Student Forum: Volunteerism in India

If you're looking for some extra credits this semester and are interested in social change, check out this student forum:

Dynamics of Volunteerism and Social Change in India
Spring 2009, 1-Credit Student Forum, Reli 420

Course Description: This forum studies the ever-increasing phenomenon of international volunteers in India, within the larger context of social change. Among the questions to be addressed are: What are the agencies through which social change comes about in India, and where does international volunteerism fit into the larger picture? What are the religious and cultural sensitivities that volunteers must be aware of, and how are these concerns the product of India's history?

Finally, special attention will be given to practical concerns: How can volunteers create and facilitate social change amidst the often overwhelming insider-outsider dynamics? This forum will give students a practical as well as theoretical grounding in the dynamics of volunteerism and social change in India. Students who are either considering, or already have, done work in India will be especially interested in this course.

Space is limited! To learn more, contact nmodan@wesleyan.edu soon!!

Computer science students needed

The Middletown Eye recently reported that students at Middletown's Macdonough Elementary School will soon be using XO laptops in their after-school activities—yes, the XO laptop that grew out of the One Laptop Per Child project.

Now, the school is looking for computer science students who want to help the third, fourth, and fifth graders with the new laptops. Cathy Lechowitz, Director of Community Service and Volunteerism, writes:

Volunteer to help the XO One Laptop Per Child education project by learning and mastering computer programming skills while helping to teach Middletown’s North End Macdonough Elementary School third- through fifth-grade students to do so, as well. This project is to bring creative uses of technology to the low-income North End neighborhood, where the lack of income and resources stifles access to technology. Service learning at its best!

Contact Izzi Greenberg at 860 346-4845 if you are interested.

Clean up trails around the Wadsworth Mansion

Cathy Lechowicz, Director of Community Service and Volunteerism, writes:

The Wadsworth Mansion is looking for volunteers to conduct a trail cleanup. The cleanup will be led by Jane Harris, an avid volunteer who is knowledgeable about trails, trees and shrubs. Any able volunteers can join in the cleanup. Refreshments will be offered. Interested students should contact Barbara MacEachern at bmaceachern@wes.

I'd recommend helping out for three reasons:

1. You'll get to clean up a beautiful part of Middletown, helping the environment.
2. You'll get to interact with Middletown residents and act as an ambassador for Wesleyan.
3. The Wadsworth Mansion and the surrounding area (the backyard, the trails, the hills, and the abutting Wadsworth Falls State Park) are gorgeous areas. The birch forests and the shade trees along the old carriage entrance are things no Wesleyan student should miss.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 1
Time: 10:00 AM – noon

Join Wesleyan's Independent Tutoring Program

Megan Nash '09 Tutoring Coordinator for the Office Of Community Service writes in:

Wesleyan’s Independent Tutoring Program is looking for tutors!
Tutors meet with Middletown students for an hour once a week on campus.
Tutoring times are completely flexible. Students of all ages and grade levels
are looking for help in all subjects (1st grade reading to middle school homework help
to 12th grade calculus). In particular, we really need male tutors and high school math tutors (algebra, geometry, and calculus).

If you are interested contact Megan at tutor@wes for more information.

Campus Girl Scouts info session

Dir. of Comm. Service and Volunteerism Cathy Lechowicz writes:

Campus Girl Scouts volunteer their skills and talents in program activities run directly with girls and teens or use their skills and abilities to provide services at school, in their community, or in their local Girl Scout council. Come find out how you can get involved.

Contact Charlotte Etier at cetier@gsofct.org with questions.

Date: Monday, Oct. 20
Time: 12:30 – 1:30 PM
Place: Usdan 108

Community Engagement Fair on Wednesday

The Center for Community Partnerships will be hosting a Community Engagement Fair on Wednesday. If you can't make the fair, the CCP will also be at the Student Activities Fair.

• Connect with the Middletown community
• Volunteer and work-study opportunities
• Local agencies and student groups will be there to share opportunities

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 17
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:15 PM
Location: Usdan courtyard (with rain, Beckham Hall)

Contact Cathy Lechowicz at clechowicz@wes with questions.

Help disadvantaged students ace the SAT!

Katie Hanna '09 writes:

Looking for a great way to give back to the greater community? Wesleyan's Let's Get Ready college prep program is looking for coaches! SAT Coaches volunteer for one or two nights a week to help students in low-income areas get into college.

Let's Get Ready expands access to college in America by mobilizing, equipping, and empowering a movement of college students helping high school students get to college. Through a network of campus and community-based chapters, Let's Get Ready's trained college student volunteers provide disadvantaged students with intensive SAT preparation, college advising, and the powerfully relevant role-models and mentors they need to succeed.

As an SAT Coach with Let's Get Ready, you will teach math and/or critical reading and writing SAT prep. LGR will provide you with training and curricula. You will guide small groups of high school students through the college process you recently completed. Most importantly, you will become a role model and integral part of many high school students' academic and personal lives.

This is a volunteer position, but work-study compensation is available to eligible students.

• Fill out an application
• Learn more about Let's Get Ready
• Send your questions via email

Cross Street Tutorial needs tutors

Patrick Kelleher-Calnan '08 sends us info on Cross Street Tutorial:

Cross Street Tutorial is looking for tutors! We are a tutoring program that meets Monday through Thursday from 4 to 6 at the local AME Zion Church. We work with kids of a wide age range from the Middletown area. Our main focus is homework help, but we also assist with studying, reinforce classroom lessons, and serve as mentors. Tutors volunteer twice a week, and work with one to three kids on any given afternoon. All Wes students (any year, any major) are welcome to join. To join, email pkellehercal@wes, or feel free to show up at the church during tutoring hours at the corner of Wadsworth and West Street.

Point in Time Count of the Homeless in Middlesex

The American Red Cross Shelter in Middletown needs volunteers to help with its Point in Time Count of the Homeless in Middlesex County on Jan. 30. Wesleyan students would be paired up with other volunteers to visit certain areas of the county to count the number of homeless people.

There's a mandatory training session this Saturday Jan. 26 at 1pm at the Office of Community Service (on the corner of Church and High). This is a really important event as the count determines how much funding the county gets for services for the homeless and there's a real need for volunteers to get an accurate count. There's no experience necessary.

Contact Mark Purser '08 if you have any questions (mpurser@wes).

Date: Saturday, Jan. 26
Time: 1pm
Place: Office of Community Service

Join ESL Tutors

WesESL connects tutors (you!) with Wesleyan employees (custodial staff, food service workers, and others) who want to learn English. We're looking for new tutors for the upcoming year who'd like to teach English as a second language to those who make this campus run. This program relies on dedicated, enthusiastic tutors like you and is a great chance to get involved with a warm community outside the bubble.

Questions? Write them at WesleyanESL(at)gmail.com.

Otherwise, fill out our quick web application here.

Newsletter Digest

• Ellen Davis '07 named CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine third-team Academic All-American.

• Wesleyan Without Borders updates from Peru.

• Photos from inside Usdanistan.
  

• Long Lane Farm volunteers featured in the Mtown Press.

Seeking Literacy Volunteers

The Literacy Volunteers of Greater Middletown is seeking volunteers for its summer training session for aspiring tutors.

Attending this session enables tutors to teach adult learners in both basic literacy and English as a Second Language. Classes will convene at deKoven House Community Center, 27 Washington St., on the following Mondays and Thursdays: June 4, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, and 28. Classes will run from 6 to 8:45 p.m.

Prospective tutors must preregister and attend all classes. After being certified, tutors make a commitment of one year to the program and choose to work with either a single student or a small group of students from one to two hours each week. Tutors help students improve their literacy skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Literacy Volunteers of Greater Middletown serves the residents of Cromwell, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Haddam, Marlborough, Middlefield, Portland and Middletown. To register or for more information, call 860-347-0337. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 11:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

North End Clean-Up

EON wants you to come out and help clean up the streets of Middletown!

North End Clean-up Sunday, April 22 Come help clean up the streets of Middletown! Meet in front of the Memorial Chapel at 8:45 am (first shift) OR 12:30 pm (second shift) Gloves, garbage bags, and other cleaning supplies will be provided. Bring food to cook on the grill on-site for lunch if you wish!

Questions about the day? Email acasale@wes.

Organized and sponsored by EON, Middletown High School's Heal Earth, Lower Poverty (HELP) in conjunction with the North End Action Team (NEAT).

Date: Sunday, April 22
Time: 8:45am *or* 12:30am
Place: Meet at Memorial Chapel

Spring Food Drive

Celebrate the arrival of warm, sunny weather by donating a couple of non-perishable items to the Amazing Grace Food Pantry in Middletown this week (April 2 - April 6).

There will be drop boxes at Olin, Sci Li, Weshop, North College, Office of Community Service and the Health Center.

Make Valentines!

Come get some free lunch and make Valentine's Day cards to deliver to seniors living at the One MacDonough assisted living facility in Middletown this Thursday!

Date: Thursday, February 8th
Time: Noon
Place: Chaplain's lounge (169 High Street)

Volunteer at the Women and Children's Center

Enjoy working with young children? Volunteer at the Women and Children's Center!

The Women and Children's Center is a rehabilitation center and transitional living facility for women who are recovering from alcohol and/or drug addictions. Through their nine month program the women and children�s center helps mothers stay on the right path and build new lives for themselves and their children. One of the most important activities in the program is support meetings in Middletown. Throughout the school year we provide babysitters so that mothers can attend these meetings.

Commitment: 2-3 hours once a week

Commitment is for the whole semester, excluding academic breaks. Students volunteer to babysit at least once a week for the duration of the semester. Children at the center are between 3 months and 5 years old.

Times: Monday - Friday evenings. Volunteers commit to babysitting at the same time every week for the same child.

If interested contact Micaela Gutierrez (mgutierrez01@wes.)

Raise the Age

Wesprep, the on-campus prison activist group, is politely requesting your help:

CT automatically tries and sentences all 16 and 17-year-olds as adults, regardless of their crime. This policy has failed and must be reexamined: youth in adult prisons do not receive adequate rehabilitation or treatment in adult prisons, which does not change their behaviors or improve public safety. Later this term, the Connecticut legislature will be voting on 'Raise the Age' legislation to keep youth out of adult prisons. The more calls they receive encouraging them to support this legislation, the better, so please take a minute to make a call.

This week we are targeting:
1.) Senator Mary Ann Handley 860-240-0498
2.) Rep. Alfred Adinolfi 860-240-8700
3.) Rep. Bill Aman 860-240-8700
4.) Rep. Gerald Fox 860-240-8585
5.) Rep. Arthur O'Neill 860-240-8700

Here's what you can say:

"Hi, my name is _______________ , from Middletown, Connecticut. I know that Connecticut incarcerates more kids under the age of 18 in adult prisons than any other state and I am calling to ask Representative/Senator _____________ to support efforts to "Raise the Age" and return 16- and 17-year-old offenders to our juvenile justice system. A bill addressing this issue will be introduced soon and I'm hoping the (Representative/Senator) will vote in favor of this reform.

Thank you."

Tutor in Middletown

Hey kids, wanna relive middle school? I didn't think so. But do you wanna help current middle school kids get through it? Try tutoring at Woodrow Wilson! I do it and I really enjoy it. The time commitment is pretty minimal but you really do get to know the kids you work with and it's pretty rewarding.

The in-school component targets middle schoolers who are failing subjects, at risk of retention, and/or need general and academic support. Students are identified by their team of teachers and matched one-on-one with Wesleyan students. With a major focus on building relationships across the college-middle school gap, tutors assist students with schoolwork, work to identify major issues affecting students motivation, and serve as a general support for building confidence and changing academic performance. Tutors go to Woodrow Wilson during school hours, at either 10-12 or 1-3pm, Monday thru Friday. They pick what time slots work for them - we strongly encourage going twice a week (or more if you want), with very little, but some room for exceptions.

There is also an after-school part:

The after school component to the program runs on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 2:40-4:00 with a focus on creative projects. A small group of Wesleyan students spend the hour and a half working with a group of kids on homework as well as projects ranging from digital photography to comic books. The group meets every Sunday night at 9 to plan for the upcoming week and then every 3rd Sunday of the month serves as a forum for all participants in the program to discuss issues pertaining to education.

By the way, if you are work-study, you can get paid for this.

If you're interested, come to the info session:

Date: Thursday, February 8
Time: 8pm
Place: Room 2 of the Campus center

For more info or to tell Jo you can't make it to the meeting, email her at jbrownson@wes.

Volunteer with the Elderly

Want to volunteer this semester? Have you thought about volunteering with the elderly? The Center for Community Partnerships offers a bunch of opportunities to get involved.

Below are a few examples. For more information contact Jeff Kessner '07 at jkessner@wes.

1) Weekly Visits to One MacDonough Retirement Home
Friday afternoons from 2-4pm Wesleyan students typically meet at the Office of Community Services (167 High St.) at 1:45pm and walk down together. Once there, we play games with the elderly residents, talk with them, help serve snacks, etc. This does not have to be a weekly commitment - you can participate whenever you have time. Students who have volunteered at One MacDonough in the past find the experience extremely rewarding, make strong connections with some of the residents, and never laughed so hard in their lives!

2) Monthly Tuesday Night Dinner at the Middletown Senior Center

The Middletown Senior Center is always looking for student volunteers to help serve dinner once a month. Tom Hardin, the director, asks that interested volunteers first contact me and then we can arrange a time to speak with Tom directly. This is a monthly commitment, but the seniors here are great and the center is located right on the edge of campus, across from the bookstore at 150 Williams St. Wesleyan also sponsors an International Dessert Buffet or some other type of special activity at the Senior Center once a semester, so I will be in contact with you later in the semester with more information about that.

3) Russell Library Elderly Reading Program
This program works with the Russell Library to match students with elderly residents. Students typically meet once per week with the elderly resident and the student goes to the library to pick up and/or select books for the senior citizen to read. There are also opportunities for students to read books to a small group of seniors. Please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested in this program because the coordinator at Russell Library is trying to match students as quickly as possible.

Volunteer Opportunity

Let's Get Ready is a program run through Upward Bound that provides free SAT and college preparation support to under-served Connecticut area high school students via Wesleyan University undergrad "coaches" who serve as tutors/mentors. YOU could serve as a coach and get involved in the greater Middletown and Connecticut community and make a truly positive impact!

As a coach, you are required a minimum of ONLY an 8 hour commitment - 4 for training and around 4 for at least one coaching session.

If you are interested, there are a few steps to take next:

1. Apply online here.

2. PLEASE e-mail the program Site Director Priya Bhayana at pbhayana@wesleyan.edu or WesleyanLGR@gmail.com if you are interested, so you can be put on the listserv and notified of training location and other relevant facts.

3. Come to the training session this Wednesday from 6-10 pm (location TBA). FREE DINNER will be provided! It's going to be a fairly laid-back, fun, social event and is the only training you will have to go through for the rest of the semester.

(email courtesy of Peter Hill '08)