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Freshmen year I was overwhelming involved on campus. I was in dance ensemble, APO, Colleges against Cancer. Also I loved volunteer work. My freshmen year I was a mentor in Big Brothers Big Sisters, LIU, El Centro, and Wee Care. Looking back I wonder when I had time to sleep. I had a full plate of community service experience but it only scratched the surface. I had the choice to ignore any social justice issue that made me uncomfortable. Finally, I didn’t want to just lend a helping hand; I wanted to make a stand. That’s when program coordinator Hilary Green told me about the Center for Public Service.
The person I was last year couldn’t hold a candlestick to the person I am now. The Center for Public Service opened my eyes to a lot of things. One of the social justice issues I’m most passionate about is education among underprivileged. However, social justice issues normally don’t come up in conversation, at least not often enough. As a tutor I could leave my site and not think about it until the next week. At the Center for Public Service I’m challenged every day. I learn things from sustainability to classism and how it all interconnects to my program. I go to erace meetings every week where there is absolutely no sugar coating allowed. I enjoy my job because it involves a continuous process of growing and learning. The most exciting part of it is that it’s not over. Every day is a new challenge, and a new question to push me out of my comfort zone. Even after I graduate I still be able to take this experience with me.
I am currently the program coordinator for El Centro. It’s a local tutoring center for Hispanic children from 1st grade to middle school. Tutors come in for educational support. However, el Centro also provides an enriched and stable environment for the kids. It’s open for tutoring Monday through Thursday 3:30-3:40. We have about 150 volunteers. Some of which are from Spanish class, and some that not affiliated with the Spanish department. My role is to act as the liaison between El Centro and the Center for public service. I orient the volunteers and coordinate the process.
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Community partnerships, the core of Center for Public Service programs, strive to be mutually beneficial – fulfilling both a community-identified goals and providing a learning experience for students. Program coordinators serve as liaisons between the Adams County and campus communities to ensure a solid partnership.
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EXPERIENCE
My community partnership with El Centro has been a growing experience.
Tough. It can be challenging to keep the tutors respectful. As a program coordinator we have to make sure the tutors are well tutoring. (I.e. not checking their cell phones, and playing games the whole time.) It’s important for the tutors to show that education is important to them. Since the kids do look up to them. Also, this may be a stretch, but for them to question the social injustices around them.
PANIC. When things don’t go quite as planned, like last semester’s end of the year party, it’s easy to be worried. However ultimately I know that I learn and grow from every experience.
Satisfaction. The tutoring process can be very rewarding. Especially when the student you’re helping is getting a right answer all on their own. After the tutors leave I usually stay for arts & crafts and get to talk to the kids more. I’ve built a lot of close relationships with the kids, and I feel at place there =). The reward I get from being a program coordinator for El Centro outweighs any obstacle I experience when working there.
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LEARNING
As a tutor I just saw El Centro as a tutoring program. Now I understand that the stable environment is really what the center is offering. The inequality between race and class can put these kids in unfavorable situations. The kids are minorities that do live in a society were prejudice, violence, and discrimination are prevalent. I’ve learn more about how to approach these topics and how to understand where they come from.I have grown up so much academically, and professionally. While working with my community partner I have become more responsible and have gotten better management skills. I can work with a diverse group of people, including ages. I’ve become an advocate for social change through my role here. I know that after I graduate I will still be that advocate.
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Learning Circles aim to bring people from diverse backgrounds together to develop trust, understand each other's experiences, explore social issues and work together for long-term change. For 2007-2009, there are two groups focused on race and class. Charisee focused on race and participated in eRace: Gettysburg College for Campus Unity.
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EXPERIENCE
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LEARNING
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Through the Center for Public Service, Program Coordinators support student volunteers through education, training, reflection, communication, logistical coordination and the fostering of community/campus partnerships.
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EXPERIENCE
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LEARNING
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Through experiences with the Center for Public Service, Program Coordinators have the opportunity to connect with community, develop professional skills, and find a supportive environment to discover their voice in social change.
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EXPERIENCE
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LEARNING
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300 North Washington Street · Gettysburg, PA 17325