IN THIS ISSUE:

*Events
*Volunteer Opportunities
*Internships, Jobs, and Beyond...
*In the Spotlight: Educational Enhancement through Academic Competition











EVENTS
M.L.K. Day of Service
Saturday, January 17
7:30am-4:00pm
For the MLK Day of Service, UCSC is partnering again with Chicago Cares for their Celebration of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Students, staff, and faculty will join 4,000 volunteers from across the region on Saturday, January 17 to honor Dr. King's legacy and build a stronger Chicago.

A Writers’ Congress: Chicago Poets on the Inauguration of Barack Obama
Tuesday, January 20
5:30pm
DePaul University Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave.
Join Chicago Public Radio’s Chicago Amplified and UniVerse of Poetry as seventy-five local poets gather to read their work celebrating the inauguration of Barack Obama. Event is FREE. More info at http://www.chicagopublicradio.org

Panel on Public School Funding
Thursday, January 22
5:00pm-7:00pm
Swift Hall, 3rd Floor
Presentation and discussion of collective reports by Catalyst Chicago and the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability on public school funding formulas in Illinois and the resulting inequities across school districts. Prof. Charles Payne will serve as the moderator and Ralph Martiere (Center for Tax and Budget Accountability) will give the initial presentation along with Al Sharp (Protestants for the Common Good).

Launch Your Career as a Peace Corps Volunteer: Information Session
Thursday, January 22
6:00pm-7:30pm
Ida Noyes Hall – 2nd Floor (East Lounge)
University of Chicago held on to its No. 1 spot on the Peace Corps’ top 25 list of small schools producing Peace Corps Volunteers. With 35 alumni currently serving as Peace Corps Volunteers, University of Chicago is at the top of the ranking in its category for the second year in a row. Take this opportunity to meet local returned Peace Corps volunteers who lived and worked in international communities, hear their inspiring stories, and ask questions about being a member of the Peace Corps.

Mercy Housing Front’s Homeless Count
Tuesday, January 27
7:00pm
4946 N Sheridan
Mercy Housing Front is gathering volunteers for an accurate count of homeless people throughout Chicago; the figures from these counts determine allocations for homeless resources. The training session is at 7pm and the counting will occur around 1am. For more information, contact Steph at slane@mercyhousing.org


VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Jumpstart AmeriCorps is a non-profit organization that pairs college students with preschool aged children in low socio-economic communities nationwide to give them one-on-one support in developmental literacy and language that is not often provided in low-income preschools. If interested contact Moriah Bailey Stephenson at Mstephe9@depaul.edu or via phone at (405)203-3675.

In January 2009, the Food Depository will participate in Feeding America’s National Hunger Study, Hunger in America 2009, a nation-wide hunger study that will be the most comprehensive study on hunger in the world. They need reliable, adult volunteers who can commit to a training session (multiple training sessions will be available at the end of January), and can visit at least two agencies over a three-month period. E-mail now to volunteer.

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

The Dearborn REALTIST Board is 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.

Murray Language Academy is seeking students interested in tutoring kids during the "Homework Club" program, which is Monday-Friday 2:30-3:30pm. Also looking for students willing to share their passion (art, singing, journalism, etc.) with their students (these types of enrichment programs occur Monday-Friday between 4:00pm and 6:00pm.). If interested, contact Megham Freytag at (773)619-0408 or Megham_Freytag@YMCACHGO.org


INTERNSHIPS, JOBS, AND BEYOND...
2009 Humanity in Action Fellowship
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. Upon completing the fellowship, Fellows join an active international network of young professionals and are eligible for internship opportunities at the United States Congress, European Parliament, International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and other civic and political institutions. Check out humanityinaction.org

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).

SPN/IHS Koch Summer Fellow Program
Due: 1-31-2009
SPN/IHS Koch Summer Fellow Program at the Illinois Policy Institute offers a 10 week program featuring workshops in career building and policy analysis at James Madison University in Virginia and the Illinois Policy Institute here in Chicago. Fellowship compensates for travel costs and offers a $1,500 stipend. For more information and an application visit the Institute for Humane Studies website.

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/.

The Academy for Global Citizenship (AGC), a prospective International Baccalaureate school that offers a relevant, engaging, and challenging educational program, is seeking interns to assist with fundraising development. The internship requires students to research donors, compile a database, and manage fundraisers. Compensation is included. Email resume and cover letter to: sarahelizabeth@agcchicago.org.

Jeff Metcalf Fellowships are up on line - over 150 Jeff Metcalf Fellowship positions are posted on Chicago Career Connections and many more are sure to come. The Jeff Metcalf Fellowship Program provides University of Chicago 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students the opportunity to spend the summer learning by doing. You will be paid a minimum of $10/hours for 400 hours of work. Deadlines for Metcalfs run from early January through mid February.

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
An Alternative Approach to Academic Engagement
Mutisya Leonard, Staff Writer

One of the goals of the University Community Service Center at University of Chicago is to foster meaningful partnerships between the University and our immediate community that enrich the academic lives of students both at the University and in our immediate community.

The idea to partner with the Chicago Academic Games League (CAGL) was born of a UCSC program, Educational Enhancement through Academic Competition. CAGL, now in its 30th year, was started by then teacher and now retired, James Wilson, as a Hyde Park/Kenwood community initiative based at Ray Elementary School. Wilson, still Director of the program says that CAGL’s greatest asset is the “gang of kind volunteer teachers and parents that make tournaments run, unrewarded almost.” “But with increasing economic demands and hence greater opportunity costs for time,” he regrets, “our volunteer levels are getting a big blow and it’s harder to serve as many schools as we’d set out aspiring to.”

Through weekly math club meetings at local schools and monthly math competitions, CAGL encourages young people to practice logical thinking, math skills, pride in academic achievement, and sportsmanship. CAGL accepts applications from South Side middle schools throughout the year to take part in the competitions, and at the University an administrative student staff liaises with CAGL and the schools to organize competition meet ups, manage agendas at Board Conferences of involved parties, and follow up on contacts.

CAGL’s Program Manager, Third Year Anthropology and Fundamental double major Race Wright takes pride in the fact that CAGL “represents an excellent opportunity for middle school students to engage in an exciting, and intensive hands on manner.”

“One of the challenges with the United States’ public education system is that it is, frankly, producing less results. For a number of reasons there seems to be a shift away from competitive strife for intellectual dominance, to an extent that is risky to performance. School is becoming less rigorous. CAGL is a great way for South Side middle schools students to exercise their mental capacities in a demanding but healthy environment that is creative, fun and rewarding. Plus it exercises our students’ team work and participation skills.”

Ten schools will take part in this year’s tournaments, among them Hendrix, Black, Shabazz, Washington, Carnegie and Cadwell – local middle schools that have been actively sending teams to CAGL. Wright says that one of CAGL’s goals for this year is to expand their influence to reach more schools quantitatively, and more types of schools, celebrating Chicago’s racial and ethnic diversity.

CAGL Tournaments are lined up for the Saturdays of January 17th, February 14th, March 21st, April 18th, and May 16th. The May 16th Tournament deliberately coincides with Summer Breeze on our Quads, and is the year’s culminating invitation-only tournament.

“In past years” says Aviva Rosman, a Third Year in the College and Public Policy Studies major and last year’s Program Manager, “we have brought our winning students to the Quads for Summer Breeze and they really enjoy the honor.”

Rosman added, “ In the past, we have organized to collect gift cards from Macy's and Target to reward generous teachers that volunteer a good deal of unpaid hours to coach teams. The reception to that was great. We are, looking forward, going to have to do some grant searching. We also need to streamline the tournament process.”

CAGL will be looking to recruit college volunteers to work with the Program Manager in making richer, and running better the tournaments.


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: A Letter from the UCSC Director











EVENTS

M.L.K. Day of Service
Saturday, January 17
7:30am-4:00pm
For the MLK Day of Service, UCSC is partnering again with Chicago Cares for their Celebration of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Students, staff, and faculty will join 4,000 volunteers from across the region on Saturday, January 17 to honor Dr. King's legacy and build a stronger Chicago. **Registration is only open through Friday, January 9, 2009, so sign up and recruit your team members quickly. To register, visit http://chicagocares.kintera.org/COS2009 **

IWJ Executive Director Kim Bobo Book Signing
Friday, January 9
7:30pm
Women & Children Bookstore, 5233 N. Clark St
Interfaith Worker Justice Executive Director Kim Bobo will sign and discuss her new book Wage Theft in America: Why Millions of Working Americans Are Not Getting Paid - And What We Can Do About. Bobo’s work discusses the atrocity of wage restrictions to legalized workers and resolving solutions locally and nationally.

Eddie C. Campbell Concert
Friday, January 9
8:00 PM
Checkerboard Lounge, 5201 S. Harper Ct.
Westside blues-master Eddie C. Campbell will perform on stage in a concert benefiting STRIVE, a non-profit organization in Hyde Park providing one on one tutoring to students across the Southside of Chicago. General tickets $20, student tickets $10.

Public Hearing on Renaissance 2010 Initiative
Saturday, January 10
10:00am-2:00pm
Malcolm X College Cafeteria, 2nd Floor (1900 W. Van Buren)
The Caucus of Rank and File Educators (CORE) is sponsoring a city-wide public hearing regarding school closings through Chicago Public School's Renaissance 2010 Program. Parents, students and teachers are scheduled to testify about what has happened to their schools and communities because of Renaissance 2010.

Alpha Phi Omega Community Service Meeting
Sunday, January 11
5:30pm
Reynolds Club South Lounge (2nd Floor)
As the University of Chicago’s only COED community service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega offers leadership, friendship, and service in a laid back atmosphere. Learn about their weekly service projects and opportunities at the first meeting of 2009!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Jumpstart AmeriCorps is a non-profit organization that pairs college students with preschool aged children in low socio-economic communities nationwide to give them one-on-one support in developmental literacy and language that is not often provided in low-income preschools. If interested contact Moriah Bailey Stephenson at Mstephe9@depaul.edu or via phone at (405)203-3675.

In January 2009, the Food Depository will participate in Feeding America’s National Hunger Study, Hunger in America 2009, a nation-wide hunger study that will be the most comprehensive study on hunger in the world. They need reliable, adult volunteers who can commit to a training session (multiple training sessions will be available at the end of January), and can visit at least two agencies over a three-month period. E-mail now to volunteer.

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

The Dearborn REALTIST Board is 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.

Murray Language Academy is seeking students interested in tutoring kids during the "Homework Club" program, which is Monday-Friday 2:30-3:30pm. Also looking for students willing to share their passion (art, singing, journalism, etc.) with their students (these types of enrichment programs occur Monday-Friday between 4:00pm and 6:00pm.). If interested, contact Megham Freytag at (773)619-0408 or Megham_Freytag@YMCACHGO.org



INTERNSHIPS, JOBS, AND BEYOND...
2009 Humanity in Action Fellowship
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. Upon completing the fellowship, Fellows join an active international network of young professionals and are eligible for internship opportunities at the United States Congress, European Parliament, International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and other civic and political institutions. Check out humanityinaction.org

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).

SPN/IHS Koch Summer Fellow Program
Due: 1-31-2009
SPN/IHS Koch Summer Fellow Program at the Illinois Policy Institute offers a 10 week program featuring workshops in career building and policy analysis at James Madison University in Virginia and the Illinois Policy Institute here in Chicago. Fellowship compensates for travel costs and offers a $1,500 stipend. For more information and an application visit the Institute for Humane Studies website.

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/.

The Academy for Global Citizenship (AGC), a prospective International Baccalaureate school that offers a relevant, engaging, and challenging educational program, is seeking interns to assist with fundraising development. The internship requires students to research donors, compile a database, and manage fundraisers. Compensation is included. Email resume and cover letter to: sarahelizabeth@agcchicago.org.

Jeff Metcalf Fellowships are up on line - over 150 Jeff Metcalf Fellowship positions are posted on Chicago Career Connections and many more are sure to come. The Jeff Metcalf Fellowship Program provides University of Chicago 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students the opportunity to spend the summer learning by doing. You will be paid a minimum of $10/hours for 400 hours of work. Deadlines for Metcalfs run from early January through mid February.

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
Letter from UCSC Director Wallace Goode Jr.

Dear University Community, Alumni and Parents:

This past autumn quarter our campus and community experienced the electricity of collaborative efforts in Service and civic engagement and winter quarter will be no exception as the need for service continues…

MLK Day of Service
Students, staff, faculty, and alumni will partner with Chicago Cares, Inc. for our annual Day of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Saturday, January 17, 2009. Through his words and examples, Dr. King inspired all people to better their communities. We challenge you to move from words to deeds through service to your community, whether in London, Paris, Singapore, Washington, D.C. or right here in Chicago.

F.A.S.S. Food Drive
The F.A.S.S. (Faculty, Administrators, Staff and Students) food drive will kick‐off January 5th, 2009 in a strong partnership for meaningful service to our community. Each Monday, a different campus building, department or office will host the food drive. Partner student groups will coordinate the delivery of bags, containers and fliers in raising awareness of the program and encouraging building occupants to donate food.

These are only two features of 14 programs the University Community Service Center (UCSC) offers in 5 focus areas: co‐curricular programming, direct service, leadership development, organizational development and professional preparation. We urge you to keep current with UCSC News, a weekly broadcast highlighting events, volunteer opportunities and professional preparation opportunities.

Later this quarter, UCSC will open nominations for the following awards traditionally presented at our Annual Volunteer Recognition Reception in May:

President’s Volunteer Service Award
The President’s Award is intended to recognize two volunteers who have demonstrated a superior commitment to service in the greater community during the past academic year. Sole participation or leadership in student organizations on campus does not ordinarily qualify a student for this award.

Up to two recipients will each receive a $500 award, and a certificate. Any registered undergraduate or graduate student is eligible for the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Students must be nominated by either members of the University (students, faculty, and staff) or the community.

Perry Herst Prize
The Perry Herst Prize is awarded to two graduating seniors in the College who have combined study with social responsibility. Each recipient will receive a $1,000 award, and a certificate. Any graduating senior in the college must be nominated by members of the University (students, faculty, and staff).

Turkington House Service Award
The Edward Turkington House Service Award is given annually to a House within the University of Chicago Undergraduate House System that has demonstrated a deep, ongoing commitment to service in surrounding communities and the broader Chicago Metro area. The winner of the House Service Award is recognized and awarded a $250 prize.

Bernard O. Brown Service Learning Award
The Bernard O. Brown Service Learning Award was established to provide a student in the College with means to pursue a service learning project over the summer. The $1,000 award supports volunteer community service projects or under‐funded internships in the community.

Faculty Service Award
This award recognizes the extraordinary commitment of faculty in either direct service or in the support of students engaged in civic minded scholarship. Selection criteria include strong recommendations from students across campus, particularly those involved in community service student organizations.

Staff Service Award
This award recognizes the extraordinary commitment of professional staff in either direct service or in the support of students engaged in civic minded scholarship. Selection criteria include strong recommendations from students across campus, particularly those involved in community service student organizations.

Community Partner Award
As an office, the University Community Service Center relies heavily on support from community partners. Community partners provide interesting volunteer opportunities, challenging internships, and a forum for the community and university to engage. This award recognizes superior commitment connecting the university and the broader Chicago community.

The CSRSO Award
The CSRSO Award is given annually to honor a CSRSO that has demonstrated a exceptional commitment to service in Chicago communities. The winner of the CSRSO Award will be awarded a $1,000 prize toward supporting a service initiative that embodies the group’s stated mission. CSRSO’s may self-nominate or be nominated by other members of the University (students, faculty, and staff) or the community.

Progressively more, UCSC is emerging as a national model among urban research institutions for student civic engagement, experiential learning and community service supporting responsible development of our neighboring communities. I encourage you to contact me in exploring the various ways you can support service learning and the civic engagement of our global campus community.

Yours In Service,

Wallace E. Goode, Jr.
Associate Dean of Students & Director
University Community Service Center (UCSC)
Office of the Vice President for Campus Life & Dean of Students





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: Community Service Changes Volunteers into Leaders






EVENTS
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 Timuel D. Black, a leader of the movement to elect Harold Washington as mayor, a mentor to a young Barack Obama, and a lifelong Bronzeville resident and activist. Reserve a place at the Forum by calling 773-373-5700

Tools of War: Violence Against Women In African Conflicts
Sunday, December 7
5:00pm
Goodman Theatre: 170 North Dearborn Street
A panel discussion focusing on the tens of thousands of women raped in what the United Nations officials have called the worst violence against women in the world. Panelists include, Lynette Jackson, Professor of Gender Studies and African Studies at The University of Illinois-Chicago; Ngozi Udoye, CEO and President of African Women in America; and Prexy Nesbitt, Speaker and Educator on Africa, foreign policy, and racism.

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 is 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.

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.


INTERNSHIPS, JOBS, AND BEYOND...
2009 Humanity in Action Fellowship
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. Upon completing the fellowship, Fellows join an active international network of young professionals and are eligible for internship opportunities at the United States Congress, European Parliament, International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and other civic and political institutions. Check out humanityinaction.org

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
Community Service Changes Volunteers into Leaders
Rachel Cromidas and Mutisya Leonard, Staff Writers

Over the past nine weeks, we have introduced you to programs that define the University Community Service Center. We encourage you to meet them in person at the UCSC Holiday Party on Friday Dec. 5th from 3-5pm in the Bartlett Trophy Lounge. Enjoy donuts, coffee, and conversation with students engaged with service throughout Chicago.

Splash Chicago recruits college students at the University to volunteer teaching anything to local students attending local public high schools on a day long visit to our campus. In their second annual event in October, Splash Chicago hosted over 200 students, from at least twenty five different schools throughout Chicago. Up to 100 college students, including 80 who took up teaching assignments, worked to host 90 unique classes. Race Wright, a third year student in the College majoring in Anthropology and Luke Joyner, a fourth year in the College majoring in Mathematics co-founded Splash Chicago. The two met three years ago working with Winning Words, a program of the Civic Knowledge Project.

Winning Words provides college student volunteers an opportunity to coach debate and argumentation to middle school students in our neighborhood. Having being involved in debate in high school, Wright’s involvement with Winning Words in his first year at the College was a natural interest.

Joyner, a Boston native, attended MIT’s Splash event while at high school. From that experience he envisioned, a replication of the program at University of Chicago. As the two worked to bring Splash to Chicago their biggest challenge was making a more local, focused program that matches the needs of the South Side.

“One thing that’s great about community service RSOs,” Wright notes, “is that you can take on all these innovative, practical ideas and turn them to workable projects. Plus, I’ve learned a lot about the complications of working with a community – how for every community you need first have specific knowledge on setting up, and marketing ideas. With Splash Chicago we’ve had to be attentive to our community’s interests, needs and desires, and to some extent their limitations – how they shape our program. For instance, unlike MIT’s program off of which Splash Chicago is based, the Chicago program is free.”

David Klein, a third year student in the College and a Gender Studies and English Language and Literature double major says of his involvement with community service: “To create benefit for somebody that is in need of it makes working with people meaningful and rewarding. Personally I get a lot of satisfaction working with people. My upbringing – in a family that gave emphasis to social justice and solidarity – made me uncomfortable with my suburban high school experience, and so I really enjoyed my first year assignment with the Neighborhood Schools Program.”

As a Social Justice co-coordinator for UCSC today, Klein extends the cause for solidarity he has treasured growing up in creating networks for Social Justice organization. On December 2nd, the Social Justice Committee hosted Community Organizing 101 – a collaborative collection of Social Justice interests that exposed participant college students to actual, successful community organizers, allowing them to make connections, start relationships.

It is the significance of these connections that drew Udodi Okoh, now a third year in the College majoring in Public Policy Studies, to apply to the Community Service Leadership Training Corps (CSLTC) in her first year.

“Because of CSLTC and because of my own academic interests,” Okoh said, “heightened my sensitivity to the many beneficial connections one can make with a community. Frankly, these individual service days, led me to my association with Paul Robeson High School in my second year. I led a ten-week photography workshop there last summer, collections of which I shared at the Organization of Black Student’s last Cultural Show.”

Okoh recollects: “It was great to get to know the kids. Humbling to have them look up to me. They got comfortable enough to call my cell phone for leisurely chats … I have a great passion for kids. And it’s beautiful to be in a position to share the promise of success, to guide people to cultivate confidence.”

Wright admits to have stumbled into Anthropology, just as he stumbled into Splash Chicago. It is only after his academic and extra-curricular involvements got lives of their own, independently, that he noticed them to be mutually enriching – that reflections on community involvement are informed by his classes, and that often his classes are altered by his community involvement.

“As much as we learn theory,” Wright proposes, “if it is not tampered by different perspectives, it’s one dimensional. Appreciating the different way of life in the community that hosts our University, the manner of thinking that comes from being a member of that community, and being able to engage and understand disparate values is an essential piece to our education – it helps us better understand the world we study.”


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: 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