From left to right, Nolan Fernandez (Engineering), Devon Roller (Human Services), Michael VanDeusen (Fire Science.)

It has been a busy semester for our SL Student Leaders and it’s not over yet! As part of their positions as Student Leaders, this team represents BCC Service-Learning at conferences and community events (see older posts for details), mentors first time service-learning students through off campus service site visits and hosting monthly peer to peer VENT sessions for fellow engaged students to confront challenges and refuel to improve their quality of service to the community.

Each student leader also follows their passion to serve in other areas throughout the semester. Nolan is teaching a Robotic After School Program at Crosby Elementary School in Pittsfield. Michael is coordinating BCC student volunteers for the Berkshire Immigrant Center’s upcoming Immigrants’ Day. Devon joined the BCC Green Team to help promote and involve fellow students in the college’s first Green Fair.

Click here to read SL Student Leader Reflections from Devon and Michael.

Bridging the Gap is a great program, housed at the Salvation Army in Pittsfield and North Adams, it serves youth from ten to sixteen years of age who have been sentenced to this program as opposed to lock up. The Program Director, Carol Hildebrand, is very welcoming to Service Learning students and cares deeply about the youth referred to this program. She introduces these at risk students to subjects that are pointed towards their future success including topics such as healthy nutrition, quitting smoking cigarettes, job searching tips, facts about mental disorders such as depression and anxiety, reducing underage drinking, building healthy relationships, and growing up drug free.

Presently, two BCC Service-Learning students are volunteering at Bridging the Gap. Marie Peckman is doing a service project at the Pittsfield site for Intro to Sociology with Colin Adams and Brandon Hurst is volunteering in North Adams for credit in his Intro to Psychology course with Geoffrey Tabor.

Service-learning students who choose this placement work closely with these at-risk teens in discussions and other activities. Working here would be a great stepping stone of experience for any future internships or job opportunities for BCC students. The service-learning students who have participated in this program in both the past and present absolutely love it and encourage future students to choose this site as a placement.

Service-Learning students Nolan Fernandez and Jen Viola volunteer under the guidance of BCC Engineering faculty, John Tatro and Crosby School-Community Coordinator, Donna Baker, to bring Lego Robotics to 4th graders every Wednesday at Crosby Elementary School in Pittsfield.

Now in his second semester teaching these young students and a Student Leader at BCC, Nolan reflects, “This is a great way to pass on what I know to these kids. I have learned to have more patience and understanding as a result of this project. I like being able to create a atmosphere where we all can learn and work with each other.” Not an easy task when faced with a group of kids at 4pm who have been in school since 8am. But Nolan says, “The kids really enjoy it. What I think they like most is being able to control the robot. They have an idea, tell the robot how to do it and then watch it happen. It’s a rewarding experience for everyone involved.” Based on student reflections, both the elementary school and college students benefit from these mentoring programs by gaining an increased sense of self-efficacy and student engagement.

Created 30 years ago as a soup kitchen in downtown Pittsfield, the Harvest Table now serves 125 people every Tuesday night at the First United Methodist Church across from City Hall. Dinner is free and open to all.

Thanks to creative volunteer chef, BCC student and Culinary Arts major, Henry Parson,  the meals are different every week. With the assistance of  a small army of volunteers, the food is made and served restaurant style.

Julie, another BCC student, volunteers to cook and serve at the Harvest Table as part of a Service-Learning project in her Intro to Sociology class with BCC faculty Colin Adams. She says, “People are really friendly here. As a Human Service major, it’s a perfect opportunity to understand how people can work together and get along especially when they come from different backgrounds.”

This Saturday three BCC Service-Learning Student Leaders and 15 other BCC students from MSSO and SGA are going to Westfieled State College for a one-day conference called The Diversity Summit. This exciting event travels to colleges and universities around the nation. We are all looking forward to being a part of this day!

Diversity Summit @ Westfield State

Check out the YouTube video on this link. Maybe you can go to the next one!

Congrats to Devon Roller and Michael VanDeusen on their outstanding worskhop “Self Care for the Engaged Student” presented at the 16th Annual Student Leadership Conference at MCLA on Saturday, February 5th in North Adams, MA.

Save the dates!

February 22, March 23 & April 19

Get together and VENT with other students engaged in Service-Learning, volunteer work, clubs and organizations. Sessions lead by BCC Service-Learning Student Leaders.

Are you taking a Service-Learning class this semester? 36 courses and 16 faculty are offering Service-Learning! Click on the course list (under Pages at top left) to see if you are enrolled in a Service-Learning class.

If you are interested in doing a Service-Learning project at a local community organization or school (projects listed under Pages by course subject) for course credit you must sign up!

Attend one MANDATORY Service-Learning Orientation meeting. THIS WEEK!

All meetings will take place in the Field Building, Second Floor, Room 202 – Computer Lab next to TRIO.

Mark your calendar!

• Tues. Feb. 15 (11am – 12pm)

• Wed. Feb. 16 (1pm – 2pm)

Bring the following things with you to Service-Learning Orientation:

1. Photo ID
2. Social Security Card
3. Student ID
4. Course Schedule