"Beyond Our Backyard" Community Service Event Encourages Students to Match Passions with Purpose

By Alexandra Wilson

"Match your passions with your purpose," said Jain Ruvidich-Higgins, director of the Office of Service Learning and Community Outreach, speaking to an audience of students, faculty, and community partners at the "Beyond our Backyard: A Community Orientation at UMass Boston" event. Held on February 19, the initiative was part of the nationwide Raise Your Voice Student Action Campaign.

Sponsored by Campus Compact, a nationwide partnership of college and university presidents dedicated to the community duties of higher education, and the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Raise Your Voice campaign seeks to engage college students in community service and political engagement. Each February, during a "Week of Action" beginning on Presidents' Day, over 200 college campuses across the country participate in events to involve students in politics and the community.

"We really believe in the importance of humanitarian action," said Chancellor Jo Ann Gora, "... and in the importance of the university playing a role in the community."

In order to further engage UMass Boston students in that role, panelists on youth development, the environment, and hunger and homelessness spoke at the town meeting–style event. The panelists included both students and faculty members and illustrated the importance of combining classroom work with community partnerships and outreach.

"Getting yourself out into the community as a researcher can really start to build connections that you never knew existed before," said Rob Beattie, associate director of the Environmental Studies Program. His case in point is Leah Ross, a senior in the program. Ross received a grant from the National Science Foundation for Project Playsafe, a project that combines her classroom studies with her interest in children. Ross will test the surface soil of 135 Massachusetts playgrounds for heavy metals such as lead and arsenic to determine the safety of the areas. Ross feels that students emphasize the skills they've learned by participating in the community.

Ruvidich-Higgins agrees. "It's finding a way for students to connect what they're doing in the classroom with the community."

John Huth, student in the College of Public and Community Services, feels that he gets more than college credit for his community involvement.

"It's a great experience for them and it's a great experience for me," he says of his work as a tutor at the Home for Little Wanderers.

The Home for Little Wanderers is just one of the many community partnerships that were represented in the panel; also represented were The Food Project, Community Classroom Project with Simmons College School of Social Work, Columbia Point Community Partnership, and the Pine Street Inn. Other community partners present were the Boys and Girls Club, Big Brother Association, JumpStart, and the Neponset River Group.

Chancellor Gora hopes that this event will encourage students to engage in activities in the community.

Image: Students listen to program speakers discussing ways to give back to the commuity through research, advocacy, and volunteer work at the February 19 event. (Photo by Harry Brett)

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