OACS Update
Spring Break Service Trips
Every spring break, OACS is proud to advise and support the huge collective service-endeavor students embark on, an effort comprising a range of both individual student activity as well as organized activity through various student groups. Amounting to just under 1,000 students, they all sought immersive service experiences in communities across the United States and internationally. Some of the travelling groups include Alternative Spring Break, Habitat for Humanity, AMIGOS, Medlife, MPIV, AED, and Global Brigades. We can’t wait to hear all about all the amazing things everyone has done.
Refugee Awareness Week
Stand together in solidarity with Nashville’s refugee population March 21st-26th! This week of events will partner with local organizations and international community members to raise awareness, to show support, and to demonstrate opposition to the Tennessee state government’s aggressive anti-refugee legislation.
Hear experts and those deeply impacted by the global refugee crisis speak, participate in intercultural and interfaith dialogues, and learn about opportunities to stay involved in Nashville’s diverse community and to move from awareness to action. More details about nightly events, weeklong resettlement highlights and a weekend day of service can be found on the #VandyRAW16 event page. If you would like to participate, please contact event organizers Shea Davis, Bethany Hertrick, Natalie Brackett, and Sarah Imran.
Senior Sendoff
On March 3rd, OACS hosted the 2nd annual Senior Sendoff. This event celebrated seniors who devoted time to service during their Vanderbilt careers, whether through involvement in any of 75 student service organizations advised by OACS or through participation in OACS local or global service programs. In appreciation of their service to their classmates, their university, and their community, seniors were gifted with black portfolios and business card holders.
We anticipate great future contributions from these budding change-makers and look forward to remaining connected as they embark on their journey as Vanderbilt alumni and global citizens.
President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll
The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll is a nationally renowned program that recognizes a select number of post-secondary institutions that embody the values of exemplary community service and achieve meaningful outcomes in their communities. For the past five years, Vanderbilt has been honored to be a part of this prestigious list of post-secondary institutions.
OACS will guide this effort at both the undergraduate and graduate levels by collecting data and narrative from academic and co-curricular departments regarding programs, classes, and organizations that engage in community service, service-learning, and service immersions. In doing so, we hope to highlight more fully the university’s strong commitment to community service in all areas of its work.
Participation in our data collection endeavor is truly appreciated and is essential to giving Vanderbilt a competitive edge by highlighting the university’s efforts in the community. We look forward to uniting on behalf of the university’s service initiatives, and hope to celebrate our campus-wide community engagement activity by winning the President’s Award.
Ecuador Site Leader Tonimarie Viola
Following a competitive selection process, OACS welcomes Tonimarie Viola as a co-site leader for the 2016 OACS Global Service Program in Ecuador. Beginning with a series of spring preparatory seminars, Toni will lead students through lectures and readings, providing an introduction to politics, education, and culture in Ecuador while reflecting on principles of sustainable community development, social justice, and global citizenship. During the four week in-country implementation, Toni will be instrumental in providing logistical support, risk management, and individual care for the students in the Ecuador Global Service cohort as they work alongside marginalized communities to better understand social and environmental injustices from a community-based service perspective.
Toni’s experience in the Office of Housing and Residential Education will be invaluable to the care and support of our students in the 2016 Ecuador Global Service Program, and OACS is thrilled to have her onboard!
Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service-Learning
Lauren Moon and Holly Jones presented a workshop on February 29th at the Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service-Learning. This workshop explored the nexus of student development and service-learning theory and how the combination of both results in informed, reflective students who are better prepared to meaningfully engage in local and global communities. Lauren and Holly provided practical tools and tips for supporting students in social change endeavors and offered best practices for strategic program development, which promotes student self-actualization through service. Participants critically reflected on ways to more effectively challenge and support students through a service-learning lens and created strategies for implementation at their home institutions.
Visit the resources section of the OACS website to view Lauren and Holly’s workshop presentation.
Meagan Smith in Washington, D.C. for VIEW
OACS Program Coordinator Meagan Smith spent the week of March 7th-11th in Washington, D.C. preparing for the Volunteer Internship in Washington, D.C. (VIEW) Program. Meagan solidified partnerships with key stakeholders and advocated for the 23 VIEW students seeking internship placements this summer.
VIEW provides students with an opportunity to meaningfully explore and engage in community and public service in an effort to grow as active citizens. This experience introduces students to Washington, D.C. institutions, employers, leaders, and Vanderbilt alumni, and encourages students to explore public service, civic engagement, and employment in the dynamic setting of our nation’s capital. Students participate in a living-learning community, internships with leading non-profit agencies and congressional offices, networking and mentoring opportunities with Vanderbilt alumni, and a variety of social and academic activities in the D.C. area.
All VIEW students are enrolled in PSCI 3851: Independent Research (Exploring the Role and Impact of Active Citizenship in a Global Society), a one-credit course during the spring semester. Each week, students participate in professional development training, reflect on their roles as individual members of larger communities through the framework of the Social Change Model of Leadership Development, and learn from local and national leaders.
