Lee Dukes is a Missouri State student taking Dr. Knapp’s Social Inequality class, offered through the Sociology program.  Dr. Knapp’s class was given the opportunity to take a service-learning component class which gets to select from partners that relate to social inequality in the Springfield, MO area.   Lee opted to complete his service-learning experience to the Rare Breed Youth Outreach Center (RBYOC).  The Rare Breed serves homeless and at-risk youth in the Springfield area.  The goal at the Rare Breed is to help keep kids safe, off the streets, and moving forward by helping them set goals, achieve stability, complete education, and gain employment.

Lee recently sat down with me and we discussed his experience at the outreach center.  As a service-learning student, Lee finds himself performing a number of duties for the YOC including: giving youth referrals, performing street outreach, leading a life-skills group with the goal of promoting tolerance and acceptance, day-to-day operations, and performing a number of trainings on confidentiality and boundaries.

Working at the RBYOC introduced Lee to a number of different experiences.  Helping a youth who was unaware of his potential (and reluctant to search for that potential) was one of the rewarding moments.  By working on goals, and talking about why the youth felt unable to reach those goals, the youth found a new perspective.  Now that youth is finishing up the GED, with the intention of going to Ozarks Technical Community College.    Lee’s experience wasn’t short on challenging moments either.  When a youth speaks about thoughts of suicide there are serious implications.  Working with the authorities and the suicide hotlines while also trying to console a runaway straight from a treatment center, can be both physically and emotionally draining.

The educational outcomes are also of importance when considering how students benefit from service-learning.  Lee found that his class work related well to his service-learning and vice-versa.  It is easy to talk about social inequality in class, but to actually speak with those who experience inequality makes the content in the classroom real.  Lee saw that no one looks for inequality and he found that the saying “everyone can pull themselves up by their bootstraps” is a myth.  “What if you don’t have bootstraps” Lee challenges.  The coursework taught in Dr. Knapp’s class discussed in detail the diverse populations that Lee encountered at the RBYOC and gave him ideas on how to approach his interactions with the youth.  Lee learned to listen, observe, and be himself in those interactions.

These are just a couple of examples of the rewarding and challenging experiences Lee encountered.  These types of experiences changed his outlook on what he should be majoring in.  After completing his service-learning hours, he decided to change his major to Social Work.  He feels that as college students we forget that we have privilege.  By taking part in service-learning, he was able to be placed with a partner that helps those who do not share the same privilege.  Lee feels every student should get a similar opportunity to enlarge their worldview and get engaged with those in the community who don’t have those “bootstraps” or are unaware of their potential.

Students enrolled in MGT 400 recently travelled to the Atlanta area to participate in an alternative Spring Break service-learning experience.  Part of their service-learning took place at the Jolly Avenue Community Garden, a refugee community garden in the town of Clarkston, the setting for this year’s MSU common reader “Outcast’s United”.  The class was fortunate to also have the opportunity to visit the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site one day.  Each evening, students broke into small groups to discuss and reflect on the day’s events.  We invite you share in some of the experiences of the trip by reading Emma Donovan’s blog post which she wrote after reflecting on the happenings of that day.

This morning we went to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Museum. It is so eye-opening to really consider the fact that he was assassinated only about fifty years ago. Humanity has come so far in the struggle to end persecution and suffering, but today I was reminded that we still have such a long way to go. Across the world, children are starving, people of all backgrounds are being persecuted and our environment is being destroyed. At the museum, I recall looking into the face of a pleasant looking young man on a television screen and being aghast at the words that were coming out of his mouth – something to the effect of “I wasn’t raised with em (African Americans) and I don’t plan to eat with em.” This seemingly normal man was supporting segregation because of what he was used to and because change made him uncomfortable. But change is inevitable and often uncomfortable. In fact the best change often comes from hard work and going against the grain. I found hope when I looked at pictures of whites sitting alongside blacks in boycotts. But the fact is that the vast majority of whites in this country either supported segregation or were too timid to do anything about it. I hope Martin Luther King’s story is never forgotten so that we can learn not only from the bad, but also from the good that Martin Luther King taught. It takes hard work, dedication and self-sacrifice to make a change.

But change is worth it. We look back at the heroes of yesterday and admire them, but oftentimes we forget the injustice that exists today. In the 1950s, good people turned a blind eye to the suffering that existed all around them. Today our generation is turning a blind eye to environmental and global injustice. Perhaps 50 years from now young people will look up to our generation as strong leaders in a fight for injustice that will hopefully be deemed inexcusable in our children’s time.  Or they may look at us as a generation that sat passively when we had so much potential. Our nation and humanity as a hole have come so far but there will always be work to do. As Martin Luther King said:

Through reading the book Outcasts United, we have come face to face with the pain and hardship the refugees have gone through. They faced persecution and uncertainty in their everyday lives, and when they came to America they had to work long days and learn a new language and assimilate to a new culture. There is no telling what damage hardship like this can do to the heart. These people have come here broken and we have the opportunity to heal them through kindness. Humanity has the capacity to radically reduce suffering. We just have to exercise it. This trip has been so meaningful both to us and the refugees. We are able to make their lives a little easier and just as importantly show them compassion and kindness. Through this experience we are exposed to some of the problems and projects happening not just all over the world, but right here in the United States. It is so amazing to see the garden, our class, and the refugee community come together to accomplish a goal.

  Today I was assigned to a small team. Our assignment for the day? To build a barrier for a berry garden. Our tools? Some sticks, broken boards, and some string we dug out of the trash. The first day I arrived I was amazed at how resourceful the people were. All around me I saw garden plots either ready to be used or already with sprouts growing in them. They were sectioned off with various twigs, sticks, stumps, poles, spare string and anything else available. These supplies were fashioned into the most amazing, elaborate fences. We began our project, mimicking the refugees’ resourcefulness. Before long, we had used some spare boards as a barrier, some sticks and spare wood as support, and a stick as a hammer. I was amazed at how well it turned out and how much people can accomplish with trash.

This just goes to show that one man’s trash is another man’s happiness. And the people were, indeed, happy. The ones who could not communicate well welcomed us with big smiles, and the ones who could communicate readily engaged in conversation. The kids walking past were curious and more than willing to talk. I did not expect such positivity, thankfulness, and happiness from people who had suffered so much. This really put our lives in perspective. If these people had the capacity for joy after so much hardship, then we should have that same capacity for joy every day.

At the end of the day, we were tired and finally ready to leave. We piled into our 15-seater van and began to back out when we realized we were stuck! We all got back out of the van and used our entire group’s problem solving, teamwork and leadership skills to get ourselves out. This included some of the resourcefulness we learned from the refugees in the garden when we began to look around us for tools. In the end some tree bark, shovels, and a lot of pushing got us out after about twenty minutes of collaboration. (Free at last!) Instead of this being a negative experience, I think this brought us closer together. Overall, I have learned so much from the refugees and my classmates about the value of serving and each individual’s ability to make a big difference. I will end with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King:

“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve… You don’t have to know Einstein’s theory of relativity to serve… You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant.”

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

By Emma Donovan

Registration is now open for the annual CASL Service-Learning Faculty & Staff Conference, to be held on Wednesday, March 27, 2013. For those of you who attended the Beyond the Borders: The Future of Service-Learning conference in 2012, this year’s conference promises to be even more inspiring and motivational.

This year’s conference, Innovate…Impact: Changing Learning, Changing Communities, Changing Lives will provide attendees with valuable information from scholars in the field of service-learning. Sessions and presentations will focus on innovative strategies for implementing service-learning into curriculum and showcase opportunities that can truly impact communities and the lives of others.

We have simplified the registration process this year.  Rather than registering for each session individually, you only need to register once to attend any or all sessions, and then register if you plan to attend the luncheon.  Registration ends on Monday, March 25, 2013.  To register for the conference, go to My Learning Connection, click on Course Catalog and select Show All Classes; under Choose Category, highlight “CASL Spring Conference”.  Next you will select “Conference Registration (if you plan to attend one or more sessions) and then select “Luncheon Registration” if you plan to attend the lunch.  Once you have selected “Conference Registration” and “Luncheon Registration,” you will click Add to Cart; then Check Out and Finalize.

View the conference brochure highlighting all conference sessions and presenter’s bios, or visit the CASL website. If you have difficulty in registering, please contact the CASL office at 417-836-5774.

Keynote presenters for this year’s conference include: Dr. Byron P. White, Vice President for University Engagement and Chief Diversity Officer at Cleveland State University; Stephen Black, Director – Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility at University of Alabama; and Vincent Ilustre, Founding and Current Director of Tulane University’s Center for Public Service.  Concurrent Sessions include presentations and hands-on course development from Stephen Black and from Dr. Paul Matthews, Assistant Director – Office of Service-Learning at the University of Georgia; Dr. Susan Reed, Associate Professor at DePaul University’s Adult Program, School for New Learning; and Dr. Howard Rosing, Director of DePaul’s Steans Center for Community Service Learning.

Co-sponsors for this year’s conference include the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning (FCTL), the Office of Public Affairs Support, the Office of Student Development and Public Affairs (SDPA), the Office of Student Affairs, MS Online, MSU Adult Student Services, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Study Away Programs and the Office of Research & Economic Development and International Programs.

We look forward to seeing you at the conference.

The office of Citizenship & Service-Learning, in conjunction with a student planning committee, is developing a summer program for Robberson Elementary Community School children. Under construction are Science, Math & Writing Legoland, and Global Education sessions. Each will take place for one week during the summer months. Focused curriculum will include stimulating hands-on experiments and projects designed to maximize educational impact, ignite students’ imagination and encourage academic exploration.

The Science kick-off event, held in April, will be complete with explosions, goo, and guided experiments to engage and excite students. A week-long session incorporating life, physical, and earth science activities will follow in the summer. The Math & Writing Legoland session promises to provide stimulating educational-play opportunities, developing students’ math, engineering, and robotics skills; benefiting them as they build a city. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to develop and write an original composition. The Global Education session promotes cultural competence and reading literacy through exploration of numerous countries; introducing students to the music, language, climate, geography and many other aspects of each global region.

-Kate Bauer
CASL Student Advisor

The Office of Citizenship and Service-Learning (CASL) is pleased to announce that for the fourth consecutive year, Missouri State University has been named to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) for commitment to community service through academic service-learning and volunteerism. This award celebrates the transformative power and volunteer spirit that exists within the higher education community.

For the application period (July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012), 6,226 students, engaged in more than 420,325 hours, resulting in a value of service totaling over $7,902,000.00 ($18.80 per hours/national value per hour). These MSU students committed this service through academic service-learning (CASL) and volunteerism (CLV).  For more information about this prestigious award, contact Kathy Nordyke, Director of Citizenship and Service-Learning.  A Press Release with additional details will be issued later this month.

The President’s Honor Roll website, click here.

The Office of Citizenship and Service-Learning (CASL) invites you to attend their annual Service-Learning Faculty & Staff Development Conference, Wednesday, March 27, 2013.  For those of you who attended the Beyond the Borders: The Future of Service-Learning conference in 2012, this year’s conference promises to be even more inspiring and motivational. 

This year’s conference, Innovate…Impact: Changing Learning, Changing Communities, Changing Lives will provide attendees with valuable information from scholars in the field of service-learning.  Sessions and presentations will focus on innovative strategies for implementing service-learning into curriculum and showcase opportunities that can truly impact communities and the lives of others.

Keynote presenters include: Dr. Byron P. White, Vice President for University Engagement and Chief Diversity Officer at Cleveland State University; Stephen Black, Director – Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility at University of Alabama; and Vincent Ilustre, Founding and Current Director of Tulane University’s Center for Public Service.  Breakout Sessions include presentations and hands-on course development from Stephen Black; Dr. Paul Matthews, Assistant Director – Office of Service-Learning at the University of Georgia; Dr. Susan Reed, Associate Professor at DePaul University’s Adult Program, School for New Learning; and Dr. Howard Rosing, Director of DePaul’s Steans Center for Community Service Learning.

The conference will also include a breakfast and lunch.  Registration for the conference will begin March 1, 2013. Watch for more details.

Co-sponsors for the conference include the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning (FCTL), the Office of Public Affairs Support, the Office of Student Development and Public Affairs, the Office of Student Affairs, MS On-line, MSU Adult Student Services, and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Missouri State Service-Learning students have created a lasting partnership with the Missouri Autism Report this fall 2012 semester.  When the Missouri Autism Report was asked to take part in Missouri State’s Citizenship and Service-Learning program (CASL), MAR Editor, Dayna Busch immediately identified a need for students with web design experience.  Missouri State students Matthew Duff and Flavia Rangel answered her call with enthusiasm, committing 40 hours each to the overhaul of the MAR website.  Through their experience, these students learned much about the organization’s mission and themselves. 

Dayna Busch and the Missouri Autism Report were so impressed with these CASL students’ hard work that a page was dedicated to them in the December 2012 issue of the Missouri Autism Report.  This article can be found on the newly revamped website: http://moautismreport.com.

The Office of Citizenship and Service-Learning at Missouri State is excited about this new partnership!  For more information about what is happening with Citizenship and Service-Learning, visit our website: missouristate.edu/casl.

The Office of Citizenship and Service-Learning is in full swing for the 2012-2013 school year!  We have new students, new community partners and new projects, and the high-energy CASL staff is especially thrilled about the more than 70% increase in component service-learning students this year.  These are all students who are passionate about connecting their academic learning to meaningful community service.  Many worthwhile connections have been made between students and community partners and students are already at work using service-learning to make a difference in Springfield and the local community.

Service-learning students work with various community partners to engage in community-based problem solving and to address social justice issues.  Collaboration  between faculty,  community  partners, and the CASL office  has  resulted  in  the development of many  innovative  and  engaging  service-learning projects  including  voter registration education, an after school program with Robberson Elementary School, and joint projects with the USDA and the Missouri Autism Report.  The Office of Citizenship and Service-Learning is heavily involved in fostering an environment in which Missouri state students, faculty, and staff can work together to create meaningful and long lasting change in the Springfield community and beyond.

“How do I register to vote?” is a question many college students ask, especially in an election year.  The Citizenship and Service-Learning office is committed to providing students with opportunities to become better informed citizens and voters. To that end, CASL is partnering with different entities within Missouri State University such as Public Affairs Week, Residence Life, and faculty to provide students with helpful information

 Both integrated and component service-learning students are involved in engaging their peers and community members in the 2012 voting process. During Missouri State’s Public Affairs Week, service-learning students were visible at booths around campus to promote voter registration and during this time many students took the opportunity to register to vote in time for the upcoming election.

 Service-learning students will also be participating in the annual “Into the Streets” event on Saturday, September 29^th.   During this event, coordinated by the Center for Leadership and Volunteerism, Missouri State students go out into the Springfield community to help wherever needed with voter registration. Service-learning students are excited to bring voter registration knowledge to community members and to encourage everyone who is able to get out and vote November 6th.