February
2013
Greetings
from Gail:
It
Takes Vision to Raise a
Neighborhood
People like Daisy Turner (who is featured below as part of our observance of Black History Month) highlights the struggle to create community in a new location. Today this same drive towards creating, to use a phrase popularized by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "the beloved community" takes many forms. Some obvious and some more modest. On Isham street that vision has been given voice by ISGOOD (Isham St. Gardening and Other Optimistic Doings). This association was founded by Brian Cina and Phil Hammeslough, who have a vision for their street to be on a gardening map of the city. To achieve this vision, ISGOOD partners with local institutions like UVM and City government. Our office has been inspired by their efforts and supports them through our Neighborhood Grant Program. The tally so far: 5 greenbelt gardens, an herb and blueberry garden, bump outs with trees, and this month - large recycling totes.
When Brian was asked how he felt about the efforts he replied "I am grateful for the efforts to give students better ways to manage their waste and take care of their neighborhood. It's another step in the right direction, so that we can change the culture of our block--- from a place where people just come to party without regard to their surroundings--- to an actual community where people come to live, learn, and make their world a more beautiful place."
Our office's mission is to help create a "a safe and socially just environment for off-campus students and neighbors". Join us in taking a step towards creating our "beloved community" by participating in this project and be part of a street's transformation!
Information: oscr@uvm.edu
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VT's African-American Trail
"Vermont’s history is defined by its people: Native occupation dating back 10,000 years, citizens powering pivotal Revolutionary War events and providing crucial Civil War support, and U.S. presidents, Senators and leaders whose work contributed to the foundation of our country.
Lesser known are the stories of Vermont’s African Americans. It is their stories and those of some of their fellow Vermonters that this guide explores.
The trail takes you to Vermont museums and cultural sites where exhibits, films, tours and personal explorations will illuminate the lives of African Americans for whom the Green Mountain State was part of their identity. You'll meet teachers, storytellers, activists, ministers and legislators - people unique in history for being the first to attain positions formerly held only people of European descent, and people who participated in Vermont institutions to make the state and country a better place for all.
Welcome to the unfolding of this important history."
- From the Vermont Tourism Site
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Deadline February 18
The Service-Learning Teaching Assistant (S-L TA) Program provides support for faculty, students, and community partners engaged in designated service-learning courses at UVM. Since 2005, the CUPS Office has offered this unique program to designed to give UVM students training in service-learning pedagogy and leadership development opportunities while providing faculty members additional support for their service-learning courses. To date, over 150 S-L TAs have been trained and supported by the CUPS Office.
"Service-learning" is a form of experiential education in which students engage in activities that address human and community needs together with structured opportunities intentionally designed to promote student learning and development. Reflection and reciprocity are key concepts of service-learning." (Jacoby, B. (1996) Service-Learning and Higher Education)
What past S-L TAs said they gained from the position:
- networking with community partners
- mastery/reinforcement of course materials
- teaching skills
- understanding of service-learning pedagogy and critical reflection
- how to work with professors
- communication etiquette
- how to facilitate meetings
- how to set expectations
- organizational skills
- confidence
- the ability to assist with course design
- experience facilitating in-class and online discussion
- the opportunity to work with a diverse group of students
- public speaking skills
Please visit our website for more information about the position, FAQs, and the application to apply! To see UVM's current and past service-learning courses, click here!
Learn more about the some of the current Service-Learning Teaching Assistants by liking us on Facebook! There you can see photos and read bios! You'll also find office updates, grant opportunities, and news about current service-learning courses at UVM!
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|
Off-Campus
Student,
OUT-Athlete,
Activist, and Great
Runner:
Kaleigh Wood
('13) and the "If You
Can Play" Project
Kaleigh Wood has
done a lot in her time
at UVM. Cross Country
runner, student staff
member at the LGBTQA
Center, Social Justice
Activist and the first
out athlete to be
featured on multiple
national websites as a
role model to other
LGBTQ athletes. Kaleigh is currently still working on a video for the "If You Can Play" project, so if you are interested in participating or think your team might (including intramural teams) want to participate email Kaleigh.
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(Fountain) Drinks
Are On Us!
Want as many as 60 free
points from Sodexo?
Sweet Deal!
This time of year folks hunker down, cut out unnecessary expenses and look for ways to save. Did you know that as an Off-Campus student you can get 300 meal points for only $250? That’s a bonus of 50 points! But wait, there’s more, in February we are sweetening the deal. Add $250 before February 28, 2013 and we will give you an additional 10 points. That’s 310 points for only $250!
Adding meal points to your card offers you the convenience and deliciousness of campus dining with great savings! Call our Meal Plan Office today at 656.2945 to learn more!
Congratulations
to Melissa S. who won
a $25 Gift Card to
City Market for
participating in our
Off-Campus Living
Workshop Evaluation
survey! There are more
opportunities to win
prizes in this
newsletter. Keep
reading to find out where!
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Babysitter
Mingler
Spring 2013 Mingler was a
huge success. Featuring
more efficient check-in
and registration via
Eventbrite on tablets and
smartphones, we ushered
over
260
participants into
the Davis Center
. Check out our Facebook album and make sure to keep a look out for the Fall 2013 Babysitter Mingler.
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Different
Lifestyles, Same
Communities:
How UVM Student and Non-Students
Residents Can Share
Burlington
by Sean Wilcox, Samantha
Jean-Baptiste
A
GeoStories Project
from Fall 2012
OSCR has launched a GeoStories Project with students in the Strategic Writing for Public Communication Class (CDAE 120). The goal is to create a living map with links to stories (in written, photo- or videographic) about an area of the city. For their service-learning projects, the students are interviewing residents (both student and non-students)and writing and filming stories. One of which is at the end of this newsletter. If you are interested in participating – telling, writing, or filming your city story, let us know (oscr@um.edu) and you too can be part of the GeoStories adventure!
Burlington’s vibrant colors of foliage and spectacular golden sunsets over Lake Champlain make for a beautiful experience in the fall. However, not all parts of the autumn months make for an enjoyable time for residents of the town. Smashed pumpkins line the streets in several downtown intersections, a reminder of the unwanted bi-products from the many college students that live in the Queen City.
Peggy O’Neill, a 12-year resident of Brookes Avenue, has to explain to her three children why they don’t put pumpkins on the porch. Brookes Avenue, a quiet side street, is a popular short cut for college students’ route downtown. “They would just get smashed every time,” she said. “The noise of these late night antics wakes me and my husband up, often as late as 3 AM".
Peggy has had many positive experiences with students during her 12 years in Burlington. “The majority of students are responsible,” Peggy explained, but she believes that there needs to be a connection to the younger, underclassmen students. “They don’t realize that their behavior can negatively impact the residents of Burlington that have to get up early for work, have families..” added Peggy.
“There must be a relationship formed between students of UVM and the non-student residents in Burlington,” said UVM senior, Eric Laine. “The admissions office and Residential Life must be active in bridging the gap between the two groups, and it must happen as soon as their first year starts,” he explained. Eric thinks that a majority of incoming students are unaware of the adults and professionals living in Burlington, and don’t understand the negative impacts that can be made on a short walk downtown late at night.
Peggy admits that the forming of this relationship is not a simple and easy one. She suggests UVM creating a reality TV show in which a few students trade lives with adults that have jobs and families for a week. “If the student body could see how difficult that most adult resident lives already are, and how such small disturbances like street noise make can become big problems.. I think they would be much more conscious of their behavior,” Peggy added.
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Penny
Wise Pantry
Wednesday,
February 20
6:00pm - 7:00pm
City Market (map)
Learn how to fill the
drawers in your fridge
and the shelves of your
cupboards with fresh and
nutritious foods without
exceeding your grocery
budget. With this interactive and hands-on tour, know where and how to store foods at home to get the longest use out of them, develop a better understanding of Co-op sales, and get inspiring tips and recipes to start cooking quick and affordable meals at home. No matter what kind of diet you follow, these pennywise tools help you stock your kitchen with a variety of healthy, local, and even organic foods.
For information on other opportunities visit us at
City Market
Free!
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Want
to grow your own food,
flowers, or just play
in the dirt?
It may still be snowing
outside but it's time to
start thinking about
gardening this Spring!
The Burlington Area
Community Garden
Registration season is
now open.
Sign up while
space is available!
For more information or to
register visit:
Burlington
Community Gardens
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New for this semester, Shaw's on Shelburne Road now accepts CAT$cratch! Check out our website www.uvm.edu/~catcard for a full list of off-campus and on-campus locations!
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