Anti-Bullying Day at Jefferson Elementary

On Tuesday November 9th, 2010 Muhlenberg students can participate in Anti-Bullying Day at Jefferson Elementary School. Students will go to the school and join students for lunch, snacking and eating, and simply hanging out and having a good time! Each year on this day, Jefferson sees a dramatic decline in bullying due to Muhlenberg students' presence.

Students can go in one of 2 shifts:

10:45am - 12:30pm (12 people)
12:15pm - 1:25pm (12 people)

Transportation is provided! Space is limited! SIGN UP NOW!

“Annual Hunger and Homelessness Events Kick Off”

A local hero is coming to Muhlenberg on Tuesday, November 2^nd and it is an event that you do not want to miss!  Russell “Rooster” Valentini is the Homeless Education Liaison for the Allentown School District and has been working with homeless children in the area for over 20 years.  He has made it his personal mission to ensure that children experiencing homelessness can still attend school and get an education equal to their peers with permanent housing.  He is a talented speaker and will be sharing his experiences with the Muhlenberg community, including the poetry he writes about the children he meets.  Rooster was the recipient of the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY.)  In his nomination letter for this award he was described as having “an uncanny knack of being able to counter resistance and prejudice with the right blend of referring to the law, using common sense, evoking compassion, and insisting on doing the right thing for students.”  This past Sunday the 24^th, you may have seen a cart being wheeled around freshman and sophomore dorms with people selling bagels and hot beverages…the money made from this fundraiser will be used to buy toiletry items for Rooster to give to the children he works with. 

Rooster will be at Muhlenberg on Tuesday, November 2^nd in the Seegers Union Event Space at 7:00 pm. The event is sponsored by Students Have A Real Effect (SHARE) and there is a suggested donation of a toiletry product which will be given to Rooster for the children he works with.

See you on the 2^nd!

- Meghan Butler, Class of 2012

Resource Center Library! Come Check It Out!

The resource center library is located in the Student and Volunteer workspace in the Office of Community Service and Civic Engagement. The library has a lot of great books, DVDs and VHS' from a variety of different topics.

Age groups who could take out materials from the library vary from Pre-K students to items geared toward adults. There are books such as "Los Tres Cerditos; The Three Little Pigs," a bilingual childrens book, and there are movies such as "The Pursuit of Happiness;" a movie about a man and his struggles with homelessness.  There are workbooks for children, and informative books for teens and adults.  Any age group would benefit from checking out the wonderful items in this library!

For more information, stop on down in the Office of Community Engagement and find out how you can contribute or take out a book or movie!

New Program Initiative!

The office is starting a new civic engagement program with the pediatric department at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital in Allentown. The program will consist of storytelling to children ages 2-8, as well as, a teenage component that will vary when volunteers go to the site . The visits will be bi-weekly.  The Office is looking for 2-3 volunteers who are passionate about kids and/or reading with them. This semester, the program is planned for every other Wednesday from 5:00- 6:30PM. For more information or to take part in the program, please email Emily Hirsch at eh245034@muhlenberg.edu to get involved!

A little background on Good Shepherd’s Pediatrics Program:

The program offers the most current therapeutic approaches and state-of-the-art technologies to help children with physical disabilities or injuries live their lives to the fullest. Developmental disabilities served by Good Shepherd’s Pediatrics Program include ADHD, autism, brachial plexus, central auditory processing problems, cerebral palsy, chromosomal abnormalities, developmental coordination disorder, developmental delays, feeding and swallowing disorders, fetal alcohol syndrome, fragile x syndrome, genetic disorders, hearing impairments, juvenile rheumatood arthitis, learning difficulties, motor coordination problems/dyspraxia, muscular dystrophy, pervasive developmental disorder, pronunciation disorders, sensory integration dysfunction, speech/language impairments, spina bifida, spinal muscular atrophy, toe walking, and torticollis.

TAKE PART IN THIS GREAT NEW INITIATIVE! CONTACT eh245034@muhlenberg.edu!!

WELCOME TO THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT!

The year has gotten off to a wonderful start! Weekly Programs are up and running and students are excited for upcoming regional events. As most people know, the Office has moved into a new location equipped with a student program work space. The office has storage capacity and two computers! With 23 fabulous students on staff and multiple volunteer student coordinators, the office is always bubbling with activity!



     
Check out these photos to see our new
space and meet Beth and Eveily!


Beth Halpern, Director

 


Eveily Freeman, Asst. Director





COME BACK SOON FOR MORE EXCITING UPDATES!