Meredith Honors Service-Learning Partners
By Melyssa Allen
Meredith College held a Community Partner Recognition Luncheon on February 22, 2008, to honor the non-profits and schools that participate in the College’s Service-Learning Programs.
Service-Learning Coordinator Shannon Kelly said the event provided an opportunity for the College to show appreciation to the community partners who have served as co-educators to Meredith students throughout the year.
“Meredith has a rich tradition of working closely with community partners to create dynamic experiential learning opportunities, which allow students to put their learning to practice, whether in service-learning, general education or various internship programs,” Kelly said. “This lunch is our way of saying ‘thanks!’ to the surrounding community for hosting our students in their organizations or schools and for generously sharing their breadth of knowledge.”
Approximately 40 organizations are supporting Meredith service-learning programs during the 2007-08 academic year. These include several local elementary, middle and high schools, as well as Habitat for Humanity, Stop Hunger Now, and Meals on Wheels.
The community partners celebrated at this luncheon support courses at Meredith in which faculty members incorporate service-learning into the class curriculum, either as an option or as a requirement. Faculty members determine a set number of service hours to be completed. Reflection activities and assignments accompany the service experience.
Jean Jackson, Meredith’s vice president for college programs, offered thanks to the community partners on behalf of the College for “helping to educate our students outside the classroom.”
Jackson noted that service-learning experiences help “students discover other gifts” in themselves.
Meredith faculty member Sharon Hill shared a presentation of the service-learning efforts of students in her art education course. Meredith students have worked at Raleigh’s Lacy Elementary School on projects including helping 60 students create a portable mural for the school, one-on-one sessions using art to strengthen learning, and a “literacy through photography” project with English-as-a-Second-Language students.
Students in Hill’s class told her that the experience “helped them discover what teaching is really all about.”
The Community Partners Recognition Luncheon was sponsored by the Meredith College Service-Learning Advisory Committee.
N.C. Human Relations Month Celebrated at Meredith
By Ashley Ellis, ’08
Meredith College co-sponsored the North Carolina Human Relations Commission’s 2008 Human Relations Month Celebration in Belk Dining Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 6. The theme of this year’s celebration was “Celebrate and Embrace North Carolina’s Diverse Cultures.”
N.C. Human Relations Commission Executive Director G. I. Allison began the event by defining human relations as “dealing with the problems and the ills of our society.”
President Maureen Hartford affirmed the mission of the NC Human Relations Commission in her welcome. “We [at Meredith] appreciate providing an environment that upholds difference,” said Hartford.
Ron McElrath, vice chairperson of the NC Human Relations Commission, touched on the importance of human relations. “Not addressing problems is like saying it’s okay to have them,” said McElrath.
Meredith Diversity Council Chair Danny Green and President of the NC-Chapter of the National Association of Human Rights Workers Dick Walz provided perspectives on human relations.
“Value each person in the community for who they are and not who you think they are,” said Green.
Walz said, “As humans, everything we do deals with relations and relationships. My calling is that I’m an advocate for human rights.”
A panel discussion was led by Sally Lind of the N.C. Human Relations Commission. Four Meredith students, Nayely Perez-Huerta, ’09, Kimberly Reese, ’08, Afnan Boutrid, ’08, and Hamida Saleh, ’08, were featured on the panel. They addressed the topic of “Cultural Perspective on Diversity in North Carolina Now and In the Future.” The students gave their opinions of the problems they felt were plaguing North Carolina, and offered solutions.
“The best way to show someone you’re a good person is through your actions,” said Boutrid.
Perez-Huerta focused on the power of and need for education. “Every person deserves an education. Education should be a right,” said Perez-Huerta.
After the student panel, G. I. Allison presented a plaque to President Hartford with a proclamation of thanks from the Human Relations Commission.
The North Carolina Human Relations Commission provides services and programs aimed at improving relationships among all citizens of the state, while seeking to ensure equal opportunities in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, recreation, education, justice and governmental services.