Community Service Learning at USM!

Get $500 to fund your community service project!

2012-02-10T10:04:00.001-05:00

League of Young Voters is giving young people an opportunity to get funding and exposure for community projects they are working on. All prospective participants would have to do is go to http://www.youngvoter.org/maine/launch-me, read about the project, fill out the application, and be on their merry way. Although it is being set forth by the League of Young Voters, this is not a politically affiliated project. You can submit an application for a chance to receive $500 to propel your project and bolster your community connections/support. There are no rigid criteria for projects, it can be anything, really, an artist collaborative, an adult literacy project, volunteer outreach, a volunteerism 'zine, a tutoring initiative, ect. If you are interested, email Pamela Yomoah pamela.yomoah@gmail.com.

STRIVE Dance Correction

2012-02-09T10:39:00.000-05:00

Hello Folks,

I accidently provided the wrong contact information for Kristina Smalley in my last email about the STRIVE Dance marathon. For those of you who are interested, her email is KSmalley@pslservices.org

Blood Drive February 16th!

2012-02-09T09:46:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone,

The USM Classics Club is sponsoring a blood drive on February 16th, from 11am to 4pm. The blood drive will be located in 102 Wishcamper. If you have any questions or want to schedule an appointment, you can contact Brittany Goldych at brittany.goldych@maine.edu.

all the best,
Stacy Normand
Programs Coordinator
Office of Community Service Learning
University of Southern Maine

Volunteer at STRIVE Dance Marathon!

2012-02-09T09:39:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone,

We are looking for volunteers to help out with the annual STRIVE Dance Marathon fundraiser in the Sullivan Gym on March 3-4 from 8:00pm-8:00am ( in multiple shifts of course!) Volunteers are needed to do the following:

Registration: 1 Shift from 6pm- to 10pm; Looking for 10 volunteers. Help register dancers and answer questions, as well as monitor guest passes.

Physical Plant: Shifts starting at 6:00pm; 10pm; 2am & 5am. Looking for 4 volunteers per shift. Help maintain the space during the event by replenishing items, emptying garbage, and general clean up. As well as monitoring spaces for cleanliness and safety. (Bleachers, Dance Floor, Entrance Area, and Hallways)

Snack Shack: Looking for coverage from 2am- 7am. Oversee snack area

Activities Monitor: Shifts starting at 6:00pm; 10pm-; 2am & 7am. Looking for 10 or more volunteers per shift. Oversee the use of electronic games (Guitar Hero, Rock Band & Connect), the entrance to the dance floor and the moon bounce. Making sure participants are following the rules and being safe.

Moral Team: Shifts starting at 10pm; 2am & 5am. Looking for 6 or more energetic volunteers per shift. Responsible for helping dancers get around, answer questions, make sure the dancers are having fun and ensuring the safety of all participants. Plus dancing around & singing loudly

If you are interested, you can contact STRIVE directly by emailing Kristina Smalley at KSmalley@pslservicing.org for more information or to sign up! Groups are welcomed as well as individual volunteers!

Tutors Needed for ELL program

2012-02-08T15:30:00.000-05:00

One of our community partners, Make It Happen!, at Deering High School, is looking for tutors to assist high-school ELL (English Language Learner) students who are trying to enter mainstream courses. Tutors will work with students in a subject they are comfortable with, and also encourage students to pursue advanced courses and work towards applying for college. Tutors are required to serve for at least 1 1/2 hours, one afternoon a week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday, for a semester. This is a great way to give back to the community and get some experience with diversity! If you are interested, please let me know!

all the best,
Stacy Normand
Programs Coordinator
Office of Community Service Learning
University of Southern Maine

Work Study Position Available

2012-02-08T09:48:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone,

The Office of Community Service Learning is looking for a work-study student to man our front desk from 11-2 on Mondays and Wednesdays. The official position description is as follows:

9612 – Student Assistant for Operations
Staff the reception desk and answer phones, taking and relaying complete and detailed messages to program staff; perform administrative tasks as requested, serving as an office assistant to program staff and Student Associates. $8.50/hour

If you are looking for a work-study position, and your award supports these hours, please contact me for an application.

all the best,
Stacy Normand
Programs Coordinator
Office of Community Service Learning
University of Southern Maine

Volunteers for Habitat for Humanity Benefit!

2012-02-06T16:02:00.001-05:00

Habitat for Humanity is looking for volunteers to assist with the upcoming Irish Road Rovers 5k Race on Sunday, March 4th. The race begins and ends at Brian Boru pub in Portland and benefits Habitat for Humanity. We need volunteers to assist with directing runners, cheering them on and making sure that vehicle traffic stays off the roads while runners are moving through the course. The time commitment would be 10am-noon that morning. Contact Kate Callahan at volunteer@habitatme.org for more information

Do you like to cook? Prepare meals for disadvantaged youth!-

2012-02-02T11:19:00.000-05:00

LearningWorks is looking for a few volunteers to cook lunches for their Youth Build Alternatives program. Volunteers can be individuals, a pair or a group ( limited to 4-5 people), and can happen at any point during the day on Mondays or Fridays. Volunteers are able to cook a simple recipe ( ex: lasagna) with access to a fully stocked kitchen. If you cannot volunteer during lunch hours, that is totally fine! You can serve for one or two days, or you can make it a long-term project. It's up to you! You can prepare a meal and they will freeze it for the next day! For more information, contact Keri Anne Penick at kapenick@learningworks.me.

all the best,
Stacy Normand
Programs Coordinator
Office of Community Service Learning
University of Southern Maine

Student Group Sponsor for Blood Drive Needed!

2012-01-31T13:30:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone!

The American Red Cross is looking for a student group to sponsor their April 12th blood drive on the Portland campus. Being a sponsor is a great and easy way to get some community service hours, use as a community builder for your group, or to get your name out there! All you have to do is promote the event by posting/handing out flyers around campus, sending out an email or two, and then help staff the event on the 12th ( obviously you won't be taking any blood, but you'll be staffing the registration table and the snack area). If you are interested, please let me know ASAP!

all the best,
Stacy Normand
Programs Coordinator
Office of Community Service Learning
University of Southern Maine

Experience Diversity! Serve Low-Income and Immigrant Youth

2012-01-30T11:30:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone!

We are still recruiting for after-school volunteers in the Portland area, working with the following community organizations:
Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maine
Portland Housing Authority
LearningWorks
Parkside Neighborhood Center
Make It Happen!

All of these organizations serve low-income and immigrant youth (k-12), and are a great place to experience diversity in a safe and fun setting! Volunteers spend their time tutoring, playing games and learning activities, or running fun workshops like art or music. If you want to work only with elementary students, or only with high school students, we can do that too. No matter what role you want to play, there is a role for you!

If you are interested, please let me know!

Stacy Normand
Programs Coordinator
Office of Community Service Learning
University of Southern Maine

Do you play the bagpipes?

2012-01-24T10:00:00.000-05:00

The Boys and Girls Clubs at Sagamore Village are looking for a bag pipe player to teach lessons to an 8 year old boy who plays and mom can't afford the lessons anymore. He is a very cool kid and I'm sure you would love working with him and others who may want to learn. If you are interested, please contact Tiffanie Panagakos at tpanagakos@bgcmaine.org.

all the best,
Stacy Normand
Programs Coordinator
Office of Community Service Learning
University of Southern Maine

Can you teach origami?

2012-01-24T09:06:00.000-05:00

If you have this talent, please consider offering it to students in our only living-learning community at USM. -ATM

The Russell Scholars Program at USM (Gorham campus) is looking for someone who can conduct a one-hour hands-on workshop on origami for students who have expressed interest in this art form. The workshop would need to take place on a Thursday, 5:00-6:00 pm; the actual date, between now and the end of April, is somewhat open. The number of students in the group is 30. We would provide the paper.

Please contact:

Elizabeth Dodge

Associate Director

Russell Scholars Program

USM

edodge@usm.maine.edu

780-5752

Andrea Thompson McCall, Director
Community Service Learning
Interfaith Chaplaincy
University of Southern Maine
P.O. Box 9300
Portland, ME 04104-9300

Phone 207-228-8284
FAX 207-228-8403

After-School Volunteers Needed!

2012-01-19T12:37:00.000-05:00

Welcome back to USM folks! Now that school is back in session, we are looking for more after-school volunteers to serve students (k-12) in the Portland community. There are lots of different ways to serve in an after-school program. You can be an academic tutor, run a workshop on a personal hobby ( like art or sports) or you can just play games with kids! If you don't want to work directly with kids, there are opportunities behind the scenes as well, such as cooking food or helping with office work. Some of our programs are structured like a class, and others are drop-in centers where kids can come for homework help or a place to stay while their parents are at work. All of the programs are located in Portland, and serve low-income and/or immigrant youth. Whatever your interest is, we have a role for you! Volunteering in an after-school program requires a commitment of at least an hour and a half a week for a semester. It's a great, flexible opportunity to give back to the community, and it looks great on a resume. If you are interested, please let me know!

all the best,
Stacy Normand
Programs Coordinator
Office of Community Service Learning
University of Southern Maine

Relay For Life of USM

2012-01-18T15:46:00.000-05:00

Hello all,

I hope this email finds you well. I am an event chair for the Relay For Life of USM. This year, we will be celebrating our third year as a successful event and we want to reach out to the entire USM community to get involved. My goal is to have as many departments as possible represented - students, staff, and faculty.

For those of you who don't know what the Relay is, let me explain.Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at the Costello Sports Complex and take turns walking or running around the track. Because cancer never sleeps, the Relay is 12 hours in length. Relayers do not have to walk all night, but each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event.

A lot of people like visuals so here is a link to the Relay story video: http://youtu.be/SLxQPD7Lj_U

Another Relay video, "What will you do?" : http://youtu.be/YMmulI8TwP0

Please register for the Relay For Life of USM or donate to the cause! http://relayforlife.org/usmme

Have a great day,

TJ Williams

--
Thomas J. Williams
Vice-Chair
USM Student Senate
Maine Notary Public

MLK Day of Service! Last week to sign up!

2012-01-03T12:22:00.000-05:00

Hey Folks!

This is the last week to sign up for volunteering for Martin Luther King Day of Service at Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maine! Help us teach elementary school students about bullying and bullying intervention. The event will take place from 3:30-5:30pm at the B&GC clubhouse in Riverton Park on January 13th. Volunteers are needed to perform a skit and help out with an arts and crafts project.

For more information, or to sign up, just reply to this email!

all the best,
Stacy Normand
Programs Coordinator
Office of Community Service Learning
University of Southern Maine

Do you like Kids? Help us out on January 13th!

2011-12-14T11:50:00.000-05:00

On January 13th, our office will be hosting a day of activities about
bullying intervention at Boys and Girls Club in Riverton Park. We need some
volunteers to help kiddos with the arts & craft activities they will do, and
also to sit with them during a skit to role model good listening skills.
Volunteers must be available from 3:30-5:30pm.

Arts and Crafts Leaders Needed!

2011-12-13T14:44:00.000-05:00

We need a few helpings hands to assist with an arts & crafts project on
January 13th, during the MLK Day of Service Project at Boys and Girls Club
in Riverton Park. Volunteers will be responsible for directing children in a
simple activity, decorating paper hands and coming up with 5 words that
describe the world without bullying. Volunteers need to be available from
3:30-5:30pm.

Volunteer Actors Needed!

2011-12-13T10:25:00.000-05:00

Our office needs a few actors to perform a short skit for children at Boys
and Girls Club in Riverton Park on January 13th. Actors will perform a short
skit depicting bullying, which children will then discuss. After the
discussion, the skit will be done again and children will be invited to stop
the bully in an appropriate and nonviolent way. Previous acting experience
is not required, just a desire to entertain some great kids! Volunteers need
to be available from 3:30-5:30 on the day of the event.

Volunteer Photographer Needed!

2011-12-12T15:51:00.000-05:00

Our office needs a photographer to take pictures of our MLK Day volunteer
event on January 13th. Photographers will be responsible for taking
pictures of our volunteers interacting with children at Boys and Girls Club
in Riverton Park. Volunteer photographers need to be available from 3:30-5:30pm.

Volunteer Cooks Needed!

2011-12-07T12:30:00.000-05:00

LearningWorks is looking for a few volunteers to cook lunches for their
Youth Build Alternatives program. Volunteers can be individuals, a pair or a
group ( limited to 4-5 people), and can happen at any point during the day
on Mondays or Fridays. Volunteers are able to cook a simple recipe ( ex:
lasagna) with access to a fully stocked kitchen. If you cannot volunteer
during lunch hours, that is totally fine! You can prepare a meal and they
will freeze it for the next day! For more information, contact Keri Anne
Penick at kapenick@learningworks.me.

Portland Campus: We have visitors!

2011-11-30T09:36:00.000-05:00

Today our office is hosting Deering High School students from the "Make It Happen" program of Portland Schools' Multilingual and Multicultural Programs, supported by USM student volunteer hosts and guides. Some are visiting classes at this hour, while others are taking a campus tour. All will be visiting classes at 10:15, after which they'll have lunch in Woodbury Campus Center and then hear from a panel of USM students who share their experience of immigration to and learning in the U.S. Finally, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admission Rachel Morales will speak with the students about the college application process before they return to Deering High School, better prepared to take their places in the class of 2019... perhaps here at USM! We hope you will bear with them if they act like, well, high school students, and offer a friendly welcome and answers to any questions they may have. Kudos to Stacy Normand, our Programs Coordinator, who organized the day, recruited and supported the volunteers, and supports our strong working relationship with "Make It Happen," where numerous USM students are regular Academic Coaches in the Academic Center.

With thanks and hopes for the future,

ATM

Andrea Thompson McCall

Director of Community Service Learning

University Interfaith Chaplain

University of Southern Maine

P.O. Box 9300

Portland, ME 04104-9300

Phone 207-228-8284

FAX 207-228-8403

Volunteers Needed: Help with kid's theater project

2011-11-16T12:34:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone!

Portland Housing Authority is looking for volunteers to help their students
with a theater project about Martin Luther King's life. Volunteers are
needed to help students write scripts/dialogue, to help them design a set,
practice their lines, ect. If you are interested please let me know!

all the best,

Homeless Voices for Justice TOMORROW

2011-11-14T16:34:00.000-05:00

Homeless Voices for Justice is a state-wide social change movement, organized and led by people who have struggled with homelessness. Tuesday, November 15 at 2:00 PM in 102 Wishcamper, Portland, a panel presentation by members of Homeless Voices for Justice will discuss the daily realities of homelessness in Portland.

In their own words, "In addition to the social change benefits resulting from this organizing work, Homeless Voices for Justice has had perhaps an even more profound affect on our leaders and participants, including increased self-esteem, community respect, and an understanding of the collective nature of personally experienced injustices and the power of collective action. The empowerment and sense of dignity produced by "finding our voice" and participating with peers in making change cannot be overstated. "

This event is free and open to the public, and is one of a series to highlight National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week. For more information, see our web site: http://www.usm.maine.edu/community/november-hunger-homeless-awareness-month

Andrea Thompson McCall

Director of Community Service Learning

University Interfaith Chaplain

University of Southern Maine

P.O. Box 9300

Portland, ME 04104-9300

Phone 207-228-8284

FAX 207-228-8403

Civic Matters Friday, November 18

2011-11-14T12:18:00.000-05:00

The Office of Community Service Learning is pleased to announce that on November 18, 2010 the University of Southern Maine will host Civic Matters, a symposium of USM community-based projects and research.

The highlight is a community conversation focusing on how service learning and civic engagement is a promising practice in supporting student persistence and graduation. Maine Campus Compact Faculty Consultant, Maryli Tiemann will facilitate the conversation.

Ben Towne, faculty member in Athletic Training will offer remarks his international service learning work in the Dominican Republic.

This fall, nearly 60 students, faculty and community partners will present during the oral and poster sessions about their work in the community.

This event provides opportunities to all participants to grow as practitioners, network and showcase engagement with the community. Please join us from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for the poster session, oral session and the community conversation over free lunch.

You can read more about Civic Matters on the Community Service Learning website http://www.usm.maine.edu/community/civic-matters. If you have specific questions please send your inquiry to asampson@usm.maine.edu or call 228-8092.

The Civic Matters 2011 program is attached to this email.

We hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

Alicia Sampson

Service Learning Coordinator

Office of Community Service Learning

University of Southern Maine

asampson@usm.maine.edu

228-8092

Andrea Thompson McCall

Director of Community Service Learning

University Interfaith Chaplain

University of Southern Maine

P.O. Box 9300

Portland, ME 04104-9300

Phone 207-228-8284

FAX 207-228-8403

Volunteers Needed on Dec 2nd!

2011-11-14T10:41:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone!

We are still looking for volunteers to help out on December 2nd during a
bullying intervention workshop with youth at Portland High School.
Volunteers will perform a short skit for the youth, help facilitate
discussion and then assist with a simple, reflective craft. The workshop
takes place from 2:30-4:00. Please let me know if you are interested in serving.

all the best,