Learn more about this summer’s Shepherd Internships!
This summer the Shepherd Internship Program has over a hundred internships available for undergrads in dozens of fields, including Business Administration, Immigration/Refugee Services, Policy Reform, Women’s Advocacy, Youth Outreach, and more. The deadline to apply for this summer is approaching fast: January 15th! Learn more about what the SIP has to offer and how the application process works in an info session at 118 South Main this Wednesday. There is one at 4:30 p.m. and one at 7 p.m. Questions? Contact Tiffany Sargent, Director of Community Engagement, at tiffanys@middlebury.edu.
Produce the 2014 Guide to Local Food & Farms with ACORN!
ACORN is looking for a team of staff writers and researches for our 2014 Guide to Local Food and Farms. The Addison Independent publishes 15,000 copies of the Guide and we distribute it all over the Champlain Valley. This is a great opportunity to meet local food producers and do research that will have a lasting impact on our community. Volunteers can write an article, complete 3-5 hours of research or contribute illustrations/graphic design work. Interested? Email lea@acornvt.org. All content is due February 7, 2014, so sign up soon!
Help local families navigate the tax season!
Addison County Action/CVOEO is looking for volunteers to assist in preparing basic Federal and State income taxes for low-income families and individuals. Training is provided through the IRS VITA program through online self-study and testing. Volunteers will be assisting Debbie with greeting clients, completing intake sheet/review sheet and preparing basic returns. Tax assistance starts February 3 through April 15, Monday through Thursday. Office space is provided and hours are flexible. Contact Debbie at 802-388-2285 or dgoodri@cvoeo.org.
Dance your heart out!
Instructor Chris Giorgio invites Middlebury College students to volunteer with Middlebury Parks and Recreation dance classes on Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday afternoons for ages 5-18. Styles of classes include tap, ballet, hip hop, and lyrical dance. Contact Chris, cgiorgio@comcast.net, to learn more about specific class times and volunteer information.
Mentor the next generation of reporters!
Bridport Central School hosts a student newspaper club and needs a volunteer writing coach for the newspaper during J-Term and/or spring semester! On Friday mornings from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. the volunteer will work with two groups of 4th and 5th graders (8 kids total) to brainstorm, take photos, interview, and write articles for their student newspaper. This is a great opportunity for someone who wants hands-on experience in Elementary Education or Media/Journalism. If you need transportation funding for a campus vehicle is available. Interested? Contact Community Engagement, communityengagement@middlebury.edu.
Attend a lecture about cultural competency in education!
Liria C. Evangelista, Graduate Program Director for Middlebury’s program in Buenos Aires, Argentina, will give a lecture called “Touching Selves, Expanding Lives: The Desire for Teaching and the Politics of Cultural Understanding”, addressing the complex issues that a teacher confronts when working with culturally diverse students. Her research is built on many years working with Middlebury College students in various cross-cultural settings, and this J-Term Evangelista is teaching a course titled “Political Violence, Memory, and Cultural Representations”. The lecture is Wednesday, January 8, 4:30 p.m. in the Robert A. Jones ’59 House conference room.
Go to the Active Citizens Conference in Williamsburg!
William & Mary is hosting their Active Citizens Conference this February. Workshop sessions include “Defining the Outcomes: How Learning-Focused Service Enhances Active Citizenship” and “How Does Social Change Happen? An Exploration of Theories for the Every-Day Activist and Educator”. The conference is held Friday, February 15 through Saturday, February 16. Note that students are encouraged to apply for a Community Engagement mini-grant to subsidize the cost of their attendance!
Go to the IMPACT conference in Chicago!
In a similar vein to the above, Valaparaiso University is hosting the annual IMPACT conference at the end of February. As per their website, IMPACT is a long-standing annual conference “focused on the civic engagement of college students in community service, service-learning, community-based research, advocacy and other forms of social action.” It features networking blocks, an opportunities fair, and over ninety workshops! The conference is held Thursday, Febuary 27 to Sunday, March 2. Note that students are encouraged to apply for a Community Engagement mini-grant to subsidize the cost of their attendance!
Chaperon at the Sustainable Living Expo!
The Sustainable Living Expo is an annual day-long exposition promoting sustainable living in the Champlain Valley on March 29 at Middlebury Union High School. The Expo hosts hundreds of exhibits, presentations and workshops, and they’re expecting more than a thousand visitors this year! They’re looking for volunteers for everything from setting up Friday night, greeting people at the front table, assisting exhibitors, monitoring workshops, directing traffic, and supervising little ones in the children’s playroom. All volunteers will get first-hand experience at event planning, meet new people, have fun, and get a free Expo t-shirt. If you would like to be an Expo volunteer, email lea@acornvt.org.
Questions?
If you have questions about any of these volunteer opportunities or you want to learn even more opportunities to get involved with the communities above, contact Ashley Calkins, Associate Director of Community Engagement, at jcalkins@middlebury.edu.