Our Final Day in NYC

Ah, Friday morning in Manhattan. What a lovely way to begin my last day in New York City. This afternoon, we’ll be heading off to Ohio where we’ll spend our last night on the road. We have about an 8 hour car ride ahead of us, so this morning, most people woke up bright and early and headed to Time Square to stand outside for Good Morning America and The Today Show. A few people stayed behind to sleep, but we’re all out and about now.

As I write from this Soho coffee shop in Lower Manhattan, I’m reminded of the lessons we’ve learned this week and the experiences we can learn from. All in all, New York isn’t so different from Cedar Rapids. I mean, sure, it’s a lot larger, generally speaking has more to offer, and is more diverse, but in the end, I see a city that offers learning experiences. And while for most of us we see opportunities around every corner because everything is so new to us, to a New Yorker, life might seem mundane as we see life in Cedar Rapids.

I think it’s important for us to take the lessons we’ve learned here and apply them to life in Cedar Rapids. Most of us enjoyed volunteering at the Help One, a daycare in Brooklyn. A lot of us loved working at food banks, knowing that we were feeding people who really need to be fed. Some prefer working at food pantries and soup kitchens. We often overlook the opportunities we have in Cedar Rapids. Yes, we have time now and are dedicating our week to serving in another part of the country, but when we go home, those opportunities are still available.

Food banks, food pantries, working with children, and soup kitchens (among countless other volunteer experiences) are available right in Cedar Rapids, and many of those organizations desperately need volunteers. So remember, readers, that just because we’ve had this incredible experience in New York City does not mean that we can’t have equally meaningful experiences at home in Cedar Rapids, or anywhere else for that matter.

Our Final Day of Service in NYC!

Thursday’s Update:

Tomorrow is behind us, and we’re pressing on! Like all of our days in NYC, today has been interesting and full of adventures. Here’s a bit about our service sites today:

One group went to Trinity Lutheran Church in East Village in Manhattan, which operates as a food pantry and soup kitchen. The neighborhood used to be considered more of a poor area, but it has slowly become more of a “hipster”/”bohemian” area. The group served 220 people in a space for about 45. At this pantry, clients could have what they wanted and however much they wanted. Of the places that group has been, this group of people they served was the most diverse. There were very few black and white people. They were almost all Asian and Hispanic. The soup kitchen closed at noon so that they could set up wire shelves full of food for the food pantry. At 12:30, they were open for business. The group helped families choose food. They could “purchase” food with points, which is dependent on the number of people in the family. Challengingly, none of the clients spoke English. Overall, it was a fast-paced environment, and the people running the shelter were, as one person said, “the most tired of all the places we’ve served.”

Another group headed to Help One, a daycare/school in Brooklyn. Three people were in the 2 year old room, and two were in the 4 year old room. (The 3 year olds were not in the building Thursday.) This group loved this site. The children were a lot of fun, and they were able to forget about the previous day’s experience as they immersed themselves in service with children who could light up a room.

The other Coe group went to a synagogue in Manhattan where they served in a food pantry. It wasn’t much different from the other pantries or soup kitchens they served at earlier this week.

Overall, it was another great day of service in New York. Tomorrow is our last day in New York and we’ll head off to Ohio!

A Challenging Day in NYC

Wednesday’s Update:

Today has been such a learning experience for so many of us. One Coe group was at Baby Buggy, a place for toys, essentials, and accessories for families that need things for their babies. Another group went to a soup kitchen, and the other group worked with kids and packed bags of food.

I’m going to talk about my experience specifically, as Katie did yesterday, because today’s service really made a difference in how I see service and people.

The soup kitchen we worked in today tested my patience more than I’ve been tested in a long time, and I found myself struggling to care about these people, struggling to remember why what I was doing mattered. As I served today, I was faced with some of the rudest, most disrespectful, and ungrateful people I’ve met in my life, and as someone performing a volunteer service for them, it was certainly a challenge to appreciate why I was there.

Our first task of the day was to stack small pallets of canned food along the walls of the soup kitchen, which is located in East Harlem. There were quite a few cans, and it took us about 20 minutes. For that 20 minutes, 3-4 men were standing outside the door talking amongst each other--about us. They made comments like, “They’ve never had to work a day in their lives. They don’t know what hard work is. Their parents do everything for them.”

We felt degraded, like we were the ones in need. From the moment we began working, we were immediately turned off by the entire situation. Serving such rude people who immediately judged us based on our position at the soup kitchen was challenging. To top it off, as we served, many of the clients complained about how much we gave them. “That’s too much!” or “Come on! What’s wrong with you? A bird would eat that! Give me more!” or “What’s that? Gross! Serve better food!”

I have never experienced such a challenging service opportunity at a soup kitchen before, but it was certainly a learning experience. A few moments required us to get a little snippy--”No. You’ll take what’s here or you won’t eat here.” kind of comments. They usually complied, though one man started crying and a few others tried to argue with us. In the end, they always accepted what we had to offer.

Though it was challenging, it was also one of my favorite experiences because I learned so much. I was given the opportunity to consider so many perspectives I never had before. I thought about privilege and choice and second chances and over-/underestimating others. We all think about stereotypes, even when we see someone for the first time--how they look, what race they are, how they are dressed. All these factors play into first impressions, and we all do it to some extent, but we don’t always consider it from someone else’s eyes--how others see us.

Similarly, we don’t always put ourselves in our friends’ shoes either. As we reflected on our service and experience in New York City, our advisor asked who felt like a minority in New York, and a few people raised their hands--all of them white. As a white person, it is interesting being in New York where racial diversity (especially) is plentiful. In Iowa and at Coe, diversity is certainly not nearly as prevalent.

When we discussed the difference, I mentioned that I had been near Central Park on 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue, and I was almost relieved to finally be around white people. Most of the neighborhoods we’ve been in contain many people who are not white. When I said this, a Hispanic student in our group said that now I knew how they felt, and I am grateful to have this incredibly small glimpse into what life might be like for minorities at places like Coe. It’s not so much that I felt that I was ever in danger or that people were afraid of me or anything, but I definitely knew I stuck out. I know that when I get on the train in Sunset Park (where we’re staying), the chances of running into another white person are very slim.

Overall, today certainly made me think a lot about diversity and first impressions. I considered that others, no matter their situations, have a basic human right to feel safe and respected. It seems that for some people (like those at the soup kitchen in Harlem), it’s important to them to almost force people to be respectful. I think it might give them a perceived notion that because someone doesn’t try to argue with them or tell them what to do, they are respected. Respect is important because without it, many of the people we have served this week would have almost nothing else.

Guest Blogger Katie Shares Her Thoughts

Happy Tuesday readers!

Gogert (Katie Gogerty) here for a (late) Tuesday update!

First of all, I want to thank you all for reading about our little adventures in New York. Secondly, I would like to thank Megan for a) staying up late to perfect each blog post and b) letting me write a little “guest blog” for today.

Today, every group went to indirect service sites. Group A went to a clothing bank where they folded a copious number of “cow-patterned dresses”. Group B went to Yorkville Community Pantry where they stocked potato and vegetable bags, and group C went to the Food Bank of New York to sort and repackage food. This post is specifically about the site I served at, the Food Bank of New York. 

The Food Bank of New York is not only about food; they also provide educational opportunities to teach people about money management, budgeting, etc. What I saw and what we were able to be a part of was a delicious but small taste of what this organization has to offer for volunteers and clients. In our few hours of sorting through palates of assorted donated food items, we packed 2.5 tons of food. Kenny (the site director) told us that the average person eats approximately 1.5 pounds of food at dinner, so we essentially packed enough food to feed a meal to 33,000 families. 

To me, the best thing was not the number results of our few hours of frantic packing, but the idea that the Food Bank is running because people out there believe that it is important to help each other. It made me realize that we are not in New York to work just to do the work itself, but we are here to learn more about the world in which we live, to learn about specific problems facing homeless and hungry people to eventually find a solution.

Through working at food pantries and soup kitchens in different cities, I’ve learned that service can be uncomfortable, but our discomfort is key to helping us understand not only the larger issues of homelessness and hunger, but about others’ specific situations. We need to be uncomfortable with the injustice in hunger and in homelessness so that we can see why service matters and how we can make a long-term difference.

Our service didn’t stop at our work sites today because we headed back to YSOP to begin preparing for a dinner party with 10 guests from a nearby homeless shelter. Everyone was very involved in the preparation: some made mashed potatoes, salad, vegetarian stir fry, baked chicken, garlic bread, and ice cream and brownies.

The ladies from the shelter were quick-witted and very personable. They were all very easy to talk to, and some of them seemed like very close friends. Most of them met each other in the shelters and have gotten to the point of caring for each other and trusting each other in a deep capacity.

Before the guests arrived, we were told not to ask the ladies why they are homeless, but it came up anyway (not because any of us asked, but because that is how they know each other and that is a lot of what they have to talk about). They talked about certain shelters closing and new ones working on opening.

The leaders from YSOP asked for a few people to escort the ladies back to the shelter, and I was one of the Coe escorts, and I had a great conversation with one woman. The walk felt very quick, and it made me realize what I have been reminding myself everyday: New York is much farther away than other places I’ve been to, and I may never see her again. So why is service in New York City so important? Why does it matter that I came here as opposed to staying in Cedar Rapids? Why should I put myself in that situation--to get to know someone and face the awful fact that I will never see her again?

I believe feeling this is not only okay, but is necessary. It forces me to remember that she is a person regardless of any stereotype set against her, just as the people from Coe are people. If distance won’t stop a friendship between college students, how should it stop a friendship between this woman and myself? Fear of any kind should never stop us from doing the “little things we do.”

Monday's Update!

Monday Update:

(Sorry it’s late, we have limited internet access.)

As always, today was an exciting day in the life of a Coe student staying in New York!

We began our day far too early as we left the church at 7:15 to be in lower Manhattan at YSOP, the organization we’re working with, by 8am. First we had a quick breakfast, a short history of YSOP, statistics about homelessness and hunger in NYC, and safety tips on the subway and at our service sites.

One group at a soup kitchen in the Bronx, Part of the Solution (POTS).

YSOP is an organization that focusses on homelessness and hunger outreach. They work to find groups sites to serve through while they stay in NYC. They explained the difference between homeless and hungry people, saying that homeless people are those without proper housing. In New York City, there are about 40,000 people who are homeless. Of that number, 16,000 are under age 18. This statistic only includes people who have stayed in city-run shelters, not anyone who stays on the streets or in private or religiously-affiliated shelters.

Hungry people are those who do not have access to adequate amounts of food sometimes or always. All homeless people are automatically considered hungry because if they don’t have housing, they probably don’t have food. Housing is considered the first thing anyone would choose in such their situation.

As a group, we discussed why people might be homeless or hungry, and responses ranged from disabilities prevent people from accurate housing to natural disasters to unemployed or underemployed to things like family issues and domestic violence. It was a helpful beginning to our service experience to know a little about the population and statistics of those we were serving.

Soon we were off to our respective NYC organizations. All of our groups were sent to a different soup kitchen or food pantry: 2 in the Bronx and 1 in Brooklyn. During reflection we talked about the food we served, the people we worked with, and a little about how we felt at each service site. We talked about choice and community and compared the soup kitchens we worked with to some that we’ve worked with in different cities like Atlanta, Chicago, and Cedar Rapids.

A common theme we found among the places we worked is that people at these shelters get a lot of choice and personalized discussions. At many soup kitchens, for example, you get what they serve you--no personalized menus, but here people get what they ask for if they make a special request. The people served at each soup kitchen seem to know each other and have personal connections with the staff who know almost everyone’s stories. It’s really interesting to compare that situation with those we’ve encountered in the past where people come in, each a little food that we would never eat, and leave without so much as a thank you.

Overall, there is general consensus among our group that homelessness and hunger are much more prevalent in NYC, which might be why it seems to be so much more accepted or perhaps less of a negative stereotype. The people we’ve talked to don’t seem to feel ashamed necessarily, but rather grateful that there are people in the world willing to help them fix a temporary issue such as hunger so that they can focus their attention on something more important than a basic human need and help themselves ultimately get out of a tough situation. In other places, people don’t seem as open to accepting their situations.

We ended our day at Times Square seeing many shops and so many lights. It was a bit cold, but we pressed on and made it back to the church safely to wake up bright and early for another day of service.

A Reverent, Humbling Day

We’ve survived our first day out in the city!

Our morning began with a delicious breakfast as church leaders began setting up for church. One person we met this morning, Robert, explained that he has lived in Brooklyn his entire life, and he loves it here. Neighborhood residents joke that he’s like the mayor because he’s such a friendly guy who knows everyone. After talking about his life in Brooklyn, we asked if he would ever visit a farm. He commented that he has been to a farm in South Carolina with a friend; “it was nice and peaceful to visit, but I could never live there,” a common comment similar to one many of our students have made about New York.

As we finished our breakfast, we headed out to the train station conveniently located just a few feet from the church. We bought metro passes and headed to Manhattan. For many students, riding the subway was a first. Although some students were nervous, we made it to Manhattan where we walked around Wall Street, saw the bull and famous Tiffany’s, and ate lunch. Per Robert’s recommendation, we went inside Trinity Cathedral, a beautiful church in lower Manhattan. Soon thereafter was what many students call an emotional journey through Ground Zero.

The Wall Street sign.

The famous bull representing the tough stock market exchange.

Jessica having breakfast at Tiffany's.

Trinity church.

As we entered the site, we were in awe of what we saw. Where the north and south towers stood now house massive, seemingly never-ending waterfall fountains of sorts. Each fountain is probably at least an acre large, if not larger. Surrounding each fountain is a ledge in which the people who died have names engraved. To many, it is a truly touching and emotional experience. Some people hugged each other, some left roses for those who have fallen, and others stood in silence. In the middle of busy, bustling Manhattan, we found serenity and solitude at Ground Zero.

Part of the ledge of the south tower with engraved names of those who died.

The only surviving tree from the 9/11 attacks that was nursed to health for 9 years and introduced to the memorial a year ago.

When leaving the site, our group discussed the feelings the site brings up. We discussed where we were on September 11, 2001. Most of us were in elementary school and watched the attacks on the news all morning in patient silence while no one explained what was happening. We were so young that these planes crashing into buildings meant almost nothing to us. “What are the Twin Towers? What are terrorists? Why does this matter?” We had no clue, but we knew it meant something, and we knew it meant something bad so we sat--unable to speak, and still unable after more than 10 years to speak as we stood in reverence to such a monumental event in American history.

We discussed what the fountains represent. In the middle of each fountain is a large hole into which you cannot see from the edge. We discussed that this might represent the never-ending pain many feel because of the attacks, an accurate representation of so many things unknown during and after September 11, 2011. The emotional morning gave us a sense of unity, a sense of understanding that Ground Zero is a testament to our nation’s history, an accurate representation that we are Americans and despite everything that happens around us, we are still united. We have a common history that cannot be shaken. Some students felt incredibly appreciative for what they have after such a historic experience.

One of the fountains at Ground Zero.

We then headed off to the Smithsonian where, oddly enough, we ran into some Coe students. We learned much about American Indian history and their struggles through time. Quotes and pictures on the wall depicted different ideas of life in pueblos. From an outsider's perspective, the American Indians were generous and interesting entertainers, but to the American Indians, they were just themselves. They had customs and traditions; they believed in kindness. However, as settlers came, they stripped away those important traditions one by one. Dance became entertainment, not celebration, for example. One quote on the wall said that children were no longer allowed to speak Indian in school. Settlers even took away their language.

To finish up the day, we headed to Staten Island. Most of us experienced our first ferry ride, which was considerably colder than expected. We were excited to finally arrive at the island after seeing the Statue of Liberty up close, and we dispersed in small groups to eat dinner. Although many restaurants were closed, we made some interesting discoveries. Some ate Chinese food and others found a Mexican restaurant.

Part of the group waiting for the ferry.

The ferry dock in Staten Island.

A view of the Statue of Liberty from the ferry.

Overall today was an exciting, information-packed adventure, and we’re excited to begin our service experience tomorrow. As always, stay tuned!

Peace.

Saturday Night Update (Posted on Sunday)

Hello again, Readers! This time from NYC! 

We’re excited, anxious, nervous, and (honestly) overwhelmed to be here! It’s almost surreal to finally feel the city and settle into this small church in a bustling, Hispanic neighborhood in Brooklyn. As we approached the city, mouths were agape as we took in the incredibly beautiful skyline. Buildings stood tall and lights shone brightly as we pulled into the city, ready to take on whatever came our way (especially traffic). Our courageous leaders navigated through the city, and we finally arrived at Sunset Park Community Church.

The sights, sounds, smells, and overall culture of the city are extremely different from what we know, but we’re adapting quickly. We’re learning the streets around the church, a million and one safety tips, and traffic laws in the city. (Did you know that honking your horn in traffic can result in a $350 fine?! Certainly not as depicted in the movies!)

Our biggest challenge so far was finding parking, but we quickly found a relatively simple solution for that at another church close by thanks to our New York City expert, Rick. We’ve eaten the most delicious food (Mexican-Chinese, New York style pizza, and Burger King) and seen some interesting stores and shops. We’ve encountered (from a distance mostly) the famous Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, and experienced the wonderful world of expensive tolls.

Katie G and Katie G devour a super delicious milkshake!

Kayla and Wendy enjoy pizza!

I know it seems like our trip is basically complete, but, indeed, it has hardly begun. When asked what they are most excited about, students said things like seeing more of the city, serving a new population, and riding on the subway for the first time. Tomorrow we’ll certainly be doing some of that as we head out by train to see some typical New York City sights, like Ground Zero and Staten Island.

Stay tuned for our exciting adventures!

ASB: Day 1

Hello readers,

We've officially awoken in Fremont, Ohio from our first night on the road! Almost 8 hours after departure, we finally approached our hotel, battling carsickness, sore butt syndrome, and extreme NYC anticipation. Oh the relief to finally see a bed to crash into, an outlet to charge our phones, and a shower.

Not a lot has happened so far, just some intense games of Fed-Ex, quiet conversations, the license plate game, and lots of napping. After a good night's sleep, some solid recharging, and food, we'll be prepared for the second stretch of travel to the Big Apple! NYC, here we come!

Spring Break, Here We Come!

Happy March, lovely readers!

With only one day to go until spring break, students are cracking down, spending countless hours in the library, reading books, writing papers, and praying that spring break comes quickly.

This year, as some students head off to Florida or Cabo or anywhere warm, really, our office is leading a group of 12 students to New York City for ASB 2012. There, we'll be serving the homeless, reflecting on our experiences, and truly immersing ourselves in the culture of the bustling New York City streets.

Most of the students have never been to New York City, and some of them have never been to a big city, so it will certainly be an interesting, unique, and most of all exciting experience. We'll keep you posted on our awesome adventures in the Big Apple!

Cedar Rapids Dance Marathon: Year 2

Hey y'all!
The office has been busy lately as we settle in, preparing first year students to complete their service requirements and securing program volunteers for the semester, but we're still pressing forward!

This week, in honor of recruitment week for Cedar Rapids Dance Marathon (CRDM) 2012, I'm excited to tell you all a bit about the program and share some updates with you.

To begin, Dance Marathon is a national program designed for participants (AKA dancers) to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network. Dancers are required to stand for 12 hours without caffeine. All Cedar Rapids Dance Marathon funds go directly to the University of Iowa Children's Hospital focusing on non-cancer related medical expenses for families, things for the children staying there to do, improving the classroom for long-term patients, research, et cetera. They chose non-cancer related issues because the University of Iowa's Dance Marathon, which also benefits U of I Children's Hospital, focuses on cancer.

Last year, CRDM raised more than $25,000; this year's goal is $35,000. All dancers are encouraged to raise $100 to support 15 families currently staying at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital. So far, just over $9,000 has been raised!

As mentioned above, this week is recruitment work. You can help make miracles by heading out and donating money or attending one of these events:

• Tonight was CiCi's Night
• Tuesday, Feb 21: Coldstone Night (6-9pm)--it's also Teal Tuesday so wear teal!
• Thursday, Feb 23: Info session at 8pm in Stuart 405 @ Coe--come learn about CRDM!
• Saturday, Feb 25: PUB Dance with Rugcutters-8-11pm
• Tuesday, Feb 28: IHOP Day-come to IHOP for a free stack of pancakes and donate to CRDM! 8am-8pm

To donate, register as a dancer, or learn more about CRDM, click here! Only 53 days to go! The big event is April 14, 2012! Don't miss out!

Cedar Rapids Honors MLK, Jr.

As classes begin yet again, Coe students have enveloped themselves in the spirit of service as some participated in activities on MLK, Jr Day of Service. Approximately 175 Cedar Rapids residents and 15 Coe students volunteered to make a difference.

Noel Rozum, VISTA in the office, welcomed the audience at an opening ceremony at Mt. Mercy University and introduced Mt. Mercy's chaplain who opened with a prayer, thanking God for allowing us to be there to help others.

Rozum then introduced Mt. Mercy's president, Dr. Blake who officially welcomed the audience to Mt. Mercy and thanked everyone for being there.

Mayor Corbett was also introduced and officially dubbed Monday, January 16, 2012, as MLK, Jr. Day of Service. Then he introduced Coe student Tevin Bell, who recited part of MLK, Jr's famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

In the lobby, Mt. Mercy students created a post-it note mural where participants were prompted to write notes of encouragement including their hopes, dreams, and wishes.

As the ceremony ended, the audience dispersed to their service sites. As they painted, served the homeless, chopped wood, changed locks, and organized food pantries, they were reminded of Martin Luther King, Jr. who dedicated his life to justice and service. His dream was to live in a nation that would "rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'"

From the incredible turnout, clearly we are seeing MLK's dream through--treating those in need as our equals, and always remembering a brave man who fought for his entire country, that we would be a prosperous, forgiving society dedicated to assisting those in need. There's not a better way to celebrate such an important man.

Homeless and Hunger Week!

This weekend, our wonderful crunch berry city hosted the Cedar Rapids Sleep Out for the Homeless.  Approximately 150 people participated, and the event raised $11,000.00 toward the local shelters.  Channel 2 were also in attendance to broadcast the sleep out. 

There was a cardboard shelter building competition for everyone to build homes out of sheets of cardboard and packing tape.  The Coe women's basketball team won an award for the most interesting cardboard box. 


Noel Rozum from the Office of Service-Learning and Campus Engagement brought a team of 13 under the name of Team Coe to the event as well.  Team Coe raised $137.00 which contributed to the $11,000.00 that the event made.  The team also made 150 fleece hats, 6 blankets, and 6 scarves all to be donated to the homeless. 


Picture Time!

AFB Minneapolis/St. Paul

Fall break is a time for rest and relaxation.  A time for students to catch up on sleep, go home, and visit friends.  Fall break is, by its very name, a break from school and worries and responsibility.

Yeah, right.

Twelve students, including myself, didn’t get the memo.  Instead, we packed up our bags and headed off to the Twin Cities to serve the homeless population and those in extreme poverty.  Our whirlwind adventure began on Saturday morning, when we drove up to Minnesota, and didn’t end until Tuesday evening when we finally arrived back at Coe and wearily unloaded the vans.

During that four day span, we managed to get in a lot of quality service.  Our team worked together on a variety of projects.  On Sunday, for example, we packed food for three hours at the Dorothy Day Center in the heart of St. Paul.  We also got to sit down and eat lunch with the homeless clients, which was a new and interesting experience for some of us.  It was a little awkward at first for me, but once I had a conversation going I heard some amazing fact and stories.  It was refreshing and humbling to see the city from a different point of view.

The AFB students also worked in a family shelter, Sharing and Caring Hands, on Monday and Tuesday morning.  There, they served breakfast to over two hundred people each day.  In addition, the students worked at sorting donated clothing and cleaning up Como Park.  In a special service opportunity, a few students got to work with Project Home, which offered a place to sleep at night for homeless families in the basement of the same church that gave our group a place to sleep as well.  It was touching to work with kids who were carefree and happy to just play at night, even considering their situation.

Despite our hard work, we also found time to squeeze in a little fun:  Ethiopian cuisine, an impromptu tour of the St. Paul Cathedral, and free time in the Mall of America were an added bonus.  We spent a little time exploring the neighborhood we were staying in and got to compare and contrast different subcultures within the cities.

In the end, we left a mark on the Twin Cities; however, the people we met and served made a positive impact on us in return.  What we saw and what we learned will forever influence our actions and choices.  I can’t wait to take my new knowledge and apply it to fighting homelessness and poverty in the city of Cedar Rapids!

Hannah

Fall Mid-Term

Hey all!

With mid-terms basically finished and all rested after fall break, it is a great time to think about serving! Come stop by the office to check out our cool programs. There really is service for any one whether you have a tight schedule, artistic, athletic, chatty, shy, passionate, or your just looking to meet new people I'm sure we can find something for you!

I help with the Four Oaks-The Bridge Art Program meet every Thursday from 4:00-5:30. We plan the crafts, pick the supplies and then finally do the craft with the kids. If your creative, love kids, or just need a study break we would love to have you! Last week we made wreaths from leaves and the before that bugs with toilet paper rolls! It was a blast! Next on the list, a craft with a Halloween theme. Shoot me an email if your interested!

Amanda

Service Events on September 11th

This past Sunday was the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.  Even after ten years, it is hard to come to terms with the tragedy that took place here on U.S. soil.  To commemorate the people who lost their lives and to recognize those who have served and are currently serving in the United States military, September 11th has been designated the National Day of Service and Remembrance.  On this day, across the nation people band together to support those affected by all types of conflict, especially war. 

This year, Coe College participated in the National Day of Service and Remembrance by sending care packages to soldiers who are currently overseas.  Students, faculty, and staff were asked to recommend soldiers to receive the packages as well as donate non-perishable items.  On Sunday the 11th, a group of students met to pack the boxes with the donated items.  In total, 30 care packages were packaged and sent to soldiers who have a personal connection to someone here at Coe. 

In addition to the packing of care packages, many other activities took place on the 11th.  One of these included a spiritual reflection with the chaplain.  Not only is it important to do something good for the community - like send care packages - but reflection is also a necessary factor to really understanding the significance of things. 

The day was a great success, and hopefully will continue to be in the future!

Welcome Back!

Hello, beautiful readers!

It's been an exciting few weeks back in the OSLCE office. Tuesday, September 6 was our Service Fair. Lots of community partners came to Coe to explain their missions to Coe students, especially freshmen looking for service options to complete 20 hours of service.

Since then, the student staff have been working diligently to get their programs up and running by contacting community partners, training at service sites, holding orientations, and trying to find students to volunteer.

Of course, that's not the only thing we've been working on!

After receiving a grant, the OSLCE and the Chaplain's Office collaborated to find donations to fill 20 boxes for American soldiers currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Donations included: razors, food, shampoo, books, magazines, cards, lotion, money, et cetera. Luckily, we received enough donations to pack 29 boxes!

Then, students ate lunch together and discussed patriotism. Afterwards, they headed to Veterans Memorial Stadium to participate in an interfaith memorial service for those who were effected ten years ago today.

It was an insightful day as Coe students chose to "Remember, Reflect, and Respect" those who lost their lives and whose lives were forever effected because of events that changed us on September 11, 2001.

Thanks for reading!

OSLCE Awards and Recognition

If you have ever visited the Office of Service Learning and Campus Engagement, then you probably have seen the awards that litter the walls of the office.  These awards were given to the OSLCE to recognize the work they have done to better the Cedar Rapids Community.

The Coe College Office of Service Learning and Campus Engagement received the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll in 2009 and 2010. The OSLCE was recognized for distinguished general community service in recognition of extraordinary volunteer efforts by the school and its students to serve area neighborhoods and communities.

Coe College is also recognized as a proud member of Iowa Campus Compact (IACC).  IACC is a statewide association of college and university presidents who are committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education by educating students for active citizenship and building strong communities. This is accomplished by integrating community service, service-learning and community engagement opportunities into student's academic and co-curricular activities.

Coe College Office of Service-Learning and Campus Engagement was named Volunteer of the Year from the ARC of East Central Iowa in 2009.  This award was given to recognize the work of the service-learning professional writing class and the first year students’ service-learning program called Movin’ and Groovin’.

In 2008, 2009 and 2010, Coe College Office of Service-Learning and Campus Engagement received the Al Smith School and Community Partner Recognition Award from the following three schools: Taylor Elementary, Polk Elementary, and McKinley Middle School.  Taylor Elementary recognized Coe College for their Service-Learning Recess Buddies Program and HACAP Backpack Program. Polk Elementary honored Coe College for the Backpack Program, Off Campus Federal Work Study, and Girl Scout Outreach Program. McKinley Middle School recognized Coe College for their work with the Core Skills Study Hour Tutors, Learning Lunches, and the PenPal program.

In January 2011, the Office of Service-Learning and Campus Engagement was recognized as the “NRHH Faculty/Staff of the Month.”  This award was for their work on MLK Day.

In May 2011, Cedar Rapids Dance Marathon was recognized as the Philanthropic Contribution of the Year at Coe College during the annual Leadership Convocation.  Cedar Rapids Dance Marathon was also named the "Best new Dance Marathon" in July 2011.

Coe College Office of Service-Learning and Campus Engagement was also recognized by the Internal Revenue Service and the Iowa Department of Revenue in 2011.  This award was for their work with the VITA Super Tax Saturday held on campus in February of 2011.

Keep up the good work OSLCE!

Looking forward to a great year!

Hello! My name is Wendy and I have been a VISTA at Coe for exactly one year (today!)! However, I don't think I've actually introduced myself on this blog. So I'm here to do that!

I graduated from the University of Iowa in 2010 with a degree that does not have much to do with community service. How did I end up at Coe then, you might ask. Well, I've always been involved with my own community service and a few service-oriented organizations. I also discovered an interest in working with students while I worked in an advising office during undergrad. I was lucky to find this position at Coe because it does a great job of combining my interests in student affairs and my love for helping people.

I love to spend time with my family and friends. I've been blessed to have a very large family (45 and counting cousins that I'm very close with) and lots of friends that support me in all that I do. My family is relatively close by to Coe, so I'm fortunate to be able to see them often. Another fun fact about me is that I grew up on a dairy farm! I love talking to people about what it's like to live on a farm, so if you are curious I'm happy to share my experiences! I'm also a big hockey fan (well, it's a new interest for me, but I love it!) and college football fan.

A few of my favorite things from last year were definitely the Alternative Spring Break trip I was lucky to help advise. It was my first time in Atlanta, but it was a great experience! I also loved being able to help students throughout the year find a new passion, or continue with a passion they already held, but maybe in a new way. I really enjoy the variety of things I get to experience at Coe. I've been able to help a group of students pack over 9,000 meals in just a few hours for Kids Against Hunger, build a shed for a Habitat for Humanity family, raise over $25,500 for the University of Iowa Children's Hospital, and work Aging Services to put 500 hours in one day into the community helping the elderly in the community with their housework. There's so much potential for us to help the Cedar Rapids community and I can't wait to get started on the new school year! I look forward to working with all of the new students at Coe this fall!

Best wishes, Wendy

Hey Everyone!

Hey guys!
My name is Noel Rozum, and I am the new VISTA in the Service Learning Department here at Coe. I am really excited to be working here this year because service is one of the things that I am the most passionate about. I have done a lot of volunteer work in my young adult years. I have spent more than 100 hours volunteering at a rural Iowa nursing home. I love working with the elderly! I have also spent many summer hours gutting flooded homes in the downtown Cedar Rapids area. I love organic farming and have been apart of a local community garden. This is a great way to get to know your neighbors and to be a part of the local food movement.

Besides volunteering, some of my other passions are leadership development and public speaking. I have been a student and volunteer staff member of regional leadership schools. My favorite part of these particular experiences was helping to facilitate organizational and interpersonal communication groups. From these experiences I learned about the power of teamwork. It is amazing to me how much you can get accomplished when you work as a team, especially when you are working on issues that are in dire need of community Voice.

I also like to spend time with my friends and family. Relationship are very important to me. I spend a good deal of time playing with my cat Momodu. He loves people, so come play with him sometime! I also love to read and usually have several books open at one time. I love being outdoors on hiking and camping trips.

I am a recent graduate of Coe. I majored in Religious Studies and hope to go to grad school next year for Social Work. I would like to be a counselor and would love to work with refugees. I see this next year, serving as a VISTA, to be great chance to develop myself personally and professionally. I am excited about all of the people I will get to meet and work with. As always, I am super pumped about this wonderful chance to do something good for our Cedar Rapid's community.

So, now you know a little bit about me! I can't wait to get to know all of you. I look forward to being apart of Team Service Learning!

Noel Rozum 

Vernon Inn for Gyros and Spanakopita

If you are looking for a new place to eat in Cedar Rapids you should definitely check out Vernon Inn.  If you are like myself, and LOVE Greek food than you will certainly enjoy this restaurant.  However, if you are little apprehensive about trying something new, don't be.  Vernon Inn also serves traditional American items such as chicken fingers and french fries, but I would suggest the traditional lamb and chicken gyro.  And for all you vegetarians out there, the spanakopita (spinach and feta pie) is superb.  Be sure to top it off with a tasty chunk of Baklava.  Vernon Inn is located at 2663 Mount Vernon Road Southeast.  If you're still not convinced, check out their menu at
http://vernoninn.com/menu.php

Crystal