Celebrating Black History Month, Blue Streaks!

Celebrate and Honor Black History Month!

Black History Month has been celebrated in the United States since the Jim Crow Era, and officially recognized in 1976 on the nation's bicentennial, as a way to honor and recognize the contributions and sacrifices that African Americans have made.

Each year, Black History Month has a new theme, and this year's theme is "Black Resistance." The theme comes at a time when the nation has become politically charged around issues of race. As LaGarrett King, associate professor at the University of Buffalo explains, "resistance helps us understand the power that Black people have in terms of their historical realities, which counters the concept of victimhood that many say drives Black History education."

In order to celebrate Black History Month, consider how this year's theme resonates with you. What have you learned or been prevented from learning about the historical experiences of Black Americans? How have we made strides as a nation to remove barriers and oppression, and where do we still need to grow and change?

If you are interested in learning more, check out some of these resources: NPR, Center for Racial Justice, and events sponsored by JCU DEIB.

Job Opportunities This Semester

Fatima Family Center

Digital Literacy Internship

The Technology and Digital Literacy Intern will help train, educate, and provide direct technical assistance to the Fatima Center Staff, youth, and seniors in their programs. This position is restricted to students eligible for Federal Work Study.

The intern will report to Ms. LaJean Ray, Director of the Fatima Family Center.

Requirements and Desired Skills:

Proficient in the use of computers
Exceptional customer service skills and patience
Ability to explain and teach concepts in clear and simple terms
Highly dependable and problem-solver

Schedule

10-15 hours/week, Monday through Friday
Work is to be performed in person at the Fatima Family Center
Pay rate is $12/hour

Interested? Check out the official job posting and application on Handshake!

Posting here: https://jcu.joinhandshake.com/stu/jobs/6947078

AmeriCorps Job

Are you interested in helping students by being a tutor or mentor? Ohio Reading and Math Corps as well as AmeriCorps Mentors for Success, is seeking graduating students to serve as AmeriCorps tutors and mentors this coming school year!

Members receive excellent training at the Educational Service Center, and then are placed in a school near their home. Members serve 30 hours/week from September – May, providing valuable academic or social-emotional support directly to students.

Tutors serve in elementary schools, and mentors serve in middle schools and high schools. Members receive up to $1,500 per month for their service, as well as over $3,000 in education awards for student loans or tuition.

Members often are offered positions in their school following completion of their service term!

Apply Now: Application Link Here

Questions? Contact service@jcu.edu

JCU Votes Kick-Off Event

Are you passionate about civic engagement and voting? We want your voice included in a conversation about how to instill a culture of voting and civic involvement at JCU!

Stop by the O'Dea Room next Wednesday, February 22 from 4:00-5:00pm to learn about a newly-forming student organization, JCU Votes, that will advance voter education and registration on campus, in addition to promoting wider civic engagement initiatives.

Come contribute your perspective and enjoy some JCU Votes cookies! Contact JCU's Democracy Fellows for more information: Mallory Dunlap '25 (mdunlap25@jcu.edu) and Ryan Moore '26 (rmoore26@jcu.edu).

We hope to see you there!

Career Fair Hosted by the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges

The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges hosts an annual Career Fair for students looking for summer internships and full-time jobs. This year it is virtual and will be held on February 15. More information can be found here.

It is FREE for students to participate, and the list of participating employers can be found on the website link above.

Alissa Van Dress '25

Major: Professional Writing
Minors: Business, Creative Writing, and Spanish
Hometown: Amherst, Ohio
Favorite Quote: “Without patience, we will learn less in life. We will see less. We will feel less. We will hear less. Ironically, rush and more usually mean less.” -Mother Teresa

For my second semester with CSSA, my group and I are traveling to Mary M. Bethune School to tutor 6th-grade creative writing with Lake Erie Ink. I am ecstatic to put my passion to use and to help young people put their creative cap on. Lake Erie Ink is a non-profit that “provides creative expression opportunities and academic support to youth in the Greater Cleveland community.” I am honored to collaborate with these young minds and believe it will spark a mutual learning experience.

It wasn’t too long ago when I was in 6th grade. I still recall some of the creative activities we did. My teachers motivated us to think outside the box and I hope to emulate this energy in my position. However, I realize that it is more nuanced than just to “be creative.” Writing is a reflection of our identity and life experiences. We step into a place of vulnerability, and it is difficult to articulate when you are vulnerable.

In tutoring, I learned about patience and encouragement. Everyone writes at different paces. Although the person sitting next to you may boom with ideas, that doesn’t make yours any less valuable. I’ve learned not to rush art. It takes time to fully imagine its meaning; comfortably sharing it may take even more time. This mindset has helped me in other areas of life as well. When I rush through an exam, I usually make more mistakes than if I were to take my time. The mistakes are preventable and it starts with a patient outlook. I am grateful that tutoring has provided this insight. It has allowed me to make a difference not only through my tutoring, but through my everyday interactions also.

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