

Heartland Alliance’s National Immigrant Justice Center is looking for Mandarin speakers to help with legal intakes for Chinese kids. It would mean going to the International Children’s Center (in Rogers Park) every two weeks for about two hours. Contact Alexandra Fung, afung@heartlandalliance.org or 312-660-1330.

Volunteers are needed for unloading food for the food depository. Please contact Marlene Vellinga (Marvellinga@aol.com) informing her whether you will be around and whether you can help on Tuesday, Dec. 2. The food depository distributes emergency supplies and groceries to residents living between 39th and 60th, Cottage to the lake.

INTERNSHIPS, JOBS, AND BEYOND...
Human Rights Internship
The Human Rights Internship Program offers a select group of Chicago students the opportunity to learn the skills and understand the difficulties inherent in putting human rights into practice. The Internship Program is unique in its flexibility, awarding $5000 grants to afford all interns the freedom to explore their interests. Apply and learn more at http://humanrights.uchicago.edu.


Echoing Green Fellowship
Due: 12-01-2008
Awards two-year fellowships to emerging social innovators with innovative ideas for creating new models for tackling seemingly unsolvable social challenges. Individuals: up to $30,000/year for two years. Partnerships: up to $45,000/ year for two years. For more information, visit: http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellowship

Global Engagement Summer Institute 2009
Due: 1-15-2009
The Global Engagement Summer Institute (GESI) is a two-course summer study abroad program focused on community development in a global context and will send 60 students to La Plata, Argentina; Udaipur, India; or Jinja, Uganda. For more information, visit www.mycge.org or contact Ryan Pederson (ryan-pederson@northwestern.edu).

Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship
Due: 02-15-2009
Sponsors six-to-nine month fellowships for recent college graduates (including graduate students) in Washington, DC. Fellows serve as full-time junior staff members working on peace and security issues, at participating organizations. Includes a stipend of $2,100 per month and health insurance, plus travel expenses to Washington DC. For more information: http://scoville.org/.

Federal Work Study (Off-Campus)
UCSC seeks out and posts part-time and summer work-study positions with Chicago area nonprofit and public sector organizations. Opportunities are geared toward identified interests and skills of our College, graduate and professional school students. View this list for the most current off-campus works study positions.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Forming Ties, Building Links
Klara Scharnagl, Staff Writer

Community, humble, curiosity, input, impact, flexibility, development, changing lives, bringing diversity, mindfulness, awareness, trust, exposure, exploration, transformative are a few words Summer Links alumni and host site representatives use to describe Summer Links.

These words describe not only the experience itself, but the characteristics it takes to be a Summer Links intern. Summer Links is an intensive 11-week service oriented internship based in Chicago. It is the flagship of the University Community Service Center, a program started by Michelle Obama in 1997, and is defined by a melding of service, academics, and personal reflection. For many, the most critical component of the Summer Links experience is the reflection.

Mutisya Leonard, a current second year international student from Nairobi, said “Summer Links made me think about what matters to me and, [more importantly,] why it does.” Summer Links changed the way he now interacts with the world, particularly his community here in Chicago, “I want to take the train, I want to see what changes as I ride north, south, east and west” said Leonard.

“Summer Links heightened my awareness of my own footprint, made me ask ‘why do I matter?’ Made me realize I do matter” said Hannah Birnbaum a third year in the College. In addition, Summer Links “opened me out…complicated my world in a good way” said Birnbaum.

Wallace Goode, director of the University Community Service Center, believes Summer Links makes you try to answer the questions, “What part of the movement are you going to contribute to, and now what?” It is important to ask “and now what?” in order to never lose the critical perspective and deep reflection gained through the Summer Links experience, and to continue the conversation.

Summer Links challenges you to stretch yourself beyond your own parameters, to break out of your comfort zone, and to think outside the box. The end result of this transformative internship can, in fact, be monumental. You do not – some would argue you cannot – look at the world in the same way afterwards. Caroline Weisser, current fourth year in the College, and former Summer Links program coordinator said, “Answers are not given to you at the end of the summer. The product is a new process of thinking.”

Jaqueline Love, who works at Sullivan House, touched upon the ‘bringing diversity’ aspect of the Summer Links program. “[Our Summer Links intern] taught our youth to look at ‘other’ as not always a negative; taught our youth to look at race in a more positive way.” The summer, she said, was a journey for all involved – “there were lines our youth were afraid to cross; they crossed those lines with [the Summer Links intern].”

Summer Links is a key and invaluable component of the University of Chicago. It challenges students to go beyond the readings; to expand their definition of ‘readings’ to include relationships, interactions, and experience, a challenge to reverse these perspectives – to extend the classroom to the community, to put theory into practice, and then to become the link once they return to classes in the fall. Emma Scripps put it, “I approach texts differently, I can put stories behind the things I read.”


The University Community Service Center (UCSC) fosters the development of civic-minded students by providing substantive community service opportunities through community partnerships based on mutual trust and respect. If you have questions - how to get involved as a student or how to connect to students as a community organization - please contact us.

University Community Service Center
5525 S. Ellis Ave., Suite 160
Chicago IL, 60637
Tel: 773.753.4483
Fax: 773.834.1160
ucsc.uchicago.edu

IN THIS ISSUE:

*Events
*Volunteer Opportunities
*Internships, Jobs, and Beyond...
*In the Spotlight, Real Men Do Real Service







EVENTS
A Tent of Hope
Monday Nov. 17th – Tuesday Nov. 24th
10:00am – 3:00pm
The Hutchinson Courtyard
The African and Caribbean Students Association (ACSA) and Partnership for the Advancement of Refugee Rights (PARR) host an University of Chicago fundraising initiative that draws attention to the genocide in Darfur through decorating a canvas refugee tent at the Hutchinson Courtyard. The tent will be set on display for community members to paint/sign on messages of hope. The tents will then be shipped to Darfur as a new temporary home for a family afflicted by the shelter crisis. Direct any additional questions to aruj@uchicago.edu

Teach-in Honoring the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Thursday, November 20
3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
McCormick Lounge, Reynolds Club, 1135 E. 57th Street
As part of the world-wide celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the University of Chicago Human Rights Program will present a teach-in on Thursday, November 20, 2008. Chicago faculty and students present historical, theoretical, and practical perspectives on the context and legacy of the UDHR.


Watoto Wa Mitaani: Children of the Streets
Thursday, November 20
6:00pm
5710 South Woodlawn
The Liwalo Na Liwe Foundation & The African and Caribbean Students' Association present a film that explores the experience of 5 street children in Tanzania, Africa followed by discussion from film maker Michael Stewart. Free Senegalese food from Yassa will be provided.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
UCSC Presents the Autumn Day of Service
Saturday, November 22
8:00am-1:30pm; Registration begins at 8:00am
Meet at the Reynolds Club
It will be an opportunity to meet new people, see Chicago, and engage in the great work that hunger-related organizations are doing around the city. Please RSVP by email to Brooke Fallon at bfallon@uchicago.edu or ucsc@uchicago.edu with Attn: Brooke in subject line.

High School chemistry tutors needed for afternoon 1-on-1 sessions. If there is anyone who is willing to assist in this area, please contact Ms. Brazelton at 312-886-0396.

The Dearborn REALTIST Board, an advocate for education concerning public housing matters ensuring Democracy in Housing for all. They are looking for any direction in obtaining volunteer assistance in updating their current website, www.dearbornreb.com. Please contact Tracey Taylor at 312-980-5182.

November is Chicago Arab Heritage Month and the city is hosting many events throughout November. For information about these events, check out http://www.chicagoarabheritage.com.


Family Focus Englewood is looking for volunteers who can assist with the design and construction of the Children's Peace Statue. They can specifically use art, architecture, engineering, and interior design majors or just anyone who is willing to volunteer their time to make a difference in the community. For more information, contact Mary E. Usdrowski at 773-962-0366 extension: 213.

Common Threads, a non profit organization that runs an after school cooking program for children throughout the city of Chicago, is looking for volunteers who are willing to devote a few hours, once a week for their 12-week program. Cooking experience is not required but they are looking for individuals who enjoy working with children and are committed to making a difference in their community. For more information e-mail Elsa Soto at intern@commonthreads.org.


Heartland Alliance’s National Immigrant Justice Center is looking for Mandarin speakers to help with legal intakes for Chinese kids. It would mean going to the International Children’s Center (in Rogers Park) every two weeks for about two hours. Contact Alexandra Fung, afung@heartlandalliance.org or 312-660-1330.

Tutors and mentors are needed by Chicago Youth Centers to work at Bret Harte School for Mondays from 2:50-4:20pm and Tuesdays from 2:50-4:00pm. If interested, please contact Patricia Flax at patricia.flax-hatch@chicagoyouthcenters.org.


INTERNSHIPS, JOBS, AND BEYOND...
Human Rights Internship
The Human Rights Internship Program offers a select group of Chicago students the opportunity to learn the skills and understand the difficulties inherent in putting human rights into practice. The Internship Program is unique in its flexibility, awarding $5000 grants to afford all interns the freedom to explore their interests. Apply and learn more at http://humanrights.uchicago.edu.


Echoing Green Fellowship
Due: 12-01-2008
Awards two-year fellowships to emerging social innovators with innovative ideas for creating new models for tackling seemingly unsolvable social challenges. Individuals: up to $30,000/year for two years. Partnerships: up to $45,000/ year for two years. For more information, visit: http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellowship

Global Engagement Summer Institute 2009
Due: 1-15-2009
The Global Engagement Summer Institute (GESI) is a two-course summer study abroad program focused on community development in a global context and will send 60 students to La Plata, Argentina; Udaipur, India; or Jinja, Uganda. For more information, visit www.mycge.org or contact Ryan Pederson (ryan-pederson@northwestern.edu).

Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship
Due: 02-15-2009
Sponsors six-to-nine month fellowships for recent college graduates (including graduate students) in Washington, DC. Fellows serve as full-time junior staff members working on peace and security issues, at participating organizations. Includes a stipend of $2,100 per month and health insurance, plus travel expenses to Washington DC. For more information: http://scoville.org/.

Federal Work Study (Off-Campus)
UCSC seeks out and posts part-time and summer work-study positions with Chicago area nonprofit and public sector organizations. Opportunities are geared toward identified interests and skills of our College, graduate and professional school students. View this list for the most current off-campus works study positions.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Real Men Do Real Service
Rachel Cromidas, Staff Writer

Fourth-year Luke Rodehorst has a busy weekend ahead of him: from Thursday to Sunday he will be teaching reading skills to local elementary school boys, serving dinner at the Living Room Café, and leading a Day of Service team. But this community service-heavy schedule comes as no surprise for Rodehorst—after all, he is the director of Men in Service.

According to Rodehorst, Men in Service is unique among the University Community Service Center’s fourteen student-run programs because its chief goal is to encourage more University men to engage in service opportunities. As such, Men in Service members make monthly trips to a number of Chicago non-profits, for example the Living Room Café, where they serve a meal during the organization’s “sober living hours” and spend time talking and watching movies with its community members.

This coming Thursday, the men are also volunteering for Real Men Read, a Chicago Public Schools program that places men in elementary schools to promote reading.

“A lot of times kids in the school thing reading isn’t a cool thing to do, especially for guys. So MIS decided to take part in that,” said Rodehorst.

According to Rodehorst, one of MIS’s strengths is the programs ability to translate the members’ ideas into real projects.

“If somebody sees something in the community or an issue, we can rally together to create a program that address that need,” he said.

One example is the college prep program MIS implemented last spring at Hail Franciscan, a local all-boys high school. The school was looking for male role models to encourage their students, Rodehorst said, and MIS was a good fit.

For fourth-year Chris Hansman, the best part of being a member of MIS is spending time at the Living Room Café on a regular basis.

“While it is exciting to go off and do a service project for a few hours or a day, you often never really interact with those people again,” he said. “The Living Room Café is close by, so we interact with the same people and start to develop a relationship with them. It feels like you’re making connections with real people.”

In addition to MIS’s core group of members, the group routinely partners with the University’s male sports teams, fraternities and other undergraduate and graduate organizations to create service project experiences. Hansman remembers one trip MIS took with twenty other students to clean up a beach on the Northside.

“I had a really good time because we all went out together, got really dirty and even convinced the bus driver to stop at Chipotle on the way back—there was a lot of camaraderie.”

Luke Rodehorst would encourage any man on campus to join the group for a service project: “If they’re down to do some service, they should get in touch.”

Rodehorst can be contacted at lsr@uchicago.edu.


The University Community Service Center (UCSC) fosters the development of civic-minded students by providing substantive community service opportunities through community partnerships based on mutual trust and respect. If you have questions - how to get involved as a student or how to connect to students as a community organization - please contact us.

University Community Service Center
5525 S. Ellis Ave., Suite 160
Chicago IL, 60637
Tel: 773.753.4483
Fax: 773.834.1160
ucsc.uchicago.edu

IN THIS ISSUE:

*Events
*Volunteer Opportunities
*Internships, Jobs, and Beyond...
*In the Spotlight, Social Justice at University of Chicago





EVENTS
Summer Links Information Session
Thursday, November 13
6:00pm-7:00pm
5710 South Woodlawn
Hear firsthand accounts of the connections from Summer Links, opportunities, and advantages associated from Summer Links related internships. Please contact Rosalie DeFino at rdefino@uchicago.edu or Trudi Langendorf at trudi@uchicago.edu or 773.834.2699 for more information.

"Waterworks: China/Chicago: An investigation of the environmental issues surrounding large-scale waterworks in Chicago and China."
Friday, November 14
12:00pm
The talk focuses on the effects and consequences of Three Gorges Dam and the Deep Tunnel Project – greater Chicago’s answer to water pollution and sewer problems. Space is limited. To register, call 773.702.2351 or e-mail kristypeterson@uchicago.edu.

Chicago Studies Annual Journal Launch
Friday, November 14
3:30pm-5:00pm
Social Science Research Building, John Hope Franklin Room
The authors will discuss researching in and writing about Chicago, and the process of refining their essays for the volume.

Let’s Play with Blocks!
Saturday, November 15
Registration: 8:30am-9:00am; Workshop: 9:00am-12:00pm
Kenwood Academy: 5015 S. Blackstone
Join a hands-on exercise building concept models, running the numbers, and determining what it takes to create a sustainable and viable vision for 53rd Street.

Xperience Chicago: The National Museum of Mexican Art
Saturday, November 15
10:00am-2:00pm
Take a few hours from your Saturday to visit one of Chicago's hidden museums, and the nation's largest Latino arts institution. Tour the museum and then have time for lunch and exploring the neighborhood before heading back to campus. Sign up at the here!

Into the Second Century: Continuing SSA’s Tradition of Improving Urban Education
Saturday, November 15
8:00am-6pm
School of Social Service Administration, 969 East 60th Street
The seminar panels will spotlight exemplary SSA and Chicago area school improvement efforts as well as urban school improvement efforts from across the country. Each discussion will touch on the areas of emerging research, current policy issues, and innovative practice activities.

The Beehive Collective visits University of Chicago
Monday, November 17
7:00pm
5710 South Woodlawn
The Beehive Collective will hold a workshop on how globalization has led to an unhealthy agricultural environment in South America.


VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
UCSC Presents the Autumn Day of Service
Saturday, November 22
8:00am-1:30pm; Registration begins at 8:00am
Meet at the Reynolds Club
It will be an opportunity to meet new people, see Chicago, and engage in the great work that hunger-related organizations are doing around the city. Please RSVP by email to Brooke Fallon at bfallon@uchicago.edu or ucsc@uchicago.edu with Attn: Brooke in subject line.


Heartland Alliance’s National Immigrant Justice Center is looking for Mandarin speakers to help with legal intakes for Chinese kids. It would mean going to the International Children’s Center (in Rogers Park) every two weeks for about two hours. Contact Alexandra Fung, afung@heartlandalliance.org or 312-660-1330.

Tutors and mentors are needed by Chicago Youth Centers to work at Bret Harte School for Mondays from 2:50-4:20pm and Tuesdays from 2:50-4:00pm. If interested, please contact Patricia Flax at patricia.flax-hatch@chicagoyouthcenters.org.


INTERNSHIPS, JOBS, AND BEYOND...
Human Rights Internship
The Human Rights Internship Program offers a select group of Chicago students the opportunity to learn the skills and understand the difficulties inherent in putting human rights into practice. The Internship Program is unique in its flexibility, awarding $5000 grants to afford all interns the freedom to explore their interests. Apply and learn more at http://humanrights.uchicago.edu.


Echoing Green Fellowship
Due 12-01-2008
Awards two-year fellowships to emerging social innovators with innovative ideas for creating new models for tackling seemingly unsolvable social challenges. Individuals: up to $30,000/year for two years. Partnerships: up to $45,000/ year for two years. For more information, visit: http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellowship

Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship
Due: 02-15-2009
Sponsors six-to-nine month fellowships for recent college graduates (including graduate students) in Washington, DC. Fellows serve as full-time junior staff members working on peace and security issues, at participating organizations. Includes a stipend of $2,100 per month and health insurance, plus travel expenses to Washington DC. For more information: http://scoville.org/.


Federal Work Study (Off-Campus)
UCSC seeks out and posts part-time and summer work-study positions with Chicago area nonprofit and public sector organizations. Opportunities are geared toward identified interests and skills of our College, graduate and professional school students. View this list for the most current off-campus works study positions.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Social Justice at University of Chicago
Mutisya Leonard, Staff Writer

Over the last five years, UCSC has coordinated Social Justice efforts through the Social Justice Initiative. Social Justice co-coordinators David Klein, a third year in the College, double majoring in English Language & Literature and Gender Studies, and Hannah Jacoby a fourth year in the College majoring in Political Science reflect on their work with the Social Justice Initiative.

The Social Justice Initiative serves as a conduit between student activists and University resources available for furthering Social Justice efforts. “A clearing house for information on activism,” Jacoby considers it. Of their work, Klein says: “An important part of our job is to shift the paradigm, this notion that activism is simply protesting, rebelling and holding up signs. And though those are crucial statements in a rally, we are really in the business of organizing a serious, concerted effort for social change, with petitions, protests and signboards only as instruments.” The Social Justice dialog is open and casual, as much as it’s bureaucratic and technical.

Aramark Workers’ Student Alliance (AWSA) is a good case in point for this duality. AWSA was created as a coalition of Aramark workers and student groups working together to demand fair working conditions for dining hall staff. AWSA was formed in the Spring of 2008 in response to growing discontent among dining hall staff. Anticipating a renewal of Aramark contracts, last Friday, November 7th 2008, AWSA rallied for a revision of contract terms, pressuring the University to negotiate more closely with dining hall staff.

AWSA is to Klein and Jacoby, a good example of the gains of coalition building. AWSA collected, in its creation, the inputs of Yalla, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Organization of Black Students (OBS), Students Organizing United with Labor (SOUL), Southside Solidarity Network, Graduate Students United (GSU), Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MEChA), Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS), Jewish Action, Amnesty, and STAND. The RSOs in their collaboration consulted with the Social Justice Initiative for advising in the process of their coalition building.

The selection of co-coordinators is in part, based upon their dexterity with administration, University faculty and community members, so that they are able to advise Social Justice groups on where to reach out to for primary contacts, how to navigate the University administrative hierarchies and basically check up on what office to direct complaints.

An important responsibility for the co-coordinators is in hosting year-round skill-building workshops. “We hold trainings on consensus building, talking to the media, and effective campaign strategy,” Jacoby explained. In fact, a December 2nd workshop is planned for effective campaign strategy, Community Organizing 101. These workshops culminate in the annual Student Activists’ Conference (SAC), a themed daylong event that takes an in-depth look at one aspect of activism. Recent themes have been around alumni activism and City Hall, and this years’ is on the incorporation of community efforts such as teaching, healthcare and journalism into Social Justice efforts.

Two important goals for the Social Justice Initiative this year, and consequently foci for the workshops, are: one, to expand the definition of Social Justice so that it goes beyond its conservative limited understanding, and two, to increase involvement from University of Chicago’s Graduate student population.

A special highlight for this Quarter’s programming is next week’s visit by the Beehive Design Collective, a collective graphics workshop that creates large format murals and banners as educational tools that provide a visual alternative to the deconstruction of complicated social and political issues ranging from corporate globalization to biotechnology. The Social Justice Initiative invited MEChA, SOUL, OLAS and the Environmental Concerns Organization (ECO) to partner with Beehive Collective in bringing them to University of Chicago. A picture lecture is scheduled for November 17th, 7.00pm at the OMSA Community Lounge, on 5710 S. Woodlawn Ave. The visit will feature an illustrated storytelling of their latest graphics and discussion on connections running through colonization, militarism and resource extraction – how agriculture is a Social Justice concern.

The night is, among other things, meant to inspire a habit of coalition among college RSOs towards the pursuit of Social Justice causes. Attendants will consider how they as students, and as affiliates of their different RSOs, are connected to trade agreements between the US and Latin America, and implications South American agriculture may have on their own work.

The University Community Service Center (UCSC) fosters the development of civic-minded students by providing substantive community service opportunities through community partnerships based on mutual trust and respect. If you have questions - how to get involved as a student or how to connect to students as a community organization - please contact us.

University Community Service Center
5525 S. Ellis Ave., Suite 160
Chicago IL, 60637
Tel: 773.753.4483
Fax: 773.834.1160
ucsc.uchicago.edu

IN THIS ISSUE:

*Events
*Volunteer Opportunities
*Internships, Jobs, and Beyond...
*In the Spotlight, Flashback: The Obama Years






EVENTS
Information session on the Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship
Monday, November 10
5:30-7:00pm
Ida Noyes East Lounge
The Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship, a project of the Congressional Hunger Center is a unique leadership development opportunity for motivated individuals seeking to make a difference in the struggle to eliminate hunger and poverty.

The Redemption of Reason Conference
Saturday, November 8
1:00pm
Divinity School (Swift Hall)
Conference centers on social justice and human rights. The conference is hosting Chicago-based NGOs, ministries, food pantries, legal aid services, and health centers as a way to get the university community connected with social justice programs.


VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Heartland Alliance’s National Immigrant Justice Center is looking for Mandarin speakers to help with legal intakes for Chinese kids. It would mean going to the International Children’s Center (in Rogers Park) every two weeks for about two hours. Contact Alexandra Fung, afung@heartlandalliance.org or 312-660-1330.

Tutors and mentors are needed by Chicago Youth Centers to work at Bret Harte School for Mondays from 2:50-4:20pm and Tuesdays from 2:50-4:00pm. If interested, please contact Patricia Flax at patricia.flax-hatch@chicagoyouthcenters.org.


INTERNSHIPS, JOBS, AND BEYOND...
Human Rights Internship
The Human Rights Internship Program offers a select group of Chicago students the opportunity to learn the skills and understand the difficulties inherent in putting human rights into practice. The Internship Program is unique in its flexibility, awarding $5000 grants to afford all interns the freedom to explore their interests. Apply and learn more at http://humanrights.uchicago.edu.


Echoing Green Fellowship
Due 12-01-2008
Awards two-year fellowships to emerging social innovators with innovative ideas for creating new models for tackling seemingly unsolvable social challenges. Individuals: up to $30,000/year for two years. Partnerships: up to $45,000/ year for two years. For more information, visit: http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellowship

Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship
Due: 02-15-2009
Sponsors six-to-nine month fellowships for recent college graduates (including graduate students) in Washington, DC. Fellows serve as full-time junior staff members working on peace and security issues, at participating organizations. Includes a stipend of $2,100 per month and health insurance, plus travel expenses to Washington DC. For more information: http://scoville.org/.


Federal Work Study (Off-Campus)
UCSC seeks out and posts part-time and summer work-study positions with Chicago area nonprofit and public sector organizations. Opportunities are geared toward identified interests and skills of our College, graduate and professional school students. View this list for the most current off-campus works study positions.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Flashback: The Obama Years
Klara Scharnagl, Staff Writer

Under Michelle Obama’s leadership from 1996 to 2001, UCSC became a more formalized organization within the University; participants in service more than tripled from 500 to 2,000. Undoubtedly, Mrs. Obama made quite an impact, but few are aware of the back-story. UCSC alumni from the Obama era recount their experiences during these formidable years.

“Prior to Mrs. Obama’s efforts, there was no central community service body at the University” said John Papandrea, JD ’98. In 1992, UCSC developed roots as a student-run organization. By 1996, a Faculty-Student Committee on Volunteerism, chaired by Harold Richman, recommended the formalization of the University Community Service Center, including funding programs and hiring professional staff. To lead these efforts, Michelle Obama was appointed Associate Dean of Student Services and Director.

Papandrea shared his view of Mrs. Obama’s inspiring vision adding, “her approach was very pragmatic. ‘Let's not reinvent the wheel,’ she'd say. She knew that various pockets of the university were already doing good work in the community, but it was not well-coordinated and not well-organized. Her vision, to me, was to use what was already happening as a foundation, and get people to see that community service should be more to students than a bullet point on their resumes. To her, it was an opportunity to meet new people and learn about the South Side community that was our home away from home while we were at the U of C.”

Jeremy Robins, AB ’98, was involved in service his entire time at the University of Chicago. Students’ vision “seemed simple: to just use some of the vast resources of the university and the student body to do some good in the surrounding communities” said Robins.

Right before Robins’ fourth year in the College, Mrs. Obama came on board. “I felt she did a lot to change the tone: first just on a symbolic level - as someone who was personally grounded in the two communities, who's life bridged some of that divide. She also spent a lot of time meeting with and talking with student groups, and set a clear, thoughtful message: She wanted community service to not be about one-time feel-good projects, but rather long-term, committed relationship-building - which I felt was so on-point.”

The Summer Links program, an intensive 11-week internship with opportunities at service and non-profit organizations throughout the Chicago area, was launched by Mrs. Obama, and remains a way that University of Chicago students are able to connect with the community. “[Service] was a tremendous opportunity to engage a community a lot of U of C students might never see. I always had the impression that UCSC valued the role we had in expanding the reach of UChicago programs to other parts of the city.” said Katherine Donahoe, AB ‘01.

Just like students today, these alumni came to service for a great variety of reasons; from passion for a cause, to needing a break from academia, to finding a niche where one might not feel as homesick, to reaching out and wanting to get to know the community.

Robins came close to dropping out of the University. “By my 3rd year of undergrad I had seriously burned out of the super intellectual myopia of my classes, and really wanted to dive into something more useful and grounded in the real-world” said Robins. The resources and support he found at the Community Service Center helped him not only to find that “real-world engagement,” it also encouraged him to stick with his studies and see them through.

Service not only contributed to their education, but to their later pursuits as well: Jeremy Robins has been working in education and community development; Katherine Donahoe has been working in public service since graduating. Their time with UCSC, they say, “was invaluable in getting a start in this direction.”

Sarah Truelsch, AB ‘01, said that though she did not know her directly through UCSC, she did encounter Mrs. Obama at many Summer Links and Human Rights internship functions. Said Truelsch, “Mrs. Obama always struck me, as she does on TV now, as down-to-earth, deeply concerned, and very cool.”


The University Community Service Center (UCSC) fosters the development of civic-minded students by providing substantive community service opportunities through community partnerships based on mutual trust and respect. If you have questions - how to get involved as a student or how to connect to students as a community organization - please contact us.

University Community Service Center
5525 S. Ellis Ave., Suite 160
Chicago IL, 60637
Tel: 773.753.4483
Fax: 773.834.1160
ucsc.uchicago.edu