Volume XX | December 2022 | |
“The end of all knowledge should be service to others.” — Cesar Chavez | |
A Message from Our Director | |
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This semester Community Outreach returned to doing all of our programs in person, and this has made a difference. Our students have been able to work closely with their CO staff supervisors, community partners, and participants. I have also enjoyed seeing and hearing about the activities within each program. While I understand there is much work to do, I believe Community Outreach is heading into the right direction with all of our programs. Recently, we had three former CO student leaders share their experiences with our current student leaders -- that was special! Community Outreach is very lucky to have such wonderful and dedicated student leaders, staff, community partners and volunteers. Please have a safe holiday season and winter break. We'll see you in January 2023!
Thank you all!
Miguel Colon, Director of Community Outreach
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Mansfield Middle School Tutoring
Mansfield Middle School Tutoring and Mentoring is celebrating the end of a successful semester. UConn participants have been able to match with 1-2 middle school participants and begin to develop successful mentor relationships. Next semester, we look forward to continuing fostering existing mentorships, as well as welcoming new participants to the program!
If you have any questions, please reach out to uconn.co.mms@gmail.com
Hannah Dinowitz, Mansfield Middle School Tutoring Program Director
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Jumpstart
Jumpstart has had a great fall semester and is looking forward to the spring! Our students have been able to spend a lot of time in the classroom working with the preschoolers. Jumpstart is always accepting applications, so if you would like to apply, go here! Meetings are fairly flexible with student schedules and groups are assigned based on which days you have available.
If you have any questions, please reach out to uconn.co.jumpstart@gmail.com
Julia Smith, UConn Jumpstart Co-Coordinator
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Mansfield Senior Center
The Mansfield Senior Center is a semester-long program that has volunteers travel to the Mansfield Senior Center and help with running activities and the reception desk. Volunteers call out BINGO numbers, run weekly trivia sessions, play ping pong on game days, and host nail painting and self care evenings. We also have a team of volunteers who greet visitors as they come in and help members register for programs and check in. We're very grateful for our volunteers and the time and dedication that they put in. Their positive friendly energy boosts the strength of the community!
If you have any questions, please reach out to uconn.co.seniorcenter@gmail.com
Grace Xiong, Mansfield Senior Center Program Director
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Windham High School Tutoring
Windham High School Tutoring aims to provide Windham High School students with the academic and test taking skills required to succeed in school. UConn tutors work alongside WHS teachers to directly assist students in the classroom during the school day. Tutors help lower WHS students' frustration, increase students' engagement and self-confidence, and encourage students to reach their full academic potential. This program is a great way to support the local community and make a difference in many adolescents' lives!
Thank you to all the tutors for their hard work this semester!
Applications for the spring semester will be open during the first few weeks of class next semester. If you have any questions about the program or the application process, please email uconn.co.whs@gmail.com
Ashiti Damania, Windham High School Tutoring Program Director
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Lydia Margolien
Transportation Student Worker
Meet Lydia! Lydia is a Student Worker in the Transportation Department of Community Outreach. She started out by volunteering with the Windham High School Tutoring program her freshman year and wanted to get more involved. Her time spent tutoring made her want to apply for a job within CO, and she appreciates being able to transport people for a good cause.
Lydia is a Senior double major in Statistics and individualized major in Health Policy and Disparities. Outside of working for CO, she is a Statistics tutor at the Q Center and is in the UConn Concert Choir. On Tuesday and Thursday mornings she works as a DJ with WHUS Storrs, UConn's radio station. Tune in to 91.7 FM to listen to Classical Mornings with Lydia!
In her free time, she also enjoys baking, exploring, and hanging out with friends!
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Nayeli Contreras
Windham Heights Program Director
Meet Nayeli! Nayeli works for the Community Outreach office and is also the Program Director of the Windham Heights after school program, where UConn students have the chance to tutor younger kids. Nayeli enjoys being a part of CO because she really likes the staff and everyone is very open to helping each other, whether it be CO or academic-related.
Nayeli is a Senior double major in Psychology and Human Rights, with a minor in Latino Studies. Outside of CO, she is involved with the Puerto Rican/Latin American Cultural Center (PRLACC) and the Peruvian Student Association. She is also the Vice President of Distinguished and Motivated Academic Scholars, which is a part of PRLACC. She also has an internship with UConn Law!
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Guest Speaker Topics
At our last Community Outreach dinner of the semester, three UConn and CO alum came to visit to share their stories. Laura Harris, Brandon St. Jean, and Jenna Stone had the chance to share how they have been able to incorporate service and the skills that they gained during their time in CO into their careers. Their stories revealed that life does not always have to turn out as planned and the importance of doing what you are passionate about!
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Laura Harris
"I graduated from UConn in 2011 with my BA in Youth Development, Sports and Society and a minor in Sociology and am currently pursuing my masters in Human Services Counseling; crisis and trauma response. During my time with CO I was a part of Jumpstart, America Reads and YDEA coordinator.
I have been a member of the Connecticut Army National Guard for almost 10 years and currently serve full time as the State Resiliency coordinator and Resiliency, Risk Reduction, and Suicide Prevention (R3SP) Program Manager. My favorite part of this job is getting to have real conversations with soldiers about suicide prevention and facilitating courses in suicide intervention and resiliency skills. I also serve with a medical battalion as a Medical Logistics NCO.
Outside of work I’m a mom of two amazing boys and love spending time outside with them, my husband, and our dog Trooper. Our favorite family trips involve either camping or visiting Disney World!"
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Brandon St. Jean
"I graduated in 2015 with a Healthcare Management degree from the UConn School of Business. During my time at UConn, I was a student leader with Community Outreach’s Alternative Breaks program, participating in trips to New Orleans, Moore, Oklahoma, and Immokalee, Florida. Thanks to all I learned from Community Outreach, I continue to have a passion for service and volunteer regularly with disaster response work.
I most recently spent a couple of months helping with hurricane recovery in the Bahamas in 2021. I have worked for a couple of different nonprofits since graduating, including Horizons and the American Red Cross. I currently work with the UConn Foundation as the Assistant Director of Talent Acquisition. I also really enjoy paddle boarding and am hoping to learn to surf next year!"
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Meet Jenna Stone! Jenna is a former Jumpstart member and CO Coordinator. During her time at UConn, she studied in the NEAG IB/M program and graduated in 2019. Jenna is currently a secondary math teacher and her hobbies include line dancing, reading, going on day trips, and traveling!
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Cross Cultural Connections Game Night
On November 16th, Cross Cultural Connections (CCC) and the Center for International Students and Scholars (CISS) held a game night event together. CCC is a program that pairs fluent English speaking students with international students as conversation partners. If you are interested in learning more about Cross Cultural Connections, please contact uconn.co.ccconnections@gmail.com.
“I had so much fun! We played a variety of games together and there was a lot of friendly competition going on. I was happy to see students I met from previous events there and am glad I had the opportunity to interact with them more closely at this event. My favorite activity was the balloon tied-to-leg game that we played with our partners. It only lasted around 10 minutes but everyone was laughing and trying their hardest to pop the other team's balloon. I am excited to see what events are in store for next semester!”
If you are interested in joining Cross Cultural Connections, please click here!
Cross Cultural Connections Volunteer
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November Trips
On November 4-6, Alternative Breaks had two weekend trips focused on Housing Security to New Bedford, MA and HIV/AIDS Awareness and Advocacy to New York City.
HIV/AIDS Awareness and Advocacy trip to New York City partnered with the organization Project Achieve and partnered with ACT UP to learn about their organization. At Project Achieve, the participants tabled in Harlem and educated residents about the importance of HIV/AIDs. While handing out free COVID tests, hand sanitizers, and other products that advocate for people with HIV/AIDs, participants learned about the current research in developing a vaccine.
At ACT UP, the participants met with Kate Barnhart, the supervisor of a LGBTQ+ drop-in shelter, and learned about her experiences and created posters. The participants also reflected on their service and thought about ways to bring back what they learned and become advocates in our local community.
The Housing Security Trip worked with several different community partners: Mobile Ministries, Sharing the Harvest and Gifts to Give. Participants viewed Housing Security from many different angles and had thought provoking reflections about themselves and how they want to continue as advocates for change. Individuals thought about the intersectionality of their identities and different determinants of health that affect an individuals' access to housing and how it affects an individuals quality of life.
Carl Soares, Alt Breaks Program Director
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Apply for a Leadership Scholarship! | |
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In partnership with the Student Activities Leadership Office, we would like to let you know about the Cohen Student Leadership Scholarship for Enhancing Community!
Do you know an undergraduate student (or are you an undergraduate student) who in their role as a member of a registered student organization has demonstrated a significant and active commitment to:
- eliminating bigotry, prejudice, and discrimination?
- the fostering of tolerance and understanding among the campus community?
Please nominate them for this prestigious scholarship by visiting cohenscholarship.uconn.edu. Nominations will be accepted between
December 6 - February 2.
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Follow our socials!
@uconnoutreach
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