In response to a 1996 community needs assessment conducted by the United
Way, the University expanded its service-learning efforts to help meet
a range of identified needs in the Township of Montclair, NJ. Consistent
with the North Essex United Way community needs assessment, the Service-Learning
Program targeted the issues of academic achievement, alcohol/substance
abuse, the digital divide, at-risk youth, and services to seniors. Our
initiatives are sorted by issue area in order to provide a continuity
of service to partners over time. We also believe that the social issues
that are addressed by our partners are best attended by a variety of
disciplines and specialties working together in partnership. Below is
a list of our current issue areas. Click on a link to learn more about
our community partners in each issue area and the projects our service-learning
students are working on at each site.
Issues on Aging / Services to
Seniors
It is within our Aging issue area that our partnerships and student
projects are most varied. Students enrolled in a course that aligns itself
with this issue area choose from a range of sites and service projects
to find a fit with their learning goals and personal talents, values and
interests. Inside this link is a list of our community partner organizations
that provide services, care or housing to senior citizens. Click
here for more information
Literacy and Urban Education
The Service-Learning Program is engaged in a number of projects in our
partnership with the Montclair Board of Education and the Montclair
Public Schools. Our Literacy and Urban Education projects are more centralized
than our aging projects, as they mostly involve central programs that
take place at a number of sites throughout the district.
The centerpiece of our partnership has been the School/Community Tutorial
Program, a partnership that began in 1995. Here we have collaborated
with the Department of Instruction as well as district teachers and
literacy specialists at MSU to develop strategies to incorporate university
students into after-school and in-class tutoring and literacy support.
In the current academic year, more than 200 MSU students, under the
direction of our program and six faculty members, will serve as Reading
Champions and tutors in the Montclair Public Schools, where MSU students
are granting two books per month to each participating STARS student.
A total of approximately 500+ MSU students will be providing service
to Montclair Public School students in this and other projects district-wide,
including special education programs and the Writers’ Room at
Montclair High School and Glenfield Middle School, throughout this academic
year, and we hope our partnership and commitment continues to grow.
Click here for more information
Digital Divide
This project, the TEAM (Technology, Education, Access and Mentoring)
program of the United Way of North Essex, is designed to close the digital
divide that threatens the academic, social and economic future of our
children and impacts low-income families. The digital divide is already
affecting the economic stability of families in our area, as individuals
cannot find meaningful work because of lack of computer skills. The TEAM
program will ensure that every family will have access to “information
tools” as TEAM provides recycled, personal computers in the home,
creates Computer Learning Centers in our neighborhoods, and connects families
to resources locally in our community and globally through the Internet.
Click here for more information
Substance Abuse Prevention
Students working in our substance abuse prevention issue area are enrolled
in courses such as Health Psychology and Perspectives on
Drugs, and they all perform their service at The Boys and Girls Club
of Clifton. Click here for more information
Conflict Resolution
Students working in this issue area come from our Legal Studies Department
and are enrolled in the course, Conflict and its Resolution.
Here too, we work closely with the Montclair Public Schools, providing
free conflict resolution workshops and training to Middle and High School
students. Click here for more information
Health and Wellness
Students participating in this issue area are enrolled in the course
Personal Health Issues and they perfume their service by participating
in the Wellness Education programs of the Wellness Center at MSU. To learn
more about the Wellness Center at MSU and what services our students perform
with there, click on the link above. Click here
for more information
Community Leadership and Mentoring
This issue area is primarily a project of our Freshman Leadership Learning
Community. Freshman student leaders in this program serve as mentors to
area middle school students perceived to be at-risk academically or socially.
The primary goals of this program are to expose the students to leaders
who have benefited from leadership programs; to help the students develop
their own personal styles of leadership and leadership skills; to provide
contact with MSU students who maintain healthy lifestyles; to build a
secure support network, and; to acquaint students with leaders from different
cultures/backgrounds. In addition to this project, our Freshman Leadership
Learning Community participates in environmental, intergenerational, and
digital divide activities. Click here for more
information
Service-Learning Program
313 Morehead Hall
Center for Community Based Learning Montclair State University
1 Normal Avenue, Montclair, NJ MSU main page
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