Service Learning Partner List fixed plus add ons

Hello Class. Here is the corrected Community Partner list. Please look over some of the new opportunities. Based on class discussion and intro blog postings, I think you will all like some of the new stuff.

Service Learning Opportunities and Partners for Spring 2010

Service Learning Community Partners

Service Learning = Academic Knowledge + Community Service + Critical Reflection

Included below is a comprehensive list of community partners (organizations and programs with SL opportunities). Please remember that you will be working in groups, so choose accordingly. Any of these are acceptable and you are encouraged to create your own WST inspired project. You may work with organizations/programs not on this list, but I must approve them first.

ON-CAMPUS PARTNERS

Resource Guide, Website, Curriculum Development
Create a website/resource booklet/pamphlet/guide (depending on your skills or interests) to raise awareness about a particular issue related to women. You might consider contacting some of our community partners to see if they have needs. Otherwise, you can create something to raise awareness around campus or in particular/surrounding communities.). If you are web savvy, you might find that one of our community partners (or another organization) need a website or website assistance. If you create a website or other resource, you must have a distribution plan or strategy so your target audience can access your information.

Activist Calendars and Events
There are many notable dates this semester to revolve activism around. In the past, we put together calendars of activism for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence and another for Women's History Month, which included suggestions for each day of the month to promote and participate in social change. Links to online sites and armchair activisms ("mini"-activisms, including web activism, awareness-raising, and other things people can fit into their day), as well as events related to such themes, make useful activist tools that can be posted to our Women's Studies website, listservs, and around campus. Organize an event, a display, or something to commemorate one of these days; work with other classmates or student organizations. Be creative!

UCF Victim Services
UCF Victim Services always has opportunities for involvement. Their formal training for Victim Advocates is offered in the Spring. If you are interested in working with VS, visit their website for more information: http://victimservices.ucf.edu

Animal Safehouse Program of Brevard
Leandra Preston (one of our WST Faculty) has been working on developing a foster network for pets of women seeking shelter at domestic violence shelters in Brevard County (either Serene Harbor in Palm Bay or the Salvation Army DV Shelter in Cocoa). Links between domestic violence and animal abuse and the important relationship between people and their pets demand this type of service. She is working from the ground up, but there are incredible resources available. She needs help developing materials to attract potential fosters, fundraising for cages, food, medicine, etc., letters to develop partnerships and general help. The program that inspired her (one of the best): http://www.rchumanesociety.org/programs/safehouse.php . More information about these programs through the U.S. Humane Society: http://www.hsus.org/hsus_field/first_strike_the_connection_between_animal_cruelty_and_human_violence/safe_havens_for_animals_/. If you are interested in working on this program, contact her at lpreston@mail.ucf.edu.

Hidden Treasure Fellowship, Assist Abused Women and Children
Contact: Debbie Day Braceland; email: hiddentreasurefarm@bellsouth.net; cell 407-435-4758
The organization and needs are described by their founder as follows:

“I am an advocate and have a small shelter on a farm in Sorrento, FL, by Mt Dora in Lake County called Hidden Treasure Fellowship ministry that I have been running for over 10 years. My job as an advocate is to walk along side our guests and help and support them with whatever they need that day. We have a farm with a variety of animals which helps our guests heal and gives them a fun and simple, down to earth environment to live in while they get back on their feet. There are so many things I need help with I don't know where to begin. We have lots of work projects on the farm. I need help with fundraising. We need help cleaning the shelter. And working with children that have been abused. I could plan projects in the Lake Mary area or Sanford. Most of our guests come from Seminole County. Our farm is about 20 minutes from I-4 and Rt. 46 in Sanford. We have a lot of children who have been abused that we are trying to work with. Basically showing them love by listening to them, and taking them on special activities. We took a bus load of 20 to the beach this week. All children from the same extended family. This is the 5th year we have taken them to the beach. They call it their vacation. It is the closest thing to a vacation they have ever experienced. This year one of the children stepped foot in the ocean and looked across the vast expanse of water and beauty. She asked me what country we were in? That reminded me why we do this trip.”

Recognitions will be made (where appropriate).

CourtWatch Program (Courtwatcher)
Visit http://www.courtwatchflorida.org/ for more information.
Courtwatch’s mission is to monitor the domestic violence cases in the Orange and Seminole County, Florida court systems to insure accountability by the system (judges, prosecutor, public defender, etc) and to make sure perpetrators are held accountable for their actions while victims are not re-victimized by the process. CourtWatchers observe the proceedings and record their impartial observations. Data from these questionnaires will be compiled to present to the Court and to the media. Corrective actions will be recommended (where needed)

Girl Scouts many volunteer opportunities are available through Girl Scouts; find a local group and organize a cool project related to our class topics. http://www.girlscouts.org/


You Organize!
Come up with your own project ideas, work with others, be creative. Projects must be approved in advance.


CAMPUS ORGS and ACTIVISM
You can find out more about these organizations, including contact information, at the Office of Student Involvement website: http://www.osa.ucf.edu/clubsorgs/database/database.html)
•Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA)
For more information, email st.colombo@gmail.com.
• VOX (Voices of Planned Parenthood)
For information and to become involved, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vox_ucf/ and/or contact Caridad Cruz at ccruz1017@yahoo.com ; MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/voxucf
• UCF/Orlando NOW
For more information and to become involved, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NOWUCF/ , email Vanessa Bernstein at violynn879@yahoo.com; MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/noworlando
• Codepink: Women for Peace
For more information and to become involved, go to:
http://www.myspace.com/codepinkucf ; email Annie Warshaw at xofashionkillaxo@aol.com
• GLBSU (Orlando)/ UCF ALLIES Program
For more information, visit their website: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~ucfglbsu/connect.html
• American Association of University Women, UCF Chapter
For more information, contact: Elizabeth Dellner at sinfulpeach@gmail.com
• Feminist Agenda Radio
For more information, contact Debbie Bernacett at debbieucf@aol.com
o Men Against Rape,
For more information, contact Ross Templeton: ross.templeton@gmail.com



COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS and ACTIVISM
**Visit the websites of these organizations before contacting them, since most have volunteer guidelines and information available on their website***

ORLANDO
• Young Women Leaders Program
http://www.cah.ucf.edu/womensstudies/YWLP/Home.html
contact me at jeaperez@mail.ucf.edu; 407-823-6502
The Young Women Leaders Program is a mentoring program sponsored by the UCF Women's Studies Program. YWLP originated at the University of Virginia, and UCF has launched the program in the Orlando community. YWLP promotes middle school girls' leadership abilities, pairing collegiate women with middle school girls. In mentoring pairs and small groups of Big and Little Sisters, participants focus on learning competence and autonomy, independent thinking, empowerment, self-esteem, and encouraging girls to think about their futures. Mentoring sessions run in the fall and the spring.

• Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando (and surrounding areas)
www.ppgo.org (local); www.plannedparenthood.org (national)
contacts: Kim Riffle, kriffle@ppgo.org , 407-246-1788

• Equality Florida
http://www.eqfl.org/
contact: Joe Saunders, joe@eqfl.org;
Equality Florida is our statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights organization working to change Florida law so that no-one suffers harassment or discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.

• SOAR (Speaking Out About Rape)
www.soar99.org
contact: info@soar99.org ; 407-898-0693
SOAR (Speaking Out About Rape) runs national awareness, education and prevention programs to empower survivors of sexual violence and enhance the public's understanding and acceptance of rape victims.
o Don't Skirt the Issue, Orlando
www.dontskirttheissue.com
Now represented by SOAR. Visit the DTSI for more information about what you can do.

• Ten Thousand Villages, Winter Park, FL
Contact: Jennifer Trombino, manager.orlando@tenthousandvillages.com 407-644-8464 http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/php/stores.festivals/store.volunteer.php?store_id=620 Ten Thousand Villages is a fair trade organization that works with artisans globally to determine fair prices on goods that it sells in its local Winter Park store. They are always looking for help on the sales floor and cashiering, especially now that sales are picking up in fall. As well, the manager is interested in developing programs to encourage college students and children to shop fair trade. She is interested in projects that include lesson plans for kids or college students and advertising/awareness campaigns on campus.

• Sexual Assault Treatment Center (SATC)
Kitty Adler: 407-228-6050

• BETA Center works with teen mothers and at-risk families offering a wide range of services to support children and families and prevent child abuse and neglect. For information about volunteer opportunities please contact: Gloria Lewis at glewis@betacenter.org or 407-277-1942 ext. 157.


GLOBAL PARTNERS

Ark Foundation: Center for Women's Leadership and Empowerment
Contact: Angela Dwamena-Aboagye; email: adaboagye@yahoo.com
The Ark Foundation is a human rights, advocacy-based, non-profit NGO founded, registered and based in Ghana, West Africa. Its primary purpose is to seek the protection and promotion of the human rights of women and children. The Ark offers to marginalized, abused, and victimized women, and children, a refuge of safety from where the individual may realize their own strength to face again the challenges of this world. The Ark strives to enable and empower individuals to live their lives without fear of violence or oppression from another human being. Please visit their website for more information.
P.O Box AT 1230 Achimota - Accra
Ghana - West Africa
Tel: (233 - 21) 511610
Fax: (233 - 21) 511382
Office Location: Number 13, Bluegate, Haatso - ECOMOG Road. GA District, Ghana - West Africa
Planters of the Home (Abalimi Bezekhaya)
http://www.abalimi.org.za/
Contact: Rob Small, info@abalimi.org.za ; phone: +27(21)371-1653
Mailing Address: PO Box 44, Observatory, Cape Town, 7935, South Africa
NGO focusing consistently on direct poverty alleviation through micro-organic vegetable gardening among the poor.