Volume XVII | September 2022 | |
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” — Mahatma Gandhi | |
Message from the Associate Director | |
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Welcome Back! Community Outreach is excited about the beginning of this year and looking forward to our programs being mostly in person. It will take a lot of work, patience and learning. Please check out some of the programs, staff members, and student leaders highlighted in this edition (and future ones) because without them we would not be able to do the work we do. Community Outreach hopes to continue to build on our shared experiences this year.
Miguel A. Colón
Director of Community Outreach
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Big Brothers, Big Sisters
Currently, the Big Brothers, Big Sisters Program is excited and hoping to start their programs the first week of October. It is a semester-long program that operates on a weekly basis. Participants are able to pick a site to attend each week, including schools mainly located in Eastern, CT such as Mansfield, Windham, Putnam, etc. UConn participants are matched with “littles,” who are elementary or middle school students that they will mentor for the entire semester. This involves helping “littles” complete homework assignments, make crafts, or do activities. Windham Middle School students also have the ability to come up to the Storrs Campus for tours provided by our students to get an idea of what college is like. The program truly aims to allow UConn students to build a relationship with “littles” where they can provide them with emotional support through weekly one-on-one’s.
If interested in participating with Big Brothers, Big Sisters please email uconn.co.bbbs@gmail.com
Amanda Schuman, CO Student Leader
Interested in Big Brothers, Big Sisters? Learn more here!
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Goodwin COPE
COPE is a mentoring program that services Mansfield Elementary Schools in the surrounding area. The program caters to children going through any sort of family change such as a divorce, death in the family or a new move, etc. We teach these young children coping mechanisms through creative activities and interaction among each other. These skills they learn will enable them to best deal with the social and emotional challenges that come with the changes in their lives.
This upcoming month they will be at the Student Involvement Fair with a lot more information about the program. This semester it will run Tuesdays (12:00-1:55pm) and Mondays (11:15 - 1:05pm).
If you are interested in participating, please email uconn.co.cope@gmail.com
Menaja Raja, Goodwin COPE Site Manager
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Cross Cultural Connections
Cross Cultural Connections (CCC) pairs undergraduate international students and fluent English speaking students as conversation partners. Conversation partners are assigned based on mutual interests and meet on their own time for 4 hours each month. International students can strengthen their English language skills and familiarize themselves with campus life at UConn and American culture. Fluent English speaking students gain new perspectives and knowledge about different ways of life from around the world. Both students also get the opportunity to make a new friend! CCC hosts monthly meetings for all conversation partners to come together to enjoy food and various activities.
Fluent English speakers, please click here to apply.
International students, please click here to apply.
Paige Dossias, Cross Cultural Connections Program Director
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Mansfield Middle School Tutoring
Mansfield Middle School tutoring and mentoring is excited to welcome new participants for the upcoming semester! We participated in the Involvement Fair on September 7 and were able to meet interested participants and answer any questions. We plan to return to in-person service in September, where we are hopeful to implement new relationship-building practices with participants and students!
If you would like more information, please contact uconn.co.mms@gmail.com
Hannah Dinowitz, Mansfield Middle School Tutoring Program Director
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Welcoming New Staff and Student Coordinators | |
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Martha Goldstein-Schultz
Staff Program Coordinator of Youth Development and Language and Literacy
Martha is a new staff member in Community Outreach and works with both the Youth Development and Education of Adolescents and Language and Literacy programs. She started out with a bachelor's degree from Keene State University, where she majored in Education and Women’s Studies. She then moved on to Widener University to obtain a PhD in Human Sexuality Studies. She continued to practice her love for education and working with others by becoming an assistant professor at Eastern Connecticut State University, as well as an adjunct professor here at UConn, where she has taught multiple Human Development and Family Sciences courses including HDFS 1070 and 2100.
Martha decided to apply to work for Community Outreach, as she wanted to move away from the large focus on research as a professor and wished to try something new in the higher education world. She feels that CO will allow her to make more valuable connections with students and have an impact on the surrounding community, as she stated that she enjoys “the core sense of being human and connecting with others throughout the community, which CO provides.”
Outside of her position here at UConn she teaches yoga classes at the YMCA in Putnam, CT. She truly believes in the connection between mind and body, and commented that the practices of yoga and meditation have truly helped her to stay healthy and balanced throughout her studies and her career. Overall, Martha is passionate about mindfulness, as well as helping out students and being involved in the community!
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Emilia Hovseb
Student Coordinator of Youth Development and Education of Adolescents
This year YDEA welcomes Emilia as their Student Coordinator! Emilia is a senior and double-majors in Physiology and Neurobiology and English, while also on the pre-law track. Emilia started working with Community Outreach her freshman year as a volunteer and was able to get more involved starting sophomore year. She has been a site manager for both America Reads and Language and Literacy prior to starting her new position this year. She is also hoping to continue volunteering with America Reads this year, on top of her new involvement in YDEA.
Outside of CO, Emilia is a Lab Mentor for Biology 1107. She is also a leader for the UConn Week of Welcome, also known as WOW, where she has been able to help freshmen and transfer students get oriented on campus prior to the start of classes. Overall, Emilia is excited to be a senior this year!
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August Training
From Monday, August 22nd through Thursday, August 25th, Community Outreach Student Leaders and Coordinators were able to gather for training in the Student Union. Everyone was able to meet with their Communities of Practice to get an understanding of the goals that they need to tackle this semester in terms of service projects. Students were able to have fun with games and activities such as UConn-themed Heads Up, Peanut Butter River, and a trip to the Dairy Bar! Important workshops were held such as Stress and Coping Skills, Sexual Harassment Proactive Training, and Prioritization Techniques with the Academic Achievement Center. CO Student Leaders were able to learn many skills that can be used throughout the year to implement their outreach programs!
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Involvement Fair
On Wednesday, September 7th, Community Outreach Student Leaders were able to attend the UConn Involvement Fair from 2-7 pm. If you weren't able to catch us then, you can find more information here on all of our programs!
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