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Title
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Center for Community-Based Learning and Action Fall newsletter, 2009
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2011-01_000003
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Date
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2009
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extracted text
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Center for
Community-Based
Learning and Action
2009 Fall Newsletter
Seminar II E 2125, Olympia Campus; 2700 Evergreen Parkway NW; Olympia, WA 98505;
(360) 867-6137; ccbla@evergreen.edu
www.evergreen.edu/communitybasedlearning
CCBLA is Evergreen’s Service Learning Center.
We address social issues while strengthening
and enhancing student experience
by supporting our communities’ ability
to meet critical needs.
Photos by Hilary Hacker
Students learned about cord masonry and put it to practice
at The Harmony Hill Retreat Center in October.
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Director, Ellen Shortt Sanchez
How can CCBLA best support organizations and addresses different issues and has member organiengage students during the economic downturn zations that may tackle very different community
and budget cuts? We have received more requests needs with different strategies. Another great exGateways for Incarcerated
Youth - Since 1996, Gateways has for student involvement in community organiza- ample of this collaboration is The Coalition for
tions and more students are also eager for work Low Income Power (CLIP), which was a long
served to educate, empower and
and tuition support. The effort to find out more standing alliance that gave organizers the chance
support young people with innovaabout our community needs and what students to talk about big picture anti-poverty work in our
tive cultural diversity and learning
could learn from the current situation led me to the community.
programs that build self-esteem,
confidence and the ability to pursue places organizations gather together.
Higher education has a role in supporting commudreams.
Partnerships, roundtables and coalitions bring or- nity coalitions and gathering examples of how
ganizations together for common work and shared organizations can work together. Through Student
Students in Service - Tuition
resources. Coalitions of organizations are exciting Originated Studies: Community Based Learning
awards for community work, an
models of collaboration. By visiting coalitions, we last fall students working in diverse internships
AmeriCorps program for students.
learn about multiple organizations and their inno- met weekly. Questions emerged about how um(WA Campus Compact).
brella issues pulled organizations together. StuWork-study positions at commu- vation, resource sharing and advocacy. This fall
dents, faculty and CCBLA staff organized a panel
many
coalitions
have
heard
about
CCBLA
supnity organizations - Building links
on campus to hear about coalitions. As students
porting
Evergreen
students
and
faculty
community
between TESC and the community
investigate how organizations work and how they
engagement.
Participating
organizations
have
at large (HECBCSP).
shared their programming, passion, partnership can contribute to our community they practice
High Demand Math and Sci- and projects that we can bring back to the campus. collaborative learning. These real-life examples
ence classroom support posiSome of the most vital coalitions in our commu- of local coalitions will guide the next generation of
tions at local high schools.
coalition builders.
nity include: Be the One
Tutor Project- Tutors for high
Mentor Coalition, Thurston
CCBLA and Gateways Staff
poverty elementary schools in Olym- County Environmental Edupia (Youth in Service).
Director: Ellen Shortt Sanchez
cation Technical Advisory
VISTA Community Partnership Catalyst: Hilary Hacker
Committee, Hispanic RoundSustainability Action DaysCYS AmeriCorps Tutor & Mentor Coordinator: Brian Fligner
tables of Thurston & Mason
Providing community engagement
AmeriCorps VISTA Work-Study Coordinator: Andrea Robbins
opportunities for campus residents. Counties, Thurston County
United Way Agencies meetSIS Coordinators: Andreas Keodara & Yoshi Nagata
Project Planning - Supporting
ing, and the Mason County
AmeriCorps Gateways Cultural Group Coordinator: Samantha Franks
students and faculty looking for
Chamber of Service. Each
AmeriCorps Gateways Challenge Program: Aaron Lee
community connections.
coalition of organizations
Gateways Faculty: Tony Zaragoza
PROGRAMS
•
Come Together in Coalition
2009 Fall Newsletter
Despite Challenges, Gateways Thrives
Tony Zaragoza, Evergreen Gateways Faculty
can get yours at the CCBLA.
Despite the setbacks we have experienced and any others that may
befall us, Gateways will continue in its mission to provide educational opportunities and strengthen notions of self and community
through cultural awareness and empowerment. You too can become
part of this. If you would like to volunteer as a Challenge partner
contact Aaron Lee at 867-5633. And for information on how you
can get involved or how your donations can help our work please
contact the Gateways office at 867-5633.
Many Thanks to Jacob Berkey!
Ellen Shortt-Sanchez, Director
Staff of Green Hill, Maple Lane, Naselle and Gateways gather at
the Longhouse at Evergreen for a training retreat in November.
The Gateways for Incarcerated Youth program offers Evergreen
students the opportunity to be peer learners with incarcerated young
men in two maximum-security institutions. Through our Challenge
Program we offer one-to-one peer mentoring for incarcerated students with college students and community members. We believe
that every person has knowledge and talents, and we strive to encourage each other to find and develop our gifts.
Despite numerous challenges (grants ending, tuition increases,
budget cuts, losing staff, and others), Gateways continues to thrive.
Last school year, Gateways paid the 2-credit tuition for a total of 72
credits aiding a total of 24 students. This year we anticipate further
growth. Last year 32 Evergreen students worked in college classes
and with cultural groups. Through the efforts of Samantha Franks
over 20 incarcerated youth had one-on-one educational partners and
over 20 community and student volunteers worked as educational
partners. This year Aaron Lee continues this great work. Thanks to
the leadership of Emily Sladek fifteen performers came to Maple
Lane and Green Hill from July 08-July 09. Performances range from
Aztec Dancers to a Jewish Klezmer band to a Filipino Drill Team.
Over 1200 youth attended these performances. The Cultural Evenings began at ML and Green Hill in 2003 and until this year performances have been held every month for the last six years! Despite the fact that Cultural Evenings have been cut, Gateways was
recently able to bring internationally known poet and author Luis J.
Rodriguez out to both Green Hill and Maple Lane.
“Originally, Jacob Berkey,
my first SIS counselor explained to me about the opportunity to work with SIS at
Evergreen. I have been so
grateful for this service experience and for the opportunity to receive financial
help for my college. This has
been the reason that I was
able to continue at Evergreen- because of Jacob
Berkey. I am a mother of 3 children. This SIS work is so important
to me.”
~Sarah Nishioka
We would like to acknowledge the many years that Jacob was involved with the CCBLA as a student and project staff. Jacob joined
CCBLA as the first coordinator of the part time AmeriCorps program Students in Service. As a work study student he developed
outreach strategies that brought students knocking on our doors. As
an MPA intern Jacob helped us better track data to support our
work. He brought fun to data collection. For the past year Jacob
was our Learn and Serve Program manager and High Demand work
study coordinator. He convened regional discussions on Community Based Service Learning and mentored new higher education
programs to use service learning and connect with WA Campus
Compact. His rapport with students and interest in education helped
us start the first year of the Millennial Math and Science Teacher
Explorers work study project. This summer he worked to support
Evergreen and Lewis County Growing Places Farm and Energy
Tony Zaragoza has worked full time as the faculty for Gateways for
Park collaborations.
the last two years, and five faculty have committed to work in the
yearlong college class over the next years. Look to the Gateways The CCBLA welcomed Brian Fligner, CYS
Youth In Service AmeriCorps member,
newsletter for a list of these faculty. The program was able to acAs the Tutor and Mentor Coordinator in
quire two AmeriCorps positions for this year. Samantha Franks is
September of 2009!
working with Cultural Groups and helping with fundraising while
Aaron Lee will be the Challenge Program Coordinator. Emily
“I’m excited for the chance to connect stuSladek continues to work with the program as a volunteer.
dents with youth in the community. My own
The Gateways 2010 calendars are available. The calendars feature experience working with youth has been an
drawings and writing by incarcerated youth. These were made posinvaluable part of my education.”
sible by generous contributions of numerous local businesses. You
Center for Community-Based Learning and Action
2009 Fall Newsletter
Advocacy Training for Latina Women
Sandi Thompson-Royer, Evergreen Student &
SafePlace Education & Training Coordinator
port! Thank YOU Luci for your incredible strength and willingness
to step out! Thanks Evergreen, CCLBA and all who supported
these women and SafePlace.
As Paulo Freire writes in Pedagogy of the Oppressed, “It is only
“Now that I know my rights, I’m not afraid,” said Luci, one of the when the oppressed find the oppressor out and become involved in
participants in a recent Evergreen training on immigrant womens' the organized struggle for their liberations that they begin to believe
rights. Luci was one of local 25 women who attended SafePlace’s in themselves.”
all Spanish volunteer training in the Spring of 2009" The training
was funded by a Student Activity Grant and much support from
Community To Community, 2009
CCBLA, Alice Nelson, CIELO, Inmigrantes Unidos de Shelton,
Hilary Hacker, Community Partnership Catalyst
POWER, Planned Parenthood, and other individuals and organizations in the community who are concerned about the rights of immigrants. This was the first ALL Spanish volunteer training provided
by a County domestic violence/sexual assault program in the state of
Washington. Most of the Latina women had been attending a Spanish speaking support group at SafePlace for the past three years.
They were ready to organize in their communities. Our job as advocates is to empower people. It is our belief that they know within
themselves what the best solutions are. Yet often they don’t know
the resources, laws, and ways to navigate the system. Domestic
violence and sexual assault often leave survivors in isolation from
their family, friends, and community. Just imagine what that can be
like for an immigrant. Luci’s statement was just one affirmation
that the 50 hour training was a success. Since the training, half of
the women have become volunteers at SafePlace and two Latina
women have become paid employees.
Students show off their potatoes with Don Leaf of The Kiwanis Foodbank Garden, Brian Fligner, and Evergreen’s provost – Don Bantz
In September of 2009 we organized Evergreen’s 20th Annual Community to Community Day, which happens during orientation week
as a way for freshman and new students to get to know the greater
Olympia Community and the ways in which they can be a part of it.
This year we collaborated with The United Way and the Volunteer
Center of Lewis, Mason & Thurston Counties to expand the impact
of this service day by combining the efforts of Community to Community Day and United Way’s Day of Caring. This year there were
over 160 students and staff at 16 different organizations from Evergreen alone.
Participating organizations included Books to Prisoners, POWER,
Camp Quixote, Bread & Roses, Woodland Trail, The Thurston
County Food Bank Gleaning Project, The CIELO Project, Circle
Hawk Farm, The Flaming Eggplant, Growing Places Farm and EnWomen gathered at the SafePlace Advocacy Training
ergy Park, Left Foot Organics, Lincoln elementary School Garden,
Another exciting outcome of the training was the creation of MIJAS Stonewall Youth, Kiwanis Food Bank Garden, Terra Commons &
(Mujers Improving Job Abilities and Skills). These women can Water Resources.
The CCBLA welcomed Andrea Robbins,
cook some of the best food you’ll ever eat! They have decided to
create a restaurant and catering business that will be a “stepping Community Partner Catalyst, AmeriCorps VISTA
In September of 2009!
stone” employment center for women who have experienced domestic violence. Many of them know too well that economics are a
primary reason women don’t leave abusive relationships. “MIJAS “The Center for Community-Based Learning
hopes to be a place where a new future can be imagined and built and Action is a rare and unique place, Evertogether.” SafePlace is honored to work in partnership with these green wouldn’t be the same without it. Every
amazing women and to have been a part of MIJAS’ birth is awe- day I get to connect with amazing organizations in Olympia and support students in
some! On October 24 MIJAS served dinner to over 150 people in
applying theory to practice.”
Olympia! Luci welcomed the crowd thanking them for their sup-
Center for Community-Based Learning and Action
2009 Fall Newsletter
Iraqi Student Solidarity Committee
Andrea Robbins, AmeriCorps VISTA
CCBLA Documentary Project
On October 4th, 2009 we premiered the CCBLA Documentary Project at the Olympia
Film Society Capitol Theater.
Thank you to all of those who
came out to support! If you
missed it, no problem! Check
it out on the CCBLA’s website. www.evergreen.edu/
communitybasedlearning
Q&A Panel after the screening of film
Hudson Munoz, Andrew Birwari, Andrea Robbins & Ashley Harrison
of the Iraqi Student Solidarity Committee hanging out in Red Square
In fall of 2007 a friend of mine named Hudson Munoz approached
me in red square. At the time he was coordinating the student group
formerly known as SESAME (Students Educating Students about
the Middle East). Hudson invited me to be a part of a project that
the group wanted to develop to have a student who had been displaced from their education in Iraq finish up at Evergreen for free.
Two years, 7 committee members, and an additional 250,000 Iraqi
refugees later, a tuition waiver program exists at Evergreen. It was
definitely a challenge. We had to convince the administration and
we had to raise $10,000 for the living expenses of a student. Over
900 students signed our petition; the faculty put it to a vote and individually donated a total of $1,200 to the living expenses fund. Eventually a committee to install a waiver program was assembled. We
created the first student initiated waiver program for students from
Iraq at a state college. In order to get connected with a student to
receive the waiver we worked with an international group called the
ISP (Iraqi Student Project). They connected us with many students
including Andrew Birwari…
We want to thank student filmmaker, Zachary Dolan for his
year of hard work with us and our community partners!
Students in Service
Students In Service is a part time AmeriCorps Program through
Washington Campus Compact. Its purpose is to meet critical community needs by engaging higher education students. Through the
program students are introduced to local, regional and national volunteer opportunities. Students in Service provides tuition awards
for community work. With tuition costs rising, the education award
earned upon successful completion helps make service a viable opportunity for students with financial need. Student in Service Orientations take place every Wednesday from 1pm—3pm at the
CCBLA. Please contact Yoshi or Andreas at sis@evergreen.edu or
call 867.6866.
Introducing our Students in Service Coordinators
“My name is Andrew Birwari, 22 years old, born and raised in
Baghdad, Iraq. When I was 20 my family and I moved to Syria to
seek refuge from the situation at the time. In Syria, I joined a program that offered Iraqi refugee students whose education was interrupted by violence, a chance to continue in the US. The program is
called The ISP. When the time came to go for the student visa interviews at the America embassy in Damascus, my family got approval
for resettlement. I decided to go with my family.
My family and I moved to Chicago in August 2008. I still wanted to
go to college, but was unsure of the future. A month after being in
Chicago, I found out that the ISSC had decided to support my undergraduate education financially and through ongoing support at
the college and in the community. I was accepted in March 2009 for
fall quarter. I came to Evergreen in September 2009. Mission Accomplished!”
Yoshi Nagata
Senior Community Service
Program (SECEP)
Andreas Keodara
Work-Study Student
MES Program
Andrew’s arrival has been an inspiration. Our main concern for this
year is that the waiver continues to be utilized and Evergreen students continue to fundraise for the necessary living expenses.
Center for Community-Based Learning and Action
2011-01_000003