Community Engagement

Sunday 1/22 7:30 p.m. Hillcrest 103

4,303 individuals in Addison County are recipients of food stamps (3SquaresVT). Join us for a screening and discussion around local food access issues.

Food Stamped follows a couple as they attempt to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet on a food stamp budget. They consult with members of U.S. Congress, food justice organizations, nutrition experts, and people living on food stamps to take a deep look at America’s broken food system.

Sponsored by Nutrition Outreach and Mentoring (NOM) and the Center for Education in Action

“The time is always right to do what is right.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Middlebury College MLK Day of Service: January 21st
Middlebury College faculty, staff, and students are invited to participate in community service projects to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Transportation will be provided for anyone needing it to volunteer at off-campus project sites. You will be emailed with a confirmation and details of your volunteer service site. To sign up to volunteer email Ashley Calkins, jcalkins@middlebury.edu, 802.443.3099. Please list your site preference in the email!
Sites:

• HOPE: Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects (HOPE) needs your help in preparing for the rest of the winter. Volunteers will depart from campus at 10:00 a.m. and return by 1:00 p.m.
• Helen Porter Healthcare and Rehabilitation: Singers and performers are needed from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. to perform for residents.
• Mothers Without Borders session sponsored by the Volunteer Services Organization (VSO): Join VSO in Ross B11 any time between 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. to make some Brandy Blankets for Porter Hospital and the VT Children’s Hospital. No sewing experience is necessary. Your wonderful blankets will be provided to babies and children in Pediatric Units in the Northeast. If you have any questions please email Daniela Barajas at vso@middlebury.edu.
• Project Independence session sponsored by VSO: Volunteers will travel to Project Independence to participate in read-alouds and games with elderly participants. Volunteers will depart from campus at 8:45 a.m. and be back by 2:15 p.m.
• Additional student organizations including Xiao Pengyou and Friends of John Graham Shelter are also planning MLK Day of Service activities

January is National Mentoring Month!
Get involved by joining Middlebury College DREAM. The DREAM Program is a non-profit mentoring organization that builds communities of families and college students that empower children from disadvantaged circumstances to recognize their options, make informed decisions, and achieve their dreams! DREAM is looking for mentors for their Friday events, which range from arts and crafts to sports and games! Spend a couple of hours on a Friday afternoon this J-Term with DREAM…and have fun while making a difference! For more information, contact Ali Siegel ’12 at absiegel@middlebury.edu.

Mentors Needed
Two Bristol teens are looking for college students to spend time with. One is a 7th grade girl who enjoys rollerblading and swimming and would benefit from having an energetic female mentor. The other, an 8th grade boy, seeks an equally active and energetic male mentor with whom to explore the outdoors, bowl, bike, and play pool. Both live immediately outside of downtown Bristol, and would love college role models! For more information, please contact Emma Lennon, Mentoring and Youth Programs Coordinator, at elennon@middlebury.edu.

1/23 College Defensive Driving Class [Required to drive campus vehicles!]
This program is required for anyone who wishes to rent a College passenger or 15-passenger vehicle. If you might want to use a campus vehicle for volunteering this semester, plan to take this defensive driving class! There is no cost for the class but a driving orientation (a 1 hour review on the road) is required for 15-passenger Vans and larger vehicles. Class time is about 2 Hrs. REMINDER: A valid state license is required to take the class. Individuals wanting a 15-Passenger Van license must have 3 years of driving experience. Questions? Email Ed Sullivan, Sullivan@middlebury.edu. Upcoming class: January 23 4:30 pm Axinn 220.

Performing Opportunity: Wednesday, Jan. 25
Leicester Central School’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration: People are needed to support the celebration by leading activities and/or performances either for Pre-K through 2nd graders or 3rd – 6th graders on the theme of MLK and social justice . The options are endless! Get creative: poetry reading or musical performers welcome. To sign-up or for more information email Ashley Calkins, jcalkins@middlebury.edu.

Swimming Partner Needed
A community member is seeking a swimming partner and college student friend. This individual is an enthusiastic young woman with a cognitive delay as a result of chronic heart problems. Interested? Email Emma Lennon, Mentoring and Youth Programs Coordinator, elennon@middlebury.edu.

Questions? If you have questions about any of these volunteer opportunities or want to learn more ways to get involved in the local community, contact Ashley Calkins, Community Engagement Coordinator, jcalkins@middlebury.edu, 802.443.3099

Charter House Homeless Shelter Training Session
Thursday, January 12th 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
The Charter House homeless shelter provides shelter for the homeless in Middlebury and is completely staffed by volunteers. Volunteers are needed around the clock, for shifts of 2 to 4 hours. Scheduling is flexible. Attend this training session and sign-up to volunteer. Questions? Contact Yuan Lim, ylim@middlebury.edu.

Town Hall Theater: seeking a social media guru
Town Hall Theater in downtown Middlebury is looking for someone to design and maintain a social media strategy that will promote events at the theater. Must have a thorough understanding of Facebook, Twitter, and anything else that has been invented since this message was posted. 3 hours per week. If interested, contact Douglas Anderson at danderson@townhalltheater.org

Middlebury vs. Plattsburgh Men’s Ice Hockey Game, 1/13: Want to go?
If you are planning on watching Middlebury take on Plattsburgh the first Friday of J-Term, consider doing so with CFES! CFES (College for Every Student) is looking for volunteers to have small group discussion before the game with Plattsburgh High School students about the benefit of extracurricular activities in high school and college. Pizza will be served. Afterwards, head over to the game with the teens! For more information, or to get involved, contact Amanda Powers ’12 at ampowers@middlebury.edu.

Swimming Partner Needed
A community member is seeking a swimming partner and college student friend. This individual is an enthusiastic young woman with a cognitive delay as a result of chronic heart problems. Interested? Email Emma Lennon, Mentoring and Youth Programs Coordinator, elennon@middlebury.edu.

1/11 College Defensive Driving Class [Required to drive campus vehicles!]
This program is required for anyone who wishes to rent a College passenger or 15-passenger vehicle. If you might want to use a campus vehicle for volunteering this semester, plan to take this defensive driving class! There is no cost for the class but a driving orientation (a 1 hour review on the road) is required for 15-passenger Vans and larger vehicles. Class time is about 2 Hrs. REMINDER: A valid state license is required to take the class. Individuals wanting a 15-Passenger Van license must have 3 years of driving experience. To sign up email Ed Sullivan, Sullivan@middlebury.edu. Upcoming class: January 11 noon, Crest Room

Performing Opportunity: Wednesday, Jan. 18
Leicester Central School’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration: People are needed to support the celebration by leading activities and/or performances either for Pre-K through 2nd graders or 3rd – 6th graders on the theme of MLK and social justice . The options are endless! Get creative: poetry reading or musical performers welcome. To sign-up or for more information email Ashley Calkins, jcalkins@middlebury.edu.

Sign up to volunteer at the Face Off Against Breast Cancer Hockey Tournament 1/21 and 1/22
Volunteers are needed for many different tasks including running the clock, announcing games, baking food and working in the penalty box. To learn more and sign up for a shift visit:
www1.mysignup.com/wham2012. Questions? Call Anne Chabot at 388-0234 or email achabot@middlebury.edu.

Questions? If you have questions about any of these volunteer opportunities or want to learn more ways to get involved in the local community, contact Ashley Calkins, Community Engagement Coordinator, jcalkins@middlebury.edu, 802.443.3099

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service will be taking place on Saturday, January 21, 2012!

Middlebury College faculty, staff, and students are invited to participate in community service projects to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Transportation will be provided for anyone needing it to volunteer at off-campus project sites. You will be emailed with a confirmation and details of your volunteer service site.

To sign up to volunteer email Ashley Calkins, jcalkins@middlebury.edu, 802.443.3099.

Spend eight weeks as a paid Shepherd Alliance Intern during the summer working at an agency located in an urban or rural area in the Eastern U.S. Applications due January 15th.

What is the Shepherd Alliance Program?
The Shepherd Alliance unites student interns from Berea, Middlebury, Morehouse and Spelman colleges; Washington and Lee University law and undergraduate programs; and participating Bonner Scholar institutions with agencies that work to benefit impoverished members of society. Students learn first-hand about the multiple dimensions of poverty in the United States by working for eight weeks to strengthen impoverished communities and work alongside individuals seeking to improve their communities. The agencies, located in various urban and rural sites in the United States, focus on education, healthcare, legal services, housing, hunger, social and economic needs, and community-building efforts. Students work with agencies that fit their intellectual interests in order to develop their experience and skills for o civic involvement and employment.

When is the Shepherd Alliance Program?
The 2012 program will begin with an orientation June 8-10. After concluding volunteer work, students will gather for a conference, August 7-8, in Little Rock, Arkansas in order to report on their summer experiences. Students from each of the Alliance schools participate in the orientation and the closing conference. All expenses for housing and meals are covered for these meetings.

How do I apply?
Middlebury College students apply for the Shepherd Poverty Alliance Summer Internship through MOJO! www.middmojo.com Log in and search for “Shepherd Poverty” under Midd-friendly Internships and follow the instructions (complete the online application and upload a resume, transcript (can be unofficial), and two letters of recommendation. At least one of these recommendations should come from a Middlebury staff or faculty member. Selected applicants will be interviewed later in January. Finalists will be determined in late January, early February. Applications are due on January 15, 2012. Interviews will be held in late January. Successful applicants will be notified by the end of January 2012, with placements finalized
in mid-spring.

What if I have questions?
Attend one of the two information sessions:
Tues., Jan. 10, 2011 at 12:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. in the Center for Education in Action (EIA) Library in Adirondack House
OR Contact Tiffany Sargent (tiffanys@middlebury.edu or ext. 5082) about the internships.
Contact Tim Mosehauer (tmosehau@middlebury.edu or ext. 5105) about MOJO.

View the Shepherd Alliance information page http://www.wlu.edu/x13104.xml

How can I afford to do this?
The 3-5 students selected to represent Middlebury will each receive a $1,500 stipend. In addition, housing, meals and a small living allowance will also be provided. Note: U.S citizens may also be eligible to pursue a part-time AmeriCorps education award (voucher to be used toward education costs) valued at approximately $1,000.

The Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship, a project of the Congressional Hunger Center, is a unique leadership development opportunity for motivated individuals seeking to make a difference in the struggle to eliminate hunger and poverty.

Each year 20 participants are selected for this eleven-month program. Fellows are placed for half their term of service with urban and rural community-based organizations all over the country involved in fighting hunger at the local level, such as grass roots organizing groups, food banks, economic development agencies, local advocacy groups and faith-based organizations. They then move to Washington, DC to complete the year with national organizations involved in the anti-hunger and poverty movement, including national advocacy organizations, think tanks, and federal agencies. Through this unique program, the Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program develops effective leaders with a deep understanding of hunger and poverty at both the local and national level that enables them to find innovative solutions and create the political will to end hunger.

More information can be found at:  http://hungercenter.org/national/applicationinfo.htm

Application Details:  Read More…

Welcome to the EIA Civic Engagement blog. Here you will find registration opportunities for some of the events and programs our office provides. For a complete look at what is happening in Civic Engagement visit us at our core site: go.middlebury.edu/ace.