Big Brothers Big Sisters matches children ages 6 through 18 with mentors in professionally supported one-to-one relationships. HWS runs two versions of this program. First, community-based mentoring in which Bigs and Littles meet for an hour a week in their community to share fun activities, stories and a little bit of themselves. Second, school-based mentoring matches Bigs with their very own middle school "Little". Activities are planned between 2 and 5 p.m. once a week, including field trips and group activities. The focus is on the environment, and projects include restoring wetlands, building habitats, netting birds and working on conservation efforts. For more information please contact hmills@bbbsr.org.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Geneva welcomes individuals who may want to contribute their time to working with our youth. Many opportunities are available in the areas of recreation and sports, arts and crafts, drama, dance, music, leadership development, fundraising, special events, chaperoning, computer literacy training, clerical support and more!
Hobart and William Smith are members of Campus Compact, an association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that promotes the public purpose of higher education through civic engagement, community service and service-learning. It provides rich resources for faculty and administrators in these areas as well as networking opportunities for students. It also sponsors various honors and awards for students and faculty at member institutions, including the Swearer Award, given to students for their outstanding community and public service. HWS was a founding member of the NY Campus Compact in 2001. President Gearan served as co-chair of the first NYCC executive committee for New York Campus Compact, and Ave Bauder currently serves on the advisory committee. Additionally, President Gearan has served as chair of the National Campus Compact.
All positions will assist in general office functions (phone, typing, filing, copying, etc.) and any work that comes up on a daily basis. In addition, each position will have specific areas of responsibility. Please fill out an application form.
The purpose of the Civic Discourse Form is to provide an opportunity for students and other community members to discuss topics as well as help develop skills that are pertinent to our lives as engaged citizens. Speakers and workshops are scheduled over the course of the year. The Forum was inaugurated in the Fall of 2007 with a discussion about the concept of national community service outlined in the September 10, 2007 issue of Time with Chris Myers Asch, one of the founders of the concept of a US Public Service Academy. Other speakers/events in the Fall of 2007 included Dr. Daphne Evans from Trinity College, Wales on Health and Social Care Policy in Wales and a visit by the Project Vote Smart bus giving students an opportunity to research the voting records of their representatives.
The Civic Leadership Speakers Forum is intended to bring to campus individuals, particularly graduates of the Colleges, who are making positive contributions to the public good in a variety of fields. The intent is to give our students an opportunity to meet people who are living lives of consequence. Topics for the inaugural year of the program include the environment, children, international issues, poverty, women's issues and gay rights.
As part of the series, a lecture given by Alan Van Capelle, executive director of Empire State Pride Agenda, is available for download in MP3 format.
Community Based Research (CBR) projects entail a semester long commitment devoted to the exploration of a vital community issue. Students with exceptional initiative work collaboratively with a community partner and faculty sponsor. Responsibilities vary based upon the specific details within the proposal and will likely include independent research, weekly check-ins with community partner and faculty sponsor, and a concluding presentation or project. CBR projects can count towards a student's major (see course requirements) or as Geneva Collaborative Internship (GCIP 401). Please review the application and contact Katie Flowers in CCESL.
Civic participation on boards of not-for-profits is critical to the functioning of our society and an important component of engaged citizenship. This program gives our students an opportunity to see how an agency governing board functions by serving on one during college. Interested students are given training on "Board Basics" and then placed on boards that request an HWS student. Some of these are the Geneva Area Chamber of Commerce, the Geneva Boys and Girls Club, the Geneva Public Library, Success for Geneva's Children and the United Way of Ontario County.
For two months out of the school year, the Colleges' community is in charge of Thursdays with the local community "soup kitchen." Students, sometimes with the help of faculty and staff, plan, prepare, and serve lunch to those in need in the Geneva area, as well as spend time with them over the meal. Students can and do volunteer at other times as well. This is a very popular service and new volunteers are always welcome. For more information, contact Ave Bauder, director of the Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning. At the 2007 Commencement, former director Marge Shanahan, was given an Honorary Degree for managing and directing this program for over ten years as well as her dedication to service and her commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of the people of Geneva.
Will assist students in finding information about various agencies and organizations. Maintain contact with organizations. Essentially will be the "office expert" on who is who and what's what with area agencies.
Community Service House, located at 737 South Main St., is a student cooperative house where the residents have pledged to volunteer weekly with various community agencies as well as sponsor all-campus community service events. These students serve as a resource to other students and clubs on campus and take a major role in Day of Service. The house also serves as a host site for public service activities such as the fireside chats with President Gearan, Day of Service meetings and Red Cross trainings. To learn more about the house, visit the Office of Residential Education. To learn more about applying to live in the house, consult housing lottery information.
Contact your local Red Cross organization to find local blood drive dates.
First Book-Geneva is part of a national organization whose mission is to give children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. Our Campus Advisory Board (CAB) has several tasks, which include fundraising, granting books to local organizations and raising awareness about illiteracy issues in the community. Since its inception in 2005, First Book-Geneva has granted thousands of books to children in and around Geneva. Please visit First Book-Geneva's Web site for more information about the organization or email geneva_ny@firstbook.org for upcoming meetings and events. Check out the First Book Geneva promotional video, "What Book Got You Hooked?"
These are some of the primary responsibilities of a First Boob Campus Advisory Board member:
Since the fall of 2000, the entering classes at HWS have participated in a service-learning project during Orientation. Over the summer, each student receives a reading that focuses on an aspect of civic engagement and making connections outside the classroom. In recent years this reading has been the first chapter of The Cathedral Within by Bill Shore. Students then participate in community service at over 40 locations around Geneva. Upon returning to campus, after a brief address by one of the Colleges' faculty concerning the role of public service and active citizenship in a liberal arts education, the students reflect on the activity in their orientation groups with either a faculty member or their orientation leader. This discussion draws together the reading, address, and service experience. Students gain an appreciation for the emphasis placed on community engagement here, experience the connection made between service and learning and get better acquainted with the community. Check out photos from the 2007 project.
Will work to organize and keep the office running smoothly while answering phones, taking messages, making copies, etc., along with supporting the professional staff and other specialists.
An eight-week service and leadership program for approximately 20-25 Middle School students created, staffed, and run by Hobart and William Smith students. HWS students recruit participants from the local middle school and then lead them in teambuilding, leadership, and service activities. In past years the Corps participated in a day of Project Adventure leadership and teambuilding exercises, assisted in unearthing and righting headstones in historic Washington Street Cemetery, stripped and waxed floors at the Geneva Food Pantry, raked leaves with President Gearan for elderly citizens as part of the public service project during inauguration weekend, cleaned and landscaped at Lakeview Mental Health, cleaned and moved furniture at the Boys and Girls Club, and participated in activities with the residents of Seneca Terrace assisted living center.
For more information contact Ave Bauder, club advisor.
With support from the Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning, students initiated and completed the process to form a campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity. The group regularly helps in the building of houses with the Yates and Ontario County Habitat affiliates. Since its inception, the group has worked to raise money for an "HWS House" in Geneva. Contact habitat@hws.edu or Angelica Johnson for more information on how to become involved.
CCESL organizes a gift drive with local social service agencies which historically generates over $5,000 in gifts which are donated to local families in need.
A non-denominational, non-profit, national organization that gives teddy bears to children in need. In its first year, Hugs raised over $600, allowing them to buy about 75 bears. The bears have been distributed to various local agencies such as the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center, American Red Cross of the Finger Lakes, Catholic Charities and Family Counseling Services of the Finger Lakes. For more information please contact Steph Wells at Stephanie.wells@hws.edu or visit the homepage for Geneva's Hugs Across America chapter.
The Bonner Leaders for Hobart and William Smith Athletes for Geneva's Youth are in a unique situation to act as a liaison between CCESL, Hobart and William Smith Athletics, and youth programs in Geneva.
Jumpstart is a national non-profit organization that engages young people in service to work toward the day every child in America enters school prepared to succeed. Hobart and William Smith has been a Jumpstart site since the fall of 2002, chosen from more than 200 institutions expressing interest that year. Jumpstart recruits, trains, and supports college students to serve as part-time AmeriCorps members, working directly with and supporting young children in Head Start and other early childhood education programs. Jumpstart focuses on building school success for young children by developing their early language, literacy, and social skills; encouraging strong family involvement to help families support children's learning; and training college students to be future teachers and leaders in early childhood education. Upon successful completion of the year, HWS students receive a $1,000 AmeriCorps education award. This award is matched by HWS for a total of $2,000 toward tuition for First Years, Sophomores and Juniors. In addition, students also receive a full academic credit by participating in a collaborative internship with an HWS faculty member. Contact Christie Torruella or to apply online visit www.jstart.org for information.
Jumpstart Corps members have the unique opportunity to inspire young children to learn, serve in a local community, work on a team, and build professional skills. All Corps members receive professional-caliber training to help them implement Jumpstart's outcome-based program, promote children's school success, and build family involvement.
Corps members complete 300 hours of service during the school year. This intensive commitment will make a substantial impact in the life of a young child. During the school year, Corps members serve part-time, 10-12 hours per week; communicate with partner child's family and share strategies for helping the child; participate in intensive pre-service and on-going trainings; and attend periodic service days, often held on weekends.
The Jumpstart team leader position is open to Jumpstart Corps members and alumni who have completed at least one year of service. In some cases, it is also open to undergraduate or graduate students who have early childhood education backgrounds and can serve in a team management role. The team leader manages a team of Corps members to provide educational activities to young children and families. Responsibilities include planning and implementing effective Jumpstart sessions, facilitating team meetings, and coaching Corps members to use developmentally appropriate practices with young children. The team leader plays a variety of roles, including coach, trainer, observer, administrator, and manager, and is essential to making Jumpstart a high quality program.
The Volunteer Coordinator's main role is to recruit student and community volunteers to aid in the outreach efforts of the Jumpstart Geneva program.
In addition to supporting the work of college students as AmeriCorps members, Jumpstart also engages a variety of community members as volunteers who contribute their time and talent to enhance Jumpstart's service to our partner early childhood centers and the community at large. To implement and manage our volunteer initiatives, Jumpstart will utilize a Volunteer Coordinator. The Volunteer Coordinator's main role is to recruit, train, and manage volunteers for various Jumpstart service projects that address specific program and community needs. The volunteers should be able to participate in a range of volunteer service projects.
Information about mentoring and opportunities to mentor are available, including:
Will work with Bonner Leaders and professional staff to coordinate or act as the liaison to various programs associated with the office like Geneva Heroes, blood drives, Habitat for Humanity, Holiday Project, clothing drives, Alternative Spring Break, etc. Coordinators will also be expected to organize non-work study staff to assist in these projects.
Will assist with press releases, office publications, web-site update and set up a weekly public service show on WEOS.
Periodically, staff of the Center lead a Readers College class that is related to Civic Engagement and Engaged Citizenship. Sometimes these have a service component, but not necessarily. Classes have included Reflections on Katrina in conjunction with service trips to New Orleans and Benjamin Franklin and Democracy's Values. The Alternative Spring Break trip to North Carolina has worked collaboratively with the Education Dept on a class which typically includes reading a book related to rural poverty or public education, meeting weekly before the trip for group discussions, guided reflection each evening while on the trip, and completing a 3-5 page paper within 2 weeks of returning.
Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning holds two annual blood drives one on or near Halloween and the other on Presidents Day. There are also opportunities to become involved with Disaster Action Team.
For more information contact Professor Jack Harris, faculty advisor. Chairpersons have been chosen for 2008-09, but committee chairpersons are still needed. Contact Lynn Cutter or Marticia Wakeman.
Rotaract is the campus version of Rotary, an international service organization that has chapters across the world (the high school equivalent is Interact). Both Rotary and Rotaract promote service and international understanding. The HWS Rotaract sponsors a number of service activities and works with the Geneva Rotary Club on some of its events. This makes them true "partners in service" and key members of the family of Rotary. Contact Kathryn Lawton, Carolyn Pluchino, if you would like to receive further information about meeting times and upcoming events.
Hobart and William Smith Colleges have developed an affiliation with the National University of Ireland, Galway to provide students with the opportunity to live and study among Irish students at an Irish university. A service learning project, required of all students and linked to the Director's Seminar, provides a unique opportunity for students to work with a local community service agency in Galway. Through reflective journal exercises, the community work allows for a greater understanding of Irish life and culture and chance to meet everyday residents of Galway.
Hobart and William Smith Colleges have developed an affiliation with Trinity College in Wales. Trinity College is known for its commitment to community engagement and this commitment permeates its innovative curriculum. HWS students will have the opportunity to live and take classes alongside Welsh and international classmates. To facilitate engagement with the local community, all students must participate in an academic or extracurricular immersion experience; this may include a credit-bearing internship, a school practicum, or a service-learning project. Many Trinity college courses include such components and can be used to fulfill this requirement.
For more information contact Student Activities.
As part of the Compass program, each entering class at HWS will be asked to identify a cause or issue it would like to address to produce a meaningful change over the course of their four years at the Colleges. Before they arrive on campus incoming students will receive a survey asking the "What Do You Stand For?" A steering committee is then formed to work with the staff of the Center to operationalize the "cause" in order to effect a meaningful change on the issue. The inaugural year of WDYSF was with the Classes of 2011. An innovative partnership was formed between the HWS Classes of 2011 and the GHS Class of 2011. Student representatives from the classes brainstormed and collaboratively established the "Local to Global" initiative. L2G is a creative way for the HWS and GHS students to select an organization or social injustice and work to address it. During the 2007-2008 academic year, they will remain local. During the 2008-2009 year, the classes will work on a regional or statewide issue, then during their junior year they'll combine resources and talent on a national issue, and finally during their senior year they will look internationally.