Community Engagement Blog

How we do community engagement at Missouri State

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Building a City Where No One Sleeps Outside

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What is Eden Village?

The organization began as the “Gathering Tree,” a safe hangout spot open in the evenings for the homeless to play games, get coffee, and use the computers. Eventually, the Gathering Tree grew into a tiny home community known as Eden Village in 2018.  

Eden Village offers housing for homeless and disabled individuals in Springfield, MO. This community is made up of tiny homes, a community center, and a garden. A full kitchen, laundry room, computers, offices, and book and DVD library fill the shared community center for all to use. In addition to providing these tangible resources, Eden Village supports residents with an opportunity to gain service skills. They may work in the community garden, woodworking shop, and neighborhood store.  

Village Locations:  

  • Village 1 – 2801 E Division 
  • Village 2 – 3155 W Brower 

How to Serve?  

  • Sign up for their monthly volunteer events – Third Saturday Workdays to help with: 
    • Landscaping 
    • Gardening
    • Painting  
    • Cleaning  
  • Check out other opportunities Eden Village provides on Give Pulse 
  • Fill out the volunteer form on their website 
  • Contact Nate and Kelbi Schlueter at 417-894-3972 

Moving Families from Scarcity to Security

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“Crosslines moves families from scarcity to security with compassion and dignity.” If you are looking to serve a local organization, Crosslines would be a great option! 

Crosslines Community Resource Center

About Crosslines:  

Crosslines provides support to Greene County families in crisis through food assistance and hygiene items. Crosslines is committed to addressing the immediate hunger needs of families, seniors, and children. In addition, Crosslines also offers referral services and some case management services to clients.  

Services Included by Crosslines:  

  • Pantry food assistance 
  • USDA foods 
  • Cleaning supplies 
  • Laundry detergent 
  • Personal hygiene items  
  • And more! 

How to Help/Serve:  

  • Food donations (list on website) 
  • Purchase pre-bagged food donations at participating Price Cutter stores. 
  • Volunteer your time  
  • Host a food drive  

If you are interested in seeing if you are eligible for assistance, go here for more information: https://ccozarks.org/crosslines/  

For more information, visit Crossline’s website, call at 417-869-0563, or email staff@ccozarks.org.  

Transforming College Campuses Through Community Engagement

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Welcome back to campus Bears! The Center for Community Engagement is offering an exciting new program for freshman students interested in strengthening their service and leadership skills.  

What is the Bonner Leader Program?  

An interactive work-study program for college students that emphasizes service learning, community outreach, and leadership initiatives that align with Missouri State University’s public affairs mission. The Bonner Leader Program provides students with tangible service experiences that they can take beyond the classroom.  

Who is eligible?  

  • First-year students who:   
    • Are eligible/have been awarded work-study (is displayed on FAFSA) 
    • Display responsibility in roles at school, work, home, or within the community  
    • Have an interest in honing their leadership skills by serving the Springfield area 

Responsibilities:  

  • Participate for the duration of your undergraduate college career (4 years)  
  • Serve 8-10 hours per week (280 hours each academic year)  
  • Engage in 2-4 hours of weekly trainings and learning experiences during Bonner meetings  
  • Partner with a community organization for a summer of service (1 summer while an undergrad student)  
  • Research to complete a community-focused senior capstone project  
  • Encourage other MSU students to get involved in service opportunities  

Learning Commitments:  

Opportunities: 

  • Network with 18,000+ Bonner Leaders and alumni across the country  
  • Opportunities to engage in the campus and surrounding Springfield community  
  • Leadership development and mentorship from faculty  
  • Earn income throughout college through a federal work-study program 
Interested in becoming a Bonner Leader? Reach out to Alex Johnson (alexjohnson@missouristate.edu) and submit your application with a cover letter and resume today! 
 

Make a difference weekly with the Bear Service Team

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By Hannah Voyles

Bear Service Team is a service organization at MSU. Our mission is to plan and provide students with service opportunities in the Springfield community. This is a great way for students to make a difference while getting to know other Bears with hearts for service! We serve every Tuesday night, but on the last Tuesday of every month, we meet for discussion, reflection on service, and games.

Our organization is online-based, meaning that the majority of our communication is through email and social media. For information and updates, you can fill out the form below or contact voyles125@live.missouristate.edu. Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram: @bserviceteam. Being added to the email list means that you will be notified about all service events Bear Service Team shares.

If you are interested in volunteering, want to know more about Springfield, or want to find a group to serve with, Bear Service Team is for you. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, October 30 at 6:30 on the first floor of the PSU in front of the Center for Community Engagement.

Hope to see you there!

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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!