Puentes al Futuro (Bridges to the Future)

Puentes al Futuro, Bridges to the Future, is a grant-funded program for at-risk youth living in Greater Windham, Connecticut. The program is sponsored by the Center for Community Engagement and is staffed by Eastern student volunteers. Below is an account from one of the Eastern volunteers about her experience: 

Puentes met on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week after the students get out of school, on Eastern’s campus as well as at Windham Middle School. Each time we met there was an opportunity to participate in an activity with the students to help them explore their culture, and then we helped them complete their homework. This past semester, on Thursdays, we studied poetry and worked on creating a Puentes-specific cook book. Talking about recipes and foods that are special to the children gave us another chance to share about ourselves and our families. It truly is amazing the type of connection that you build, even though you only spend a small portion of your week with these students. I love the way that Puentes helps students embrace and truly love their culture. The program helps students build a foundation based on understanding themselves and their heritage in order to promote their success in the future. I remember finding out when one of our Puentes students got into Windham Tech, after having applied only a few weeks earlier. Not only was everyone excited that she had chosen to tell us first, but we were so excited to see her become so thrilled about something directly related to her future. 

Guest Post: Kim, '15

What I Look Forward to When I Volunteer

The first night that I went to Lyon Manor, I expected to have a much different experience than I did.  When I heard the words ‘independent living center’, I expected the residents to need much more assistance.  I did not think that it would be so laid back and I did not realize that the residents would be able to go and come as they please.  I did not expect to terribly lose a game of chess against one resident.  I did not expect to laugh so hard that I cried.  And I certainly did not expect to form a friendship that I hold that close to my heart.

Every Tuesday I look forward to going to Lyon Manor.  I have a friend who lives there named Joanne.  She has a hard exterior and is not usually very happy.  But this past year, she and I have become so close.  Every week I bring a craft for the residents and Eastern students to do together, whenever I ask Joanne to work with me on one, she refuses because of her arthritis.  At Christmas time, I brought supplies so that the residents could make cards for their families.  This was one of the few times that Joanne agreed to do the craft; she made me a card, with a long poem about how much she loves me.  Joanne makes such an impact on my life; I cannot imagine my life without her or any of the other residents at Lyon Manor.

Recently, I went to the Impact conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  It is an annual conference about community engagement and social justice.  There I was inspired to find more ways to make our time at Lyon Manor more engaging for the residents as well as the volunteers.  I plan to pair up similar students and residents to create a one-on-one friendship.  We will spend the first part of our time there one-on-one with our friends and the second part as a whole group.  I am hoping that this will make volunteers want to return every week to spend time with their friends!  During the fall 2013, we will be visiting Lyon Manor on Wednesday evenings. If you are interested e-mail: gemmaj@my.easternct.edu. 

-Guest Post: Jeannine, '15

Food Justice Video

Watch this short film by Eastern Student Dave Wurtzel about Food Justice!

CCE Blog Helps a Student Get into an Awesome Program!!!

Written by Christopher Herman

Willimantic, Conn. - Oxfam America named Nicolle Hill, a junior majoring in communication at Eastern Connecticut State University, as a participant in a year-long program designed to educate students on creating realistic solutions to poverty, hunger and social injustice in the global community.

Oxfam America is an international relief and development organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger and injustice. Each year, Oxfam's CHANGE Initiative brings together some of the most committed and gifted student activists in the United States. Students commit to engage with Oxfam for an entire academic year beginning with a weeklong advocacy and leadership training program. This year's training will take place from July 21-27 in Qunicy. MA.

The purpose of the week is to develop students' skills, expand their knowledge of global issues, and provide them with the necessary resources to their campuses so that they can undertake work with a view toward alleviating global hunger and poverty. Key issues discussed at this year's training include food justice and transparency in extractive industries.

This past spring semester, Hill participated in Eastern's Food Justice Committee. The committee distributed food to low income families in the Willimantic area. "I am not sure that people in America fully know how much poverty and hunger is impacting people around the world," said Hill, who is concerned about poverty and hunger afflicting those living in and outside of the United States. "I think that sometimes people just see big numbers, but it does not fully connect to them what those numbers mean. I am hoping that, in my own community, I will be able to show poverty in a more personal and realistic way."

Hill first learned about the Oxfam America CHANGE Initiative through Eastern's Center for Community Engagement (CCE) blog. She says she was immediately drawn to the program and its mission of creating solutions to global poverty and hunger. "I have always been very interested in serving others, making a difference and changing the world.  This program will give me the opportunity to do all of that," said Hill.

After working with the CCE and its many volunteer programs, Hill encourages Eastern students to participate in their respective communities and to believe in their own capability of being a change agent. "I firmly believe that everyone is given opportunities to make a positive impact on the world. It does not matter if the action is as small as giving someone a compliment, that action does matter," said Hill. "Being a world changer is a lifestyle. It cannot be something you do every once in a while; it has to be all the time. Paying a compliment to someone may not seem like you are changing the world, but you could be changing the world for that one person, and that is huge."

CCE Service Expo & Awards

This past week was a wonderful one for the Center for Community Engagement volunteers! The third annual Service Expo and Awards occurred last Thursday from 2-5pm in the Betty Tipton Room in the Student Center.

                Different groups representing their particular service categories displayed tri-fold boards for judges and fellow volunteers. Different awards were being given to students demonstrating: going green, broadening horizons, leadership development, effective communication, best new program, and strengthening communities. Each group of volunteers were ranked and scored on their particular project, their effectiveness on creating awareness, and their influence on Eastern and the Willimantic community, among many other things. Each volunteer group created fantastic presentations on their services and it was really tough for the judges to only select one winner for each group.

                Among the students that were honored, faculty and staff that have given much to the Eastern and Willimantic communities were applauded for their efforts. There is no doubting that a small group of people can have an outstanding effect on a community.

                Congratulations to all of the winners, and all of the volunteers that offered their dedication during the school year!

Winners:
Going Green: Willimantic Wildlife Habitat (Sarah Lion-Egan and Heather Lepper)
Effective Communication: Best Buddies "Spread the Word o End the Word"
Leadership Development: College 411 a Hartford High School (Todd Aviles and Kayla Bynum)
Best New Program: Windham Center After School Program (Max Goto) and the Food Justice Committee
Broadening Horizons: PHP Pen Pals Program
Strengthening Communities: The Sisterhood Project

Law and Government Academy Inspires!

“I may not change the world, but let me inspire someone who can”

                The Law and Government Academy of Hartford High School has been working towards inspiring Hartford High School students to change their world. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 13.3% of Hartford’s residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Graduates of LGA (and others) that now attend Eastern decided to take action and encourage and inspire Hartford High students to not fall into the majority.

                Eastern students attended Hartford High School to speak on a panel with the sophomore, junior, and senior classes to answer questions and tell the students the benefits of attending college, whether it be at the community college or university level. Many of the LGA students were Hartford High graduates themselves and knew that there would be a need for a mentor for these students. Hartford High School alumni, Gina Martinez stated, “My role as far as I’m concerned is to serve as a mentor in helping guide the students down the  right path as well as address any questions or concerns they may have regarding college.”

                Former LGA senior Class President and one of the founders of the mentoring program, Kayla J. Bynum, explained that “There are people out there who assume that the majority of Hartford students will never graduate high school and go off to college”, she goes onto say, “I truly do want to see these students succeed. They are all intelligent, gifted, free-spirited students, who with the right guidance and motivation WILL succeed”. With the work of these Eastern students and the drive of the Hartford High students, there seems to be nothing stopping them.

                The LGA mentoring group has been doing an outstanding job helping and mentoring these students. There is so much that Eastern students can accomplish- and when they help others to accomplish their dreams, there is no stopping them!

Student Spotlight: Ashley Lovett

This past Wednesday, junior Ashley Lovett (Marlboro, CT) received the Ella T Grasso Award for excellence in community service. Ashley is a sociology major and has been involved in many different community outreach programs during her time at Eastern. Currently, Ashley is a resident assistant in Niejadlik Hall.

Ashley’s accomplishments have been incredibly impactful on the Eastern and Willimantic communities. She has been a huge influence on the Journey House, a transitional living home for adolescent girls, and is the president of the Best Buddies club at ECSU.

One of Ashley’s greatest accomplishments through the Best Buddies program occurred earlier this semester. A nation-wide campaign to abolish the use of the word “retarded” in a derogatory manner has been in effect for a few years now. Being the president of Best Buddies, Ashley and other members stationed themselves around campus one day and asked fellow students to make a pledge of not saying the R-WORD any longer in their daily use. Outstandingly, Ashley and her team collected more than 1,500 signatures! This was an amazing accomplishment for the group, and especially for Ashley.

Ashley hopes to carry on her volunteerism into the future. She hopes to have a career with a non-profit or perhaps in higher education. Regardless of her career path, there is no question she will be making Eastern proud!

Pre-Alternative Spring Break!

The week of Spring Break is finally upon the students at Eastern and there is so much to be excited about! Students have been working hard and finishing up midterms in order to be ready for a week off of school. Many people associate spring break with craziness and somewhere tropical. This year for spring break seven students and an AmeriCorps VISTA are headed to Sequanota State Park to partake in Alternative Spring Break.

An Alternative Spring Break is taking the week during spring break to give back to a community in need. This year the group will be cleaning and maintaining trails at Sequanota State Park, helping out at a local soup kitchen, and offering a helping hand wherever there is a need. Sequanota State Park is located in Jennerstown, PA, an eight hour drive from Eastern.

Co-trip leader, Lauren Kostak (Environmental Earth Science Major, Canton CT) said "I'm excited to spend time outside, giving back to the community, and meeting new people." This is Lauren's second ASB trip through Eastern and her first time leading one. "There has been so much prep work to get ready for our week, so now that it's finally upon us, I can't wait! It'll be exciting to see all our hard work being played out." Lauren is definitely ready for an exciting week!

One way in which the trip members have been preparing is through the fundraising. The students vacuumed and cleaned windows of cars for the Eastern faculty and staff a few weeks ago. This fundraiser was met with many happy ECSU staff members. In total the group raised $415!

The ASB trip members will be leaving Eastern bright and early on Sunday morning! Can't wait to hear how their week went once they get back!

Trip Members:
Lauren Kostak (co-trip leader), Brae Ferguson (co-trip leader), Kristina Scherber (AmeriCorps VISTA), Calvin Underwood, Todd Mitnick, Tom Przybylek, Anna Sobanski, Zaniab Giwa

Alternative Spring Break: Car Clean Up!

This past Friday, March 2, there was a different kind of commotion occurring in the parking lot next to the Gelsi-Young building. The Alternative Spring Break members were busily cleaning faculty cars to raise a little bit of money for their expedition to Pennsylvania!

Trip members stood outside from 12pm-5pm vacuuming out cars and wiping windows clean for the ECSU staff. Junior co-trip leader, Lauren Kostak (Environmental Earth Science Major, Canton, CT) stated "this has been a wonderful fundraiser. Having the Eastern faculty and staff willing to help students achieve their goals is awesome. I know all of us really appreciate their generosity".

The Alternative Spring Break will be occurring during the Spring Break week (March19-26) and the trip members will be headed to Jennerstown, Pennsylvania. They will be staying at Sequanota State Park in cabins and helping the Park staff to clean and maintain trails, work at a local soup kitchen, and provide any other helping hands that are needed in the area.

"We are really excited about heading to PA. I can't wait to see what the trails have to offer us! We are bonding quickly as a team and work well together." Said Junior co-trip leader, Brae Ferguson (Communications Major, Bethel, CT).

Overall, the ASB trip members made $415 during their time cleaning cars! Congratulations to all the trip members and good luck!

Left to right: Lauren Kostak (trip leader), Calvin Underwood, Brae Ferguson (trip leader), Kristina Scherber (ECSU staff supervisor), Tom Przybylek, Todd Mitnick
Not Pictured: Anna Sobanski, Zanaib Giwa

Nick and Pat's Ride for Hunger

Going the distance to make a difference!

Eastern Connecticut State University seniors, Nick Fitzner and Patrick Scully are using their Spring Break week to certainly go the distance.  The Rugby co-captains are riding their bikes from Washington DC to Willimantic to raise $25,000 for the Covenant Soup Kitchen, the Greater Hartford Food Share, and the Connecticut Food Bank.

The boys were inspired by Coach Ray Aramini, who rode from California to Willimantic, and Canada to Willimantic to raise money to fight hunger in Connecticut. Nick and Patrick have been recreationally riding their bikes for years and decided to give up driving their cars. While they had been riding everyday they decided to ride for a cause and raise some money. Being captains and active members of the ECSU Rugby team, they had volunteered at Covenant Soup Kitchen before and became inspired to raise money for the cause.

Nick and Patrick have been fiercely preparing for their journey. They are riding their bikes every day, mapping out their route, and figuring out logistics. Their planned route includes riding about one hundred miles every day during their weeklong expedition. They don’t plan on sightseeing too much; despite this being Nick’s first time going to DC. “We’re excited about seeing the things you don’t plan on seeing. Some of the coolest sightseeing is the stuff you don’t expect to see”.

The boys are also prepared for some struggle on the trip. They foresee weather as being their biggest hardship. “March is a tough month to predict how the weather will be. One day could be sunny and 70, the next it could be snowing”. Nick and Patrick also realize the physical pain will play into their routine. The boys explained that when riding a bike for long periods of time, your hands and feet are the first things to go numb. Despite all these obstacles there is nothing stopping them from achieving their goals!

Nick and Patrick have learned a lot just through their preparation stages. They have seen a large willingness from friends, family, and community members to give back and they are thrilled by it. Seeing a need for any help at all, they realized how important it is to give back, “even if its $500 that we raise, at least its $500 more than these organizations had before”. They also want to encourage fellow Rugby teammates and University students to continue to bridge the gap between the Willimantic community and Eastern.

As of now, Patrick and Nick are busily getting ready for their admirable expedition. The boys are raising money and taking donations.

For more information check out and donate to their website NPrideforhunger.org or their Facebook page Nick and Pat’s Ride for Hunger.

Nick Fitzner (21, Economics Major, Glastonbury)

&

Patrick Scully (21, History and Social Sciences Major, Farmington)

Student Spotlight: Kim Avery

Kim Avery, a sophomore at Eastern Connecticut State University has a passion for the American Red Cross Blood Drives. Kim has been volunteering and donating for the past three semesters and will continue to do so in the future.


Kim first became interested in volunteering with the Blood Drives on campus after donating one time. "The man who was taking my blood told me that it was great that I was donating because the blood I was giving was going to be used to help someone within three days. I realized the huge need for blood and wanted to help." Kim has since been recruiting people to donate in Webb the days before the Blood Drives, and then working the sign-in table once the volunteers show up. She has also volunteered with the canteen area, and overall just wants to help wherever there is a need.


Kim noted that the most rewarding aspect of working with the Blood Drives is knowing that she is helping someone else. She also expressed some of the challenges. "I want to help as much as I can, and sometimes my class schedule interrupts with that. So instead of cancelling on the Blood Drives, I bring my laptop and study while sitting at the sign-in table." The balance of school and volunteering can be bridged!


Kim offers advice to any first time volunteers working within the Blood Drives: "make sure you know what you are getting into, and do it because you want to. And make sure you can balance both school work and volunteering".

Student Spotlight: Megan Sargent

Megan Sargent, a freshman at Eastern Connecticut State University is a student with a very driven attitude. Megan has dreams about becoming a second grade teacher for an inner city elementary school. How has she been fueling her resume? Volunteering at the Center for Community Engagement!

Megan first began volunteering with the CCE last semester. She knew she wanted to volunteer, and after hearing about the CCE through orientation, she decided to seek out more information. Megan learned about the CCE's role in after school programs with the North Windham school systems. She eagerly signed up to work with the elementary aged children. As a native to Manchester, CT, Megan had already gained some experience with working with children. During the summers Megan works with the Manchester Parks and Recreation at Camp Mahoney, which specializes in care for elementary aged students. Being back in a classroom full of kids was exactly what Megan wanted.

Beginning her time at the school, Megan was a little hesitant. She knew that the Windham community was one that was in need, but she was excited about embarking on a journey that was outside of her normal realm. Before she went to the school Megan learned that it was among the top schools in need of aid for school lunches. She also learned about the language barriers. "I was nervous at first going into the school because of the differences from my hometown, but the language barriers were easy to bridge, and the kids were really excited to see me so it became easier."

Megan has really enjoyed her time volunteering with the school systems because she knows she will be able to apply her newfound knowledge to her career goals in the future. Working with this age group and demographic, she has really been able to pinpoint where she would like to teach.

Megan offers advice for anyone going to volunteer for the first time: "go into it with an open mind and try to think of ways that you can contribute without being told, and just have fun!"