IN THIS ISSUE:
*Events
*Volunteer Opportunities
*Internships, Jobs, and Beyond...
*In the Spotlight: University of Chicago Students Invest in Local Education
EVENTS
South Side History Bike Tour
Saturday, October 10
10:30am-3:30pm
Bartlett Quad
Explore the social, cultural, and political history of the South Side. Stops include Historic Bronzeville, Union Stockyard Gate, Richard J. Daley’s home, Hull House and more. Tour led by faculty members John Boyer, Terry Nichols Clark, and Mark Hansen. Participants must have their own bike and helmet. To register, email dhays@uchicago.edu.
Hand in Hand: Civic Engagement in Health & Medicine Information Session
Wednesday, October 14
5:30pm-6:30pm
BSLC 205
CCIHP joins forces with UCSC, Pritzker School of Medicine, the UCMC Office of Volunteerism, La Rabida Children’s Hospital, and Peer Health Exchange to present a spectrum of volunteer and advocacy opportunities in health care. RSVP to georgevass@uchicago.edu by October 12.
Movie Screening of "Out & Proud in Chicago"
Wednesday, October 14
7:00pm
5710 S. Woodlawn (Community Lounge)
Hosted by the Chicago Studies Program and LGBTQ
Programming Office, "Out & Proud in Chicago" tells the story of
this vast and diverse community through historical records, personal
writings, and recollection. A discussion with TracyBaim , editor for
the Windy City times, the "Out and Proud in Chicago" book, and a
special consultant on the film will follow the screening.
Tutoring Information Session
Thursday, October 15
5:00pm – 6:00pm
Reynolds Club South Lounge
Come hear from and meet Hyde Park tutoring and mentoring organizations. Our guest organizations are Chicago Youth Centers, Kids Unlimited Mentoring Project, Chicago HOPES, and Strive Tutoring. If you have questions, contact us at ucsc@uchicago.edu or call 773-753-4483
Global Village & Youth Leadership Conference
October 16-18
Hyatt Regency O’Hare
GVYLC 2009’s theme is “Educate. Activate. Advocate.” Connect with other
Habitat leaders, develop new skills and learn more about Habitat for
Humanity’s work. JonathanReckford , chief executive officer for Habitat
for Humanity International, will be the keynote speaker. To register
visit: http://www.habitat.org/gvylc/registration.aspx
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Training-to-Transition needs people to conduct mock interviews as well as panelists in the areas of Creative Art & Culinary & Entrepreneurial, Medical,
Health & Fitness, and Construction. For more information contact
Raven Moore at rmoore@umojacorporation.org
Hyde Park Kenwood
Community Conference needs help with their Used Book Sale. They’re
looking for volunteers Friday of setup (Oct. 9) and any time during the
sale (Oct. 10-12). If you’re interested, you can contact Jane directly.
Her email is k-ciacci@uchicago.edu.
Urban Initiatives' Urban Coaching Corps
Urban Initiatives collaborates with schools, teachers, and parents to boost
the academic performance, physical fitness, and character development of children from Chicago'sunderserved communities. Urban Initiative Coaching Corp applicants will be asked to serve as assistant mentor/coaches for youth in the 5th through 8th grades at one of the 10 CPS sites. Volunteers will be expected to dedicate three days a week from 3:00 to 5:00 PM for a 6-week period. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Urban Initiatives' volunteer coordinator at julie.chelovich@urbaninitiatives.org for more information about training time and location.
INTERNSHIPS, JOBS, AND BEYOND...
Idealist.org Graduate Degree Fair for the Public Good
Monday, October 12
5:00pm - 8:00pm
University of Illinois at Chicago, Main Hall A and B
Meet graduate admissions representatives from various programs to discuss
professional development through graduate education, attend a free
information session offering advice on graduate degree options, the
application process, financial aid, and deciding when to attend
graduate school after spending time in the working world.
2010 Diversity Leadership Awards
Deadline: October 16, 2009
The Diversity Leadership Awards seek to recognize University staff members
who display leadership in fostering diversity both on campus and within
the surrounding community and to highlight, in concert with the
University of Chicago Board of Governors, the contributions of alumni
who advance the cause of justice and equality in our community and
society. Please nominate a staff member or alumna/us at
http://www.uchicago.edu/diversity/awards.shtml/
Students Serve, a national 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is accepting
applications for service project grants. Any college student with an
idea about how to address a local, national, or global problem can
submit the online application atStudentsServe.org.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
University of Chicago Students Invest in Local Education
Chelsie Sluyk, Staff Writer
When school began in September, students were issued three challenges for
the year: take charge of their education, hone their talents in school
and set high educational goals for themselves, like attending college.
Last Saturday, high school students from all around Chicago were doing just
that. At the University of Chicago’s third annual Splash! program,
about 400 students from over 46 local high schools filled Harper and
Cobb halls, course schedules in hand, getting a unique chance to
imagine themselves as college students. From 9am to 5pm, students were
able to take courses taught by U of C students in a variety of
different subjects.
The event was a fun way for U of C students to engage with the larger Chicago Community. Mike Huguelet, Dean of College and Citizenship at local charter school Gary Comer College Prep, attended the event with his students this year. He said of the event’s outreach element, “As an elite academic institution, I feel it is their duty to open their doors to help educate theunderserved populations of their city. They are in a position to really motivate K-12 students to set higher expectations and increase their achievement. Splash is a great example of the many ways the U of C reaches out to the schools on the South Side.”
The U of C student instructors were able to design classes on subjects that they
were interested and passionate about. “We offered over 130 different classes,” said co-organizer Nalika Vasudevan , “with topics ranging from humanities, social sciences, computers and math, science, arts and a mixed bag of miscellaneous classes. We had classes like graphic design, poetry, pizza-making, t-shirt making, neuroscience, astrophysics,number tricks!” Students could take up to six hours of classes ranging from 1-2 hours long.
As students arrived in the morning, a DJ was playing music on the quad. After check-in, students took their course schedules and began navigating the halls. “It is hilarious to watch them get lost and run from building to building. It is all part of the experience. They enjoy having contact with college students too. The whole experience really makes them feel like real college students,”Huguelet said.
Funding for supplemental education programs is hard to come by for Chicago Public Schools, so community members are very happy to have an event that their students can attend without the financial burden. With assistance from the Community Service fund, Splash is completely free for students, and includes lunch and a healthy snack. Teachers are also able to incorporate materials and equipment into their lessons. This kind of event shows the commitment of the University members and the dedication of its student body to the goal of improving education and staying involved with the local community.
The program is growing every year. Splash! members and volunteers reach out to the community by visiting schools, working with high school guidance counselors, and talking to students about the program during class and at lunch time. Between these efforts and word of mouth, participation nearly doubled this year.
“I really hope that there is a long-term commitment from the U of C to support Splash/Cascade,” Huguelet said. “They offer high school students unforgettable experiences that help them stay focused on completing college.”
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
