By Taylor Ware Service-learning relies on community partnerships. James River Basin Partnership (JRBP) is one of many valued not-for-profits that we collaborate with. Their Executive Director, Brent Stock, believes that service-learning fosters crucial learning experiences that students will carry throughout their lives. Brent Stock is a Missouri State graduate from the wildlife conservation and management program. He has an extensive background in not-for-profits and a passion for the outdoors. At James River Basin Partnership, Brent oversees a small staff and facilitates ongoing projects. Much of his work revolves around grant management and fundraising. These financing efforts support a variety of projects. This includes their work to remedy nonpoint source pollution and their efforts to provide environmental education to the community. They also host many events including river, lake and stream clean ups. Brent and his staff work hard to manage these responsibilities. The integration of service-learning students helps to lighten their load. “Service-learning students allow … [Read more...] about Brent Stock and the James River Basin Partnership help students find their way in local conservation
By Taylor Ware “We fight the same legislative battle year after year,” said Empower: Abilities CEO Shannon Porter. Empower: Abilities is a not-for-profit striving to remove barriers and empower independent living for all people with disabilities. The needs of these individuals vary from person to person, but generally, they include assistance with household chores, cooking, shopping, correspondence and transportation. Assistance in this capacity is often performed by loved ones like friends and relatives. However, this dynamic is a complicated one. It crosses the wires between helping out a loved one and working a full time job. The financial implications are distressing as well. That is why Medicaid reimburses caretakers of this sort via institutional vendors like Empower: Abilities. In more recent years, minimum wage and inflation have continued to rise while rates for these caretakers were stuck in the mud. It is getting increasingly difficult for individuals with disabilities to remain in their homes because of a lack of funding for their caregivers. To worsen … [Read more...] about How service-learning can impact state policy for the better
By Kathy Nordyke Missouri State University service-learning students and Bonner Leaders/Program Assistants from the Citizenship and Service-Learning office are helping children at Robberson Elementary learn the sciences through the power of Robotics. This new program began Friday, November 2nd and was made possible thanks to service-learning students from John Turner's grant writing class. The grant writing students wrote a proposal and secured funding for the world-class LEGO Educational Robotics project. A special thanks to our Bonner Leader and Math/Science Education student Amanda Drewel for her hard work and dedication in coordinating this effort, writing curriculum, and working to encourage STEM before/after-school programs in our schools. Service-learning takes pride in our students and the great things they are doing in our communities to make a difference - they are shining examples of our MSU Public Affairs mission. Thank you Robberson Community School for being such a great partner and serving as a learning site for our service-learning students. … [Read more...] about Service-learning brings robotics to Robberson Elementary