IN THIS ISSUE:
*Events
*Volunteer Opportunities
*Internships, Jobs, and Beyond...
*In the Spotlight: Undergraduate Experience Panel
EVENTS
Green Empowerment and Sustainability Initiatives: Panel Discussion with Majora Carter
Saturday, February 14
2:00pm
Museum of Science and Industry
This symposium will address questions regarding African Americans and the green initiative with panelists including green activists who run non-profit organizations, teach college courses and study environmental science. Dr. Majora Carter will discuss her work at Sustainable South Bronx and her mission to empower underserved populations.
"Sons of Lwala" Film Screening
Monday, February 16
9:00pm
Max Palevsky Cinema (in Ida Noyes Hall)
“Sons of Lwala” is a documentary about Milton and Frederick Ochieng, 2 medical students currently attending Vanderbilt University who are building a health clinic in their home village in Kenya while taking their full medical course load. The film won a few awards at the Nashville Film Festival including one for best documentary. For more information go to www.sonsoflwala.org
Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference hosts “Hyde Park, Challenging the Next Decade“
Wednesday, February 18
7:00pm
Hyde Park Neighborhood Club, 5480 S. Kenwood
HPKCC celebrates its 60th anniversary by asking you and their distinguished panel three questions: 5 things that most impact our neighborhood over the next 10 years, 5 institutions, aspects of community life, or Hyde Park most important to keep, and 5 assets you think need to change or be changed. These topics will be discussed to paint a picture of Hyde Park’s future.
2009 Student Activist Conference
Saturday, February 28
10:30am-3:30pm
Ida Noyes Hall, Library/Lounge
Featuring a conversation with Bill Ayers on activism and education, the 2009 Student Activist Conference will bring together activists who pursue social change through a variety of vocations including education, art, religion, sex-work, and law. Panels include: Sex Workers Outreach Project Chicago, People's Law Office, Chicago New Sanctuary Coalition, and the South Chicago Art Center. RSVP to hwjacoby@uchicago.edu
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
The UC Comer Hospital Pediatric Mobile Unit is looking volunteers to help team members improve access to primary care for children and teens in communities on the Southside of Chicago. Volunteers will assist in facilitating patient flow, improve patient compliance, and classroom and Health Education classes. To find out more about this opportunity, contact Dr. Icy Cade-Bell at icade@peds.bsd.uchicago.edu.
Chicago River is looking for 20 – 30 volunteers to participate on the day of the Chicago River Student Congress. Activities include workshop registration, student sign-in, closing ceremony prep, and more. All volunteers will receive event t-shirt, breakfast and lunch for helping out. Times are from 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Contact Cynthia Fox at (312) 939-0490 ext. 13 or via email at cfox@chicagoriver.org to learn about what opportunities are still available.
Angelic Organics Learning Center will be offering workshops for young people at the Museum of Science and Industry part of Black Creativity Month, and need some help from volunteers who are interested in gardening, composting, and/or education. Volunteers with all levels of expertise (skills or experience in gardening or composting are helpful but not essential). If you are interested, contact Thea Carlson at thea@learngrowconnect.org or 773-288-5462.
Students are needed to help with set-up for the “Taste of Hyde Park,” a fundraiser for the Hyde Park Transitional Housing Project, a charitable organization which provides help for homeless families. The event will take place on Saturday February 21, 2009, starting at 6 pm, at Hyde Park Union Church, 5600 S. Woodlawn Ave., but students are needed at 3pm. For more information, contact Susanna Rudofsky radbusa@yahoo.com.
INTERNSHIPS, JOBS, AND BEYOND...
2009 Humanity in Action Fellowship
Due: 02-12-2009
The HIA Fellowship brings together university students from the United States and Europe for a rigorous, interdisciplinary inquiry into human rights, diversity, and minority issues. Students participate in the five-week fellowship in one of six different countries: Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, or the United States. Check out humanityinaction.org
Chicago Studies’ Calumet Quarter
Due: 02-13-2009
The Program on the Global Environment announces a one-quarter, intensive, experience-based program in environmental studies during the Spring Quarter, 2009. Open to all College students by application, students must enroll in all four courses simultaneously. http://pge.uchicago.edu/undergraduates/calumet.shtml or contact calumet@uchicago.edu for more information.
Samuel Huntington Public Service Award
Due: 02-13-2009
The Samuel Huntington Public Service Award provides $10,000 to a graduating college senior to pursue a public service project anywhere in the world.
William E. Simon Fellowship for Noble Peace
Due: 02-15-2009
The William E. Simon Fellowship encourages undergraduate students to pursue lives that will benefit others. Three fellowships - one for $40,000 and two for $5,000 - are awarded each year. Use of the grant is unrestricted. (Only open to 3rd or 4th year students in the college).
**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/.
Chicago Humanities Festival
Due: 02-23-2009
The Chicago Humanities Festival Internship Program seeks candidates eager to find creative uses for a large multimedia archive of public programs featuring the world's foremost authors, scientists, intellectuals and personalities. Tasks include developing ideas for high-quality content and making content requests of presenters for the upcoming 2009 Festival. This internship requires a commitment of 15-28 hours a week, starting in early April and ending in June 2009. Please submit a cover letter, resumé, two letters of recommendation, and a brief personal statement to: Mary Kate Barley-Jenkins at marykate@chfestival.org
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Undergraduate Experience Panel: What Students in College are Learning Outside the Classroom
Klara Scharnagl, Staff Writer
"Unless you push yourself to the edge, you'll never know how far you can go." On Wednesday, February 4th, thirty University of Chicago students gathered in a classroom to attend an ‘Undergraduate Experience Panel’ hosted by PSI CHI of the Undergraduate Psychology Department, another example highlighting experiential education in action. Of the seven panelists speaking that night, at least four of them had chosen an unconventional path; not working in a lab or office doing research, but working more directly with people – doing service.
The first of these, Khaled Allen, a fourth year, had spent his past summer in Jordan working through the Institute for Family Health with children. He was involved in a music therapy program, playing guitar and singing with the children. He was also there ‘just to play.’ It turns out, he said, the young boys especially needed a guy around to play with, as most of the women working there did not want to get into the sports. By the end of the summer, Allen remarked, “the children helped me the most.”
Anya Thetford, a third year, also worked with children over the summer at an orphanage that housed children who were victims of broken homes, violence or displacement. Thetford said it’s important to know that you are acting as a constant role model to these children; it is not for the faint of heart. In addition, coming from traumatic circumstances, many of the children were difficult to approach. But, said Thetford, “give them time. It’s all about being constant and patient and just loving the kids.” She too saw that the young boys needed a playmate in sports; someone willing to get dirty, so she took on that role as well. In either case, both Thetford and Allen agreed, “it’s amazing how much you can accomplish just by playing with kids.”
Misha Stallworth, a third year, worked over the summer at the Gary Comer Youth Center, and is working there still. Though the title of her position is a ‘tutor,’ she too serves as a mentor and role model for the students she interacts with. The remarkable thing is that these students, even in a classroom on a summer day or a Saturday during the academic year, are here. They come to learn.
This is the same for the students whom Thetford works with during the year at both the one-day SPLASH event in Autumn Quarter each year where 400-500 students come, by their own means, to take classes from University of Chicago students ranging from knitting to astrophysics, and the CASCADE event, a five-week course also taught by UofC students. Again, the students are not provided transportation – they come here because they want to learn.
And even when University of Chicago students find themselves teaching from the front of the classroom, they are still learning; each of their experiences they have brought back to class discussions, papers, even BA theses. How does one get involved in such experiences? “It’s really effective to tell people what you want” said Stallworth. “Throw yourself out there,” said Allen, “and ask what you want to do – people always need help.”
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
