Volume XXXIII| April 2025 | | |
“Success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.”
- Michelle Obama
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Alumni and Student Spotlights | | |
Erin McMahon
Former Health and Social Services Program Coordinator; Administrative Assistant
Erin McMahon is a CO staff alum who worked in Community Outreach from 2017-2022. She started as an administrative assistant, eventually becoming the program coordinator for Health and Social Services. In this role, she also oversaw the student leader learning program, which included August training. Currently, she works at the UConn Foundation in Alumni Relations. Her position works directly with the Colleges of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, where she is responsible for engagement opportunities for alumni, managing volunteers as well as fundraising.
Erin connects a lot of her current work with her previous experience in CO, saying both are “about building relationships, making connections and finding the right opportunities for people." She further explains, “both roles required the ability to establish relationships and learn from the student or alum about what they are interested in and about their experiences, then helping them find the right program opportunity to engage their interests.”
When asked about her favorite CO memory, Eric said it was really hard to choose. "I think our Special Olympics 3v3 Basketball Tournament in 2019 might be my favorite memory," she says. Erin doesn't usually play basketball, but she stepped up for this event and was also able to convince Miguel and some of his friends to play. Erin says that working with Special Olympics was always one of the highlights of her role in CO. For the 2019 basketball tournament, the students in the Special Olympics Committee worked with the staff at UConn Recreation to be able to use the courts in the new Rec Center, which had opened just a few months earlier. "It was the first time we'd gotten to run a program in that space," she added, "It was a great day of competition and fun for all of us."
In her free time in the winter months, Erin spends a lot of her free time baking and cooking. She can be found at most of the UConn Hockey home games. In the warmer weather, Erin enjoys being outside as much as she can, whether that’s kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking, caring for her garden, or just reading on her deck.
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Alexa Bajek
Jumpstart Student Co-Coordinator
Alexa is a junior majoring in elementary education. In her role this year as a Jumpstart coordinator, Alexa supervised the 10 student leaders by providing them with support and training for all of the work they do. As co-coordinators, Alexa works closely with Hailey to run the behind-the-scenes of Jumpstart, making sure all student leaders and volunteers are prepared to go into the classrooms.
Alexa shares that one of the highlights of being involved with CO is just being able to meet so many wonderful people and create meaningful relationships all along the way. "When I first joined CO my freshman year as a student leader for Jumpstart, I knew I found a special place at UConn," she shares. "CO has brought me so many awesome people, and I am so grateful to have shared so many great memories with them!"
Outside of CO, Alexa loves to spend time with the people she loves, in addition to working out and reading.
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Hailey Porter
Jumpstart Student Co-Coordinator
Hailey is a junior in the Neag School of Education program with an elementary education major and a concentration in English. Hailey says, "I have a passion in working towards the day where each child enters kindergarten prepared to succeed which is why I love Jumpstart!" As a student coordinator, she supervises team leaders and hosts one-on-ones to help them support their teams. She also manages administrative tasks during her office hours, co-facilitates team leader meetings with Alexa, and supports to Corps to ensure the program's success throughout the year. Hailey shares that this year, she's gotten the opportunity to serve on the CO Executive Board, and the professional development committee where she helped plan student leader PD dinners each month.
For Hailey, one of her favorite parts of being in CO has been her meetings with her supervisor supervisor, Rachel and co-coordinator, Alexa.
Hailey says that in her free time, you can probably find her teaching a group fitness class at the Rec, drink a Dunkin coffee, or watching Modern Family with her roommates.
| | Spring Alternative Breaks | | |
Our Alternative Breaks teams have gone out to a number of locations over the past two months to engage with local communities on service-learning initiatives. The spring break week-long alt breaks included:
- Community Development in TN
- Healthcare Access and Education in Philadelphia, PA
- Racial Justice in Washington, D.C.
- Native American Cultural Preservation in OK
Weekend alt breaks included:
- Food systems in New Haven, CT
- Housing security in New Bedford, MA
- Environmental conservation in Groton, CT
Read below for spotlights on two of these alt breaks!
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Community Development Alternative Break in Tennessee
Student Program Director Matt Curley shared that the team spent the week of March 17th helping various organizations around Cocke County (TN) with flood recovery efforts and food distribution. They are eternally grateful to the folks at Sunset Gap and our other community partners who gave us the opportunity to engage with their communities in such a meaningful way!
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HIV/AIDS Alternative Break in New York
During the HIV/AIDS Alternative Break, which took place from April 11th to 13th in New York, eight participants fully immersed themselves in a service-learning experience, working with local organizations committed to supporting individuals diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Student Program Director Natasha Khetan shared the details of their weekend below:
At God’s Love We Deliver, they helped package meals for people living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic conditions. At the Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center (The Alliance), they received Narcan training and assembled harm-reduction kits for distribution to individuals who use substances, helping reduce their risk of contracting diseases such as HIV. They also had the opportunity to meet members of the community and hear from outreach workers about their experiences.
Additionally, they partnered with John from Project Achieve and conducted outreach at the LGBT+ Center to raise awareness about new HIV vaccine research and encourage community participation in these studies.
Outside of service experiences, they visited the HIV/AIDS Memorial Park, the Stonewall Museum, and the Chelsea Thrift Shop (Housing Works), where participants were able to further learn about HIV/AIDS and its impact.
Beyond scientific knowledge, the alternative break emphasized the social and cultural implications of HIV/AIDS and the broader healthcare inequities that impact affected communities. Through this experience, participants gained deeper awareness of the challenges faced by those living with HIV/AIDS and developed advocacy skills to bring back to their own communities.
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Professional Development
On March 25, we had a professional development with Katie Roy, the Community Impact Initiatives Project Coordinator from UConn Student Health and Wellness. Our students learned about nervous system regulation, and got to spend some of their time practicing new techniques.
Thank you to Katie Roy and to all our student leaders who attended this educational event!
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Dialogue on Reproductive Justice
In collaboration with the Women’s Center and hosted by Community Outreach, this impactful dialogue took place on March 11th and featured Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens, Associate Professor in Uconn’s Department of History. She is an advocate for reproductive and birthing justice. The conversation centered on the historical and ongoing injustices Black women face in healthcare, shedding light on the often erased truths surrounding their experiences.
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Trans Day of Visibility
The Trans Day of Visibility Storytelling Slam event took place on March 31st, it was an opportunity for students to be in community and share their stories and/or listen and uplift their peers. Many students came forward sharing their raw, vulnerable, and powerful narratives, through different mediums, such as prose, poetry, and illustration. This event was more than just a celebration, it was a declaration; trans people are here, they're unapologetically visible, and their stories will not be silenced.
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Special Olympics Penguin Plunge
On March 29th, UConn’s Special Olympics Events Committee participated in the annual Special Olympics Penguin Plunge in Tolland, CT! This year, our team, “UConn PD and Friends”, raised $1,300, winning the “Rocking School House Award” which recognizes the school that raised the most money. 15 committee members participated in the plunge with the rest of our committee helping with the setup, registration, and cleanup of the event.
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Give and Go
Give & Go provides students with an easy and accessible way to donate unwanted items during move-out rather than throwing them away. By partnering with local community organizations, the program ensures that quality items are distributed to individuals and families who need them.
After a five-year hiatus, Give & Go successfully relaunched in 2024, diverting more than 8,000 pounds of items from incineration. Donations were distributed to organizations and community partners such as WAIM, Covenant Soup Kitchen, Holy Family Home and Shelter, Journey Home, and many others. With a small but dedicated team the program made a significant impact. In 2025 the goal is to expand its reach even further.
2025 Collection Dates
May 8–10th and May 12th
Volunteers needed to help sort, clean, and organize donations to ensure items reach those who need them most. Groups and individuals can sign up here, you don't have to be a student to volunteer!
For any questions, email uconn.co.giveandgo@gmail.com. For updates and more information, follow @giveandgo_huskies on Instagram.
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Special Olympics Annual Husky Classic Soccer Tournament
Sunday, April 27th from 7:30am-4:00pm
Sherman Family Sports Complex (Field Hockey Field)
Join Special Olympics this weekend for their last event of the semester, the annual Husky Classic Soccer Tournament! Spectators and volunteers are invited to join in on this day of fun and friendly competition. Sign up to volunteer for one or more shifts from 7:30am-10:30am, 10am-1:30pm, or 1pm-4pm.
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Food Justice Dialogue
Thursday, April 24th at 5:00pm
MCHU 107
Tomorrow, come share your voice, learn from others and deepen your understanding of issues related to food insecurity, access to healthy food, food production, and more!
For any questions, email uconn.co.giveandgo@gmail.com.
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Senior Dinner and CO Banquet for Student Leaders
April 27th from 5:30-7:00pm
Alumni Center
Student leaders are invited to attend the annual CO banquet. Join us for food, awards, and fun!
Senior student leaders are encouraged to arrive earlier at 4:00pm for a celebration with appetizers and extra recognition.
Please dress nicely for the events (dress pants, dress shirt, dress, blouse, nice pants, etc.)
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Jumpstart Program Ending: Celebrating 18 Years
Due to cuts in funding at the national level, the Jumpstart program at UConn is coming to an end. Jumpstart has been a cornerstone and exemplary program within Community Outreach. While the loss of the Jumpstart program will certainly be felt throughout our community, we hope to recognize and celebrate the service, care, and dedication put forward by its members over the past 18 years.
Jumpstart, a member of the Americorps service network, is an early childhood education organization that prepares children entering kindergarten for academic success by improving literacy rates. The Jumpstart UConn program is a Corps of 60 college students serving approximately 150 preschool children each year. Corps members would receive high-quality training in child education and development, before going to work with the children at their sites twice a week for 4 hour shifts for the year. Many Corps members benefited from the program’s training which helped prepare them for future careers in education or working with children.
The Jumpstart program at UConn was started by Colleen Deasy, a former CO student leader, as well as Matt Farley, the Associate Director of CO at the time. Our own Meg Marshall was the first Site Manager of Jumpstart, and helped create the foundation for the program that know today. In fact, many of our Jumpstart community partners have worked with us for the entirety of the program’s duration.
We want to recognize current and previous staff members, coordinators, community partners, and volunteers for their service within the community. In particular, we want to shed light on the work of this year’s staff members Jake Najarian and Rachel Carey, co-coordinators Hailey Porter and Alexa Bajek, and community engagement coordinators Paige O'Keefe and Izzy Thoennes.
We hope our Jumpstart "graduates" can join us next year in getting involved with other community initiatives through CO.
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Job Opportunities
Are you graduating soon and looking for a job? Visit these resources to find jobs, internships, and service opportunities in nonprofits and common good organizations.
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Follow our socials!
@uconnoutreach
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