"Everyone can be great because everyone can serve."
-Martin Luther King Jr.
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Message from the Associate Director |
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Welcome! We are off to a new academic year and back to doing most things in-person for 2021-2022. There is a lot of excitement yet hesitation after almost 18 months of doing things remotely due to COVID-19. In Community Outreach (CO), we are very aware that COVID-19 is still affecting our lives. We are committed to the health and safety of our volunteers, staff, and community partners. Enjoy this newsletter!
Miguel A. Colón
Director of Community Outreach
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Kicking off the Fall Semester with CO Training
With the onset of the new academic year, CO has been busy preparing for the long-awaited return to campus. After this past year of social distancing, students and staff have come together to ensure that the transition from virtual to in-person community engagement is a smooth one.
On Wednesday, August 25, and Thursday, August 26, all CO staff, student coordinators, and student leaders participated in training workshops. Training has allowed Alternative Breaks, Health Services, Social Services, One Time Programs, Youth Development and Education, Language and Literacy, and Jumpstart to reconnect, practice teamwork, and think critically about service in today's post-pandemic society.
Most importantly, the Communities of Practice have created plans that will allow staff and students to return to the populations they serve -- in a blend of in-person and virtual capacities.
As the year progresses, staff and students look forward to more deeply engaging with their communities of practice. CO will continue to make service a priority, no matter how the world changes.
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Nayo Daniel
Class of 2020
Nayo graduated from UConn in 2020 with a degree in Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies. During her time at UConn, she served as a participant and Student Leader for Community Outreach's COPE Program, spent a semester as an FYE mentor, and facilitated the Leadership Certificate Series Workshops. In her senior year, she was Student Coordinator for the Youth Development and Education for Children Program.
Currently, Nayo is serving as the Volunteer and Programs Coordinator for Maggie's Place through a partnership with AmeriCorps. Maggie's Place is a nonprofit organization that provides housing and a multitude of resources to support pregnant women experiencing homelessness. They prioritize using a trauma-informed care approach to ensure that staff and volunteers are serving the population they work with through a holistic lens.
Community Outreach has played an integral part in Nayo's development and has influenced her desire to continue doing meaningful work in the communities that need it. She plans to pursue a Master's degree in Social Work in 2022 and eventually work as a therapist for children and families.
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Day of Caring
Campus-Wide Initiatives is hosting Day of Caring on 10/2 from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. They will be collaborating with Community Service Days to offer on and off-campus service opportunities.
Also, Campus-Wide Initiatives is hunting for committee members! Anyone interested can contact Emily at emb14014work@uconn.edu.
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America Reads
Blending Virtual and In-Person Learning to Increase Engagement
Last year, America Reads programs went completely virtual/asynchronous, with the creation of reading modules and book reading videos for elementary school and preschool sites.
This year, America Reads is working toward transitioning back to working with the community in person. However, the program will continue providing the option of virtual service. Virtual modules have increased the capacity of America Reads to serve new sites across the state, providing greater flexibility for undergraduates with cumbersome schedules.
This blending of in-person and virtual learning will be how America Reads recognizes that the world has not gone "back to normal," but that the program has grown from the experience of being required to have remote programs. America Reads has used its time spent conducting virtual service to enhance rather than detract from community engagement.
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Jumpstart
Learning Face-to-Face
Jumpstart has returned to in-person sessions this fall! To ensure the health and safety of the preschool children, all corps members will mask up and get their temperatures taken before entering the classrooms. Last year, Jumpstart continued to provide meaningful community outreach throughout the pandemic, even reaching a greater population of children due to the lack of a transportation requirement. However, this year, Jumpstart will prioritize in-person learning, allowing preschoolers to develop friendships, stay active, and form bonds with their teachers on a deeper level.
Terry Troy, the Site Coordinator for Jumpstart, says that for preschoolers, "There's nothing better than a high five when learning a new letter or dancing together to a silly song. It's going to be a great year for Jumpstart!"
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Big Friends
Strengthening Relationships
At Big Friends, student leaders and volunteers are excited to transition back from virtual to in-person service. This year, they will focus on cultivating strong relationships between mentors and program participants through arts/crafts and games. In-person learning will allow Big Friends volunteers to give children the individualized attention they deserve, and that they may have missed out on during virtual learning. Big Friends looks forward to providing the best support possible to the Mansfield area and giving back to the greater community.
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