By Harumi Harakawa
It’s that time of year again! Pre-finals anxiety is settling in, mandatory silent hours have been implemented, and the culmination of this semester’s work done through the Service-Learning Program is about to be showcased during the long awaited Spring 2016 EXPO! Read on for a small sampling of what to expect at this semester’s celebration:
To start off with, a huge thank you goes out to our community partners, whose commitment to our students has been a major catalyst for some amazing work over the years, both in and out of the classroom. Their continual support and dedication to the missions they espouse has inspired many of us to get up and make a conscious difference in the communities surrounding Northeastern, while always keeping in mind the mutual relationship between the service-learner and the community – having a mindset of allyship and solidarity, not one of saviorism. These partners ranged from clubs or groups on campus such as Global Medical Brigades, nonprofits in the Boston community such as the Yawkey Boys & Girls clubs of Boston, and even organizations abroad such as the Para Sus Niños in Ecuador! Be sure to stop by the Community Partner Appreciation table to share what community partners mean to you!
This year, the outstanding work done by a group of S-L students in Professor Mike Weintraub’s Software Development course will be highlighted as they are presented with the Course-Community Collaboration award. This award celebrates Northeastern’s S-L faculty, students, S-L student leaders, and community partners who have made an exceptional impact through their leadership. They are being recognized for their work for Boston Housing Authority’s Volunteer Interpreters Program. Some honorable mentions for this award include: student Christine Niccoli for her work with the Science Club for Girls, S-LTA Kelsie O’Flanagan, and student Ryan Pan, who worked at Peace Through Play.
Another highlight of the EXPO includes a presentation created by the S-L Street Team! The Street Team was a program that was piloted last fall, and has become a group of trailblazers, equipped with service experience and the abilities to collaborate on many a project.
This semester, the Service-Learning Program supported a wide variety of courses, ranging from Software Development, to Human Rights in the 21st century, to Strategic Philanthropy & Nonprofit Management. Gazing ahead at the next semester, a staggering amount of courses will be joining the S-L family, leading one to wonder just how much more of an impact the growth of the Service-Learning program will have.
Want to experience first-hand just how awesome this program is? Be sure to stop by the EXPO happening this Thursday, April 21, from 10-11:30am in the West Addition of Curry.
Can you guess the theme? It’s out of this world!
For more information and to view the full program booklet, click here!
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