Goals Goals Goals!

 

We want to know: what are YOUR goals for this fall semester? What is it that you want to get out of your time serving the community either through a community program, special event or service club?

 

Goals are important to set for ourselves. They can help up look beyond community service as just a way to fulfill a class assignment, a club obligation or even just serving for the fun of it (not that these are bad things!). Instead, goals help us look at what we are hoping to accomplish and the skills we hope to gain.

 

Are you hoping to gain teaching skills, learn more about nutrition, learn how to bond with high school students, obtain better public speaking abilities? Their is an endless number of goal possibilities! Take a minute to really think about it.

 

Now that you have taken a moment to really think about your goals for this semester, you can start to make a plan. What community service events, clubs, or services are available to help you achieve those goals? If you already have an event or program that you are invovled in, how can your goals become a part of your time serving there? Is there a way that the CCE can better help you achieve those goals? If so, let us know! Comment below, visit our Facebook page (Eastern CT-Community Engagement) or e-mail us!

 

Sometimes we go out in the community with the intent of helping others, when what happens is the community ends up helping us figure out who we are and what we want to be.

Wanted: Eastern Volunteers

Wanted: Eastern Volunteers

 

 

We need your help with 2 community programs! Please contact the CCE at cce@easternct.edu ASAP if interested!

The Windham Middle School Mentor Program: you are paired with middle school students in order to develop a mentor/role model relationship. Eastern students will engage in recreational activities, academic support and conversations around wellness, education and personal self- image. Mentoring activities are from 2:30 to 3:45, but volunteers are welcome to sign up until 4:30 to assist with homework time.

 

Bridges to the Future/Puentes al Futuro: designed for English Language Learner (ELL) students from Windham Middle School and Windham High School. The program participants work with Eastern volunteers and instructors on homework tutoring and then participate in cultural and arts enrichment experiences including folkloric dance, drumming, and journal making about their culture. 

 

The program will be held on different days in different classrooms on Eastern Connecticut State University's campus or at the Windham Middle School or the Windham High School according to the schedule. Detailed information about the program will be provided once students commit to volunteer in any of the program days.

·         Middle School Level Schedule

o    TUESDAY meets at Windham Middle School (Art, Percussion Music and Science)

o    WEDNESDAY meets at Eastern (Hip/Hop Dance)

o    THURSDAY meets at Windham Middle School (TBD)

·         High School Level

o    TUESDAY meets at Eastern (Hip/Hop, Poetry, Cultural Time Line)

o    WEDNESDAY meets at Eastern (Hip/Hop Dance, I am Latino class)

o    THURSDAY meets at Eastern and Windham High School (Art, Life Skills)

Say What?

"The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others"

 

What's the difference between a community program and a special event?

A community program is a long term program that usually meets once a week throughout the semster. Volunteers have a greater opportunity to develop and utilize professional skills, make sustainable impact in our society, and create long-lasting relationships.

A special event are larger volunteer opportunities dealing with larger populations or community issues at one-time. These events require a higher presence of Eastern volunteers on the day of the event.

What type of community programs are available this semester? Is it too late to sign up?

It is not too late to sign up for a community program but you should contact the CCE at cce@easternct.edu as soon as possible if this is something that interests you!

Here are the community programs available:

Tutoring and Mentoring with: Natchaug, North Windham, Sweeney and Windham Center Elementary Schools, Windham Middle School, Windham High School, Natchaug Elementray School Recess Program, Sister to Sister, Brother to Brother, Puentes al Futuro/Bridges to the Future, Journey House, Junior Achievement, Project K.B.A. (Kids, Books and Athletics), Project Academic Advancement, Collegiate Health Service Corps

Elderly and Special Populations: St. Joseph's Living Center, Windham No Freeze Hospitatlity Center, Food Justice Committee/Eastern Community Education Garden

Be on the look out for the special events that are happening throughout the semester!

I also heard about this thing called an Alternative Break, what's that?

An Alternative Break trip provides Eastern students the opportunity to serve communities outside of our own while learning about other social groups and community systems.

If you are interested in leading or participating in an Alternative Break trip, contact the CCE!

Food Justice Committee

 

Like to Garden? Do you love food? Do you want to help out the community in an active way?

Join the Food Justice Committee!!!

 

Hi Everyone!

My name is Nicolle and I am interning at the Center for Community Engagement this semester!

The photo/quote above was something that I saw when I was scrolling through Pinterest. I love Pinterest. It always amazes me how many great ideas people have. Not only that, but I have gotten some great recipies off of Pinterest! There are also days when I go on Pinterest and I feel so encouraged by quotes, such as the one above, and the stories that people are able to share just by "pinning" something on their "board."

Yesterday, I felt so inspired, and it was not because of something I saw on Pinterest or another social media site. I felt inspired because of what I saw at the Service Fair that took place alongside Eastern's Activity Fair. There was table after table exhibiting all the amazing community programs, alternative break opportunities and special events taking place this academic year. Student leaders sat next to community members conversing about their projects and why they were important to them. Posters, flyers, stickers, sunglasses and candy made the tables look so interesting and engaging.

As I watched Eastern students, from freshmen to seniors, walk up to these tables, I saw faces light up with passion as genuine conversations took place on what issues interested them. Pages and pages were filled on student interest sheets with names, phone numbers and e-mails of those interested in reaching out to the community through volunteering.

There were tables featuring the CCE, the Food Justice Committee, the Alternative Break Program, The Access Agency, WAIM, Relay for Life, afterschool programs, The Journey House, tutoring programs and so many more!

I just wanted to thank everyone who came to run a table and everyone who supported the Service Fair. I love that I do not have to just read the quotes  on Pinterest, or  just hear about great things happening around the world on the news to be inspired. By seeing how many people were interested in signing up and wanted to find out more information about all the community service opportunities happening this year, I know that there is going to be some amazing, encouraging and inspiring things happening right here in Willimantic, Connecticut!

The Service Fair was only the beginning; Let's get started Eastern Connecticut State University Student Volunteers!

 

"The ones who are crazy enough think they can change the world are the ones that do." ~Gandhi

We are half way through September! I am sure by now you have come across your first paper to write, your first quiz to take, maybe even your first exam to study for.

Before you start making a to-do list of everything you have to catch up on, take a moment to think about what you are passionate about. Why are you majoring in that particular field of study? What is it that you love to do?

The Center for Community Engagement is here to provide ways for you to use your passions to help others. You can find some amazing community programs and special events happening this semester by visiting the CCE website www.eaternct.edu/communityengagement or visiting the CCE at its new location, 333 Prospect Street.

This week, there will also be an opportunity for you to talk to CCE staff and community members in person. Where you ask? At the...

Student Activities and Community Service Fair, Webb Lawn

Wednesday, September 18th from 5-7pm

This is an event you don't want to miss! If you are unsure about how you want to get involved or even what event/program to take part in, this is the place to be.

So before you plan out your week, make sure you mark this event in your planner, your smart phone or iCalendar. We look forward to meeting all of you and hearing all about what you want to accomplish this semester!

 

Keep Calm and Volunteer On

This is our unofficial motto at the CCE right now. 

We have had a hectic beginning of September. With our Warrior Welcome Service Project, move to a new location (333 Prospect St., the beautiful big yellow Victorian house right by Nutmeg), and our Service Fair (Sept. 10) coming up, and beginning to plan for all of Community Programs, Special Events, and Alternative Break Trips, we have been going non-stop. 

Many of you who are reading this are Eastern students and are probably feeling overwhelmed with your classes, work load, and the many opportunities that Eastern has to offer through internships, jobs, and leadership opportunities on and off campus. 

The last thing you may want to think about right now is that someone may be depending on you to tutor them, provide guidance and mentorship, or need your help to make sure a homeless shelter can operate for someone to have shelter. These responsibilities may seem like an extra burden rather than something fun and you may think you have absolutely positively no time in your schedule to take them on. 

Take a step back now from all of the chaos and work that comes with being a college student. Think about what it is like to tutor a child or play a sport with a high school student and show them that its cool to play by the rules. Think about how that one moment can impact that person for the rest of their life. 

Walking into the CCE, you may feel uncertain about what you want to do or how you will ever fit volunteering into your schedule. But that's why we're here! Our jobs revolve around finding opportunities that match your passion or helping you explore careers or general volunteer opportunities that you're curious to learn more about. We offer Community Programs, Alternative Break Trips, and Special Events so that there is enough variety for anyone to get involved.

You can find us at 333 Prospect St. (a.k.a. the aforementioned big beautiful yellow Victorian house right by Nutmeg Hall) or contact us at cce@easternct.edu. You can also give us a call at 860-465-0090.

We look forward to meeting you this year!

-Jacqui De Cormier, AmeriCorps*VISTA