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Happy World Kindness Day 2017!

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World Kindness Day was first introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement. Since then, it has been observed on November 13th every year by dozens of countries. The mission of this day is promoting a Kinder World. Here in the Center for Community Engagement, we strive every day to promote positive social change and develop students who are “active citizens of enhanced character, sensitive to the needs of the community, competent and committed to their ability to contribute to a global society.”

Members of our office are individuals who promote this mission through their work, words, and actions. Here is what Kindness means to some of them.

“Kindness to me means having a disposition that shows that you have a concern for others. I think a society requires it to move forward in a positive way.”

-Charlie Whitaker, Project Coordinator-Media and Communication, CASL

“Appreciating others and showing love and respect.”

-Alex Johnson, Director of Community Involvement and Service

“Kindness to me means making a concerted effort to think of others in the way we act and use our words. We must show empathy. Kindness without empathy is an empty promise to make the world better.”

-Katy Warfield, Student Coordinator for Special Projects, CIS

“Caring about someone, doing something, having empathy, listening, and understanding. It’s all these things. It’s not a handout, but rather a hand up. It’s thinking of ways to make a positive impact and make a difference.”

-Dr. Kathy Nordyke, Director of Citizenship and Service-Learning

Sharing compassionate words. Serving at your local community garden. Adopting a family for the holidays. Recycling rather than trashing. Giving a smile to someone who needs it. Kindness has many forms and is not just for one day. Spread kindness & love every day and you may start to see some changes.

Now, what does Kindness mean to you?

Building Bridges and Closing the Gaps: Springfield Opportunities

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The most recent Community Focus Report highlights the collaborative support, stable standardized test results, and steps towards equity of educational opportunities in the Springfield education system. We are making strides as a community. Our next steps are taking on education outside of the classroom for adult learners, low-income families, and individuals with disabilities to close the achievement gap that continues to exist in our communities. Below are some amazing community partners taking on the gaps and bridging communities.

Abilities First:  AF provides support coordination and programs for people with developmental disabilities. Abilities First is devoted to “expanding opportunities, empower voices, and enable citizens with developmental disabilities to realize their dreams.” Opportunities for service include Art Inspired Academy, Art Inspired, and Inspired Boutique.

The Arc of the Ozarks:  The Arc is a non-profit that serves individuals with disabilities in directing their own lives as valued members of the community. Through the Education and Recreation Programs, you could work alongside Springfield residents at the Timothy Grant Newport Activity Center.

Champion Athletes of the Ozarks:  Champion builds self-esteem, self-confidence and everyday life skills. They devote efforts to enhance the lives of children and adults with disabilities through education, sports competition, teaching basic life skills, creating job experiences and reinforcing good social skills.

Drew Lewis Foundation:  The Foundation offers programming through the Northwest Project to benefit families from diverse backgrounds through social, physical, and educational activities. Their mission is to make our city a better place to live by improving quality of life in Grant Beach and other neighborhoods in northwest Springfield.

Community Partnerships of the Ozarks:  The mission of CPO is to facilitate and promote the building of resilient children, healthy families, and strong neighborhoods and communities through collaboration, programming and resource development. Check out their Events page for information on volunteer events and opportunities to donate!

The Brave Butterfly:  Their mission is to empower low-income and underrepresented people through leadership, ethics, and the Arts. Find out how you can serve with the Brave Butterfly Book Club and work alongside founder, Tami Franklin, in encouraging kids to build personal development skills and personal empowerment.

Center for Dispute Resolution:  The CDR is an organization located within the Department of Communication at Missouri State University. The CDR provides services that give individuals, organizations, and communities the tools they need to productively manage conflicts. Through programming, outreach, training, and research, the CDR is able to accomplish its goals.

Ozarks Public Broadcasting:  OPB consists of community supported, non-profit local NPR and PBS stations. The station relies on the service of volunteers to assist during fundraising pledge drives and other outreach events! Keep on the lookout for future drives.

Ozarks Literacy Council: OLC provides weekly one-on-one tutoring sessions for children and adults. They also do two visits during the semester to read a book and do a simple activity with a pre-school classroom. There is a current need for tutors and conversation partners for adult ESL learners and those who need help reading.

Thank you to all students and community members looking to invest in our community and build bridges. Follow your passion and find your place in our beautiful Springfield!

Cold Weather Drive Partnership

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Starting Monday, October 23rd through Friday, November 3rd there is an opportunity for MSU faculty, staff, students, and Springfield community members to donate cold weather clothing to provide for our community. As temperatures drop, warm clothing becomes more and more essential to the lives of those experiencing homelessness or living in low-income households.

Burrell Behavioral Health’s ERE/CMHL departments are partnering with local law enforcement to provide warmth for the community. Donation items will be collected and formed into kits for law enforcement officers to provide to homeless and low-income individuals.

Donation items include: socks, gloves, scarves, hats, blankets, and coats. Donations can be dropped off at Strong Hall 108 and Park Central Office Building on the first floor.

Did you miss the Community Engagement Fair?

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Every semester, the Center for Community Engagement hosts dozens of community partners in the Plaster Student Union for the Community Engagement Fair. This past September, Missouri State welcomed 45 community partners to the third floor of Plaster Student Union. For those of you who couldn’t make it, we have a running list of possible community agencies to partner with in the coming year!

The theme of this list is Child Advocacy. Springfield has several challenges when it comes to Child Advocacy. The community faces high child abuse and neglect rates, child poverty, lacking school readiness, and poor preschool investment. Below are community agencies that are taking strides to address this community issue.

CASA of Southwest Missouri (Court Appointed Special Advocates):  CASA is a nonprofit organization that recruits, trains and supports community volunteers who assist the court in protecting the best interests of abused and neglected children in Southwest Missouri.

Girl Scouts:  They 2.6 million strong—1.8 million girls and 800,000 adults who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ to change the world. We’re the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Ambassadors for Children:  We provide quality services and support to neglected and abused children in our community. There are currently over 1,000 children in foster care in Greene, Christian, and Taney Counties with local child abuse rates continuing to be higher in comparison with the rest of the state. A4C’s programs work to provide essentials while fostering a sense of dignity and value in the children they serve.

FosterAdopt Connect:  Comprehensive Foster Care Advocacy Agency for children in care and the families caring for them. You don’t have to be a foster parent to serve this community partner! From serving with Sammy’s Window to event assistance, this agency strives to transform children’s lives.

The Doula Foundation:  Doula is a non-profit organization located in Springfield, MO. We assist mothers and their families before, during, and after pregnancy in Greene County and the surrounding areas. Doulas are experienced birth companions. They provide physical and emotional support before, during and after the birth. The word doula is Greek and means one who serves or “mothering the mother.” Childbirth education, prenatal yoga, parent classes, and breastfeeding support are some of the services Doula provides.

Missouri Mentoring Partnership:  Missouri Mentoring partnership prepares youth for personal success in employment, education, healthy life styles and self sufficiency through mentored support. You can invest in the life of pregnant and/or parenting youth. The program equips young people with the necessary tools for employment and self-sufficiency. Additionally, they can fund some educational costs such as GED testing, ACT tests, and college registration fees.

This is nowhere near an exhaustive list; however, it is a good start. Follow your passion and find your place in the Springfield community!

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more community partner lists! Next week- Education and Community Inclusion!

Hurricane Drive

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Both Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma have provoked a large outcry from Missouri State students to take their compassion to the next level. Missouri State is home to students from the entire Gulf Area, Florida, the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and more. The impact of both hurricanes will be felt for months and years to come. If your next question is “what can I do?”, the Center for Community Engagement has an answer for you.

In partnership with Convoy of Hope, Missouri State students and the Center for Community Engagement will be hosting a campus-wide donation drive for victims directly affected by both hurricanes and possibly the newer hurricanes forming in the Atlantic. Items collected will be made into hygiene kits sent to effected communities both nationally and abroad. Collection items featured below:

Convoy of Hope Hygiene Kit donation list

These items may be dropped off at the Center for Community Engagement in PSU 131!

UPDATED DROP OFF LOCATIONS: Siceluff 215, Carrington 119 & 201, Temple 142, Kemper Hall 101, Strong 251, 231, & 115, PCEDFE (eFactory), PSU 2nd Floor Lobby, and Foster Recreation Center Lobby! If you want to obtain a donation box or the flyers to hang in your department office, email volunteer@missouristate.edu!

If you would rather donate monetarily, you can go to Convoy of Hope‘s website and set up a fundraising page to share with your friends and family! You can also text CONVOY to 50555 to donate $10 to disaster relief.