The ICE Chest The Monthly Newsletter of the Inclusion and Community Engagement Center
EXPRESS YOURSELF... September 2012 Welcome Back Roadrunners! It’s exciting to see so many new faces on campus and even more exciting to welcome our returning students to campus. The ICE Chest is published monthly in an effort to not only highlight many of the upcoming programs that we have planned, but to also highlight the students and student organizations that we work closely with on a regular basis. The ICE Center’s purpose is to help build community on our campus and to provide students who have an interest in performing community service work with access to volunteer opportunities. I hope that each of you will take the time to stop by and visit with our staff or just simply come by and relax in our lounge area. This space is meant for you to enjoy. It is our hope that each of you will have a successful and fun experience at UTSA, and we hope that the ICE Center will be a part of that experience and that it will be one that you remember as uplifting and empowering. The graduate assistant team offers the following advice as you begin the new year:
by posting reminders for yourself to make sure everything on your list is accomplished when it needs to be. Begin organizing as soon as possible. Start by organizing your space, whether it's your home, work or school. The purpose of organization is to be able to find, exchange, and evaluate items quickly. Get a planner, calendar or use your smart phone to organize important dates and set reminders for yourself. Get involved and stay involved. Getting involved allows you to become more connected to UTSA. Making new friends with similar interests, it’s what builds the UTSA community. Look into and research all of the different departments and organizations that UTSA has to offer. Try everything you are interested in at least once. Being involved requires organization and time management and this can help you do better in all areas of your life. Success can only come with dedication and persistence. Push on Roadrunners. WE ARE UTSA.
Avoid procrastination by creating a simple to do list by identifying the tasks to be accomplished. -Leslianne Garcia, Vanessa Vela, & Corey Establish a realistic timeline for completing all of Benson your necessary tasks. Stay on top of your timeline
Inclusion and Community Engagement (ICE) Center Staff Yvonne Peña Assistant Dean of Students
Ann Margaret Trujillo Associate Director
Jennifer Rames Associate Director
Corey Benson Graduate Assistant
Vanessa Vela Graduate Assistant
Leslianne Garcia Graduate Assistant
UC 2.01.04 210-458-4770 @UTSA_ICE www.utsa.edu/ice
Cristina Dominguez Program Coordinator
Follow Us: @UTSAvolunteers & Like Us: Facebook.com/ICEatUTSA
Follow us on Twitter @utsavoices “Like� us on Facebook facebook.com/utsavoices E-Mail volunteer@utsa.edu Website www.utsavoices.org
Student Organization Spotlight: VOICES VOICES , the Volunteer Organization Involving Community Education, and Service, is the Sponsored Student Organization for Service at UTSA. Established in 1993, VOICES is one of the largest organizations at UTSA with over 125 active members. VOICES members participate in service projects all over the San Antonio community and on campus each week during the fall and spring semesters. Participants who complete a minimum of 25 service hours/VOICES points are invited to the induction banquet each semester, and incentives are earned by students at the 50, 75, and 125 hour level. Some of our September projects include volunteering with Haven for Hope, building homes at Habitat for Humanity, hosting the second annual Extreme Makeover UTSA! In October, we will also be involved with Window Wars, Golf Cart Parade, and will host a booth during Game Day activities at some football games. VOICES meets Wednesdays at 5:00 p.m. in the UC Harris Room. Please come to a meeting, visit with us in our office UC 1.216, or check us out online at www.utsavoices.org. If you want to have fun and meet new people while making a difference in the community, VOICES is the organization for you!
Volunteer Opportunities Fairs 2012 September 12, 2012 11:00 am — 1:00 pm Downtown Campus Frio St. Commons
September 19, 2012 9:30 am — 1:30 pm Main Campus (1604) UC 1st Floor Corridor Find a way to make a difference this semester! For more information call the
ICE Center at 210-458-4770 or email volunteer@utsa.edu for more information.
Student Spotlight: Charnelle Thompson It was in The Greater 5th Ward Community of Houston, Texas that Charnelle Thompson learned the value of education and the importance of community enrichment through the examples made by her family. Charnelle is entering her fourth year at UTSA majoring in mathematics. She is honored and eager to begin a new chapter this year serving as the President of the Black Student Union, and giving back to an organization that she has learned and gained so much from. Charnelle has been a member of the Black Student Union since her freshmen year. She still remembers BSU, (then known as Umoja), being the first organization to greet and encourage her to get involved on campus. During her following years at UTSA she went on to become a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Women of Honor, Black Student Leadership Council, The National Society of Black Engineers, and University Center Program Council. She has also been blessed to have been able to participate in various conferences offered by the Student Leadership Center, those making the greatest impact; the Movement: An Exploration of Civil Rights trip and LeaderShape. During Leadershape, Charnelle learned to have a healthy disregard for the impossible, to pursue all endeavors and to lead with integrity. After being encouraged by her LeaderShape Family Cluster, “The Texas Avengers”, to always
share her ideas she spoke up about an issue that is very important to her; Voter Registration. Remembering all of the things she has learned over time, through experience and from all of her close friends and families; immediate as well as her extended BSU, SLC and LeaderShape family she is now coordinating the student efforts behind the voter registration drive taking place September 17th – 20th. If you’ve ever met Charnelle you are sure to notice her passion, how much she cares about her loved ones and the consistency in her character. When she isn’t busy you are sure to find her somewhere laughing with friends, joking with friends or trying to find out where they are. As this is a very important election year, Charnelle wants all of her fellow roadrunners to Get Rowdy and Get Registered.
2nd Annual
Extreme Makeover UTSA Edition September 28, 2012 Come be a part of UTSA history by joining in on one of the largest campus beautification projects in UTSA history! Shifts start at 8am and continue until 5pm
Sign up starts Wednesday September 12 In the VOICES office UC III 1.216
Questions or Concerns: please contact the VOICES office 210-458-7291 volunteer@utsa.edu or come by our office UC III 1.216 or attend a VOICES meeting held every Wednesday at 5:00 pm
Community Agencies Gather to Learn About Service-Learning Opportunities at UTSA On August 14th, community partners representing 35 San Antonio community agencies gathered at Café College to learn about the new Service-Learning programs being coordinated through the Inclusion and Community Engagement Center. Participating agencies included Communities in Schools, ArtPace, San Antonio Parks and Recreation, Catholic Charities, and Meals on Wheels, to name a few. The event was designed to introduce community agency partners to UTSA service-learning staff, share our short and long term plans for servicelearning, and let them know how to share their projects and needs with the UTSA community. “The enthusiasm of our community agency partners is inspiring and encouraging” said Jennifer Rames, Associate Director for Service-Learning. “Community partners are educators and
valued members of the service-learning team. They have needs that present opportunities for our students to gain real -world experience and for our faculty to discover new venues for teaching and opportunities for research.” Community agencies who would like to offer service-learning opportunities for UTSA students may fill out forms on our website at www.utsa.edu/ice/sl or email us at servicelearning@utsa.edu. Faculty members who are interested in learning more about the programs and services offered by the Inclusion and Community Engagement Center may set up a meeting with our staff by emailing servicelearning@utsa.edu or calling 210-458-4770.
UTSA staff participate in training on spring break and leadership programs During the week of July 28-August 3, Cristina Dominguez, Program Coordinator for Volunteer Services, attended the Alternative Break Citizenship school (ABCs) hosted by Break Away: The Alternative Break Connection at the University of South Carolina – Upstate campus. The ABCs are weeklong intensive training sessions that combine workshops, discussions, service, reflection, and speakers within an actual alternative break experience. That week Cristina and other participants from universities all over the country partnered with a local community agency, Christmas in Action, to rehabilitate the houses of the elderly homeowners to provide for their continued safety and independence. Cristina came back to UTSA inspired by the dedication of the students who participated in the ABCs and with the enthusiasm to start implementing many of the concepts that she learned. Cristina’s strategic plan for UTSA’s Alternative Spring Break includes more domestic trips for students and eventually an international trip.
national sessions were held exclusively at this location. This session was attended by 63 students from both institutions nearby Champaign as well as institutions as far as the University of Texas at Dallas and Arizona State University. During her stay in Champaign, Jana was also able to visit LeaderShape’s® headquarters and visit with much of the staff, as well as the President of the organization. LeaderShape® is an internationally recognized leadership developThat same week Jana Schwartz, Program Co- ment institute that challenges students to think past what they want to do, and focus on who ordinator for the Student Leadership Center, they want to be. Their vision is a world full of participated as the On-site Coordinator for a national session of the LeaderShape® Institute. people leading with integrity and living in a While UTSA hosts our own campus session for state of possibility. only UTSA students, the LeaderShape® organization offers national sessions held With both of these women working with our stuthroughout the country during the summer dent leaders on campus, look forward to great months for students from a variety of instituthings coming out of the Student Leadership tions. These students typically come from insti- Center and Volunteer Services! tutions that are not able to host their own campus session. Jana has assumed the role of On- For more information about UTSA’s Leadersite Coordinator for both of the LeaderShape® Shape® check out the SLC website http:// Institutes held for UTSA students and it was utsa.edu/slc/leadershape.html this experience that made her an excellent candidate when she applied for the national posiFor more information about UTSA’s ASB check tion. This particular national session was held out the ICE website: http://www.utsa.edu/ice/ in Champaign, Illinois at the Allerton Park and vs/alt_springbreak.html Retreat Center. LeaderShape® has utilized this facility for the past 25 years and originally all
UTSA Volunteer Services
Cristina.Dominguez@utsa.edu www.utsa.edu/ice/vs 458-4770 * UC 1.216 September 2012 Events and Projects: (orange/italics indicate UTSA sponsored event) VOICES: Volunteer Organization Involving Community Education and Service. First VOICES meeting will be September 5 at 5pm in the UC Harris Room. Come by to learn about volunteer events! UTSA Athletics Help get the Alamodome ready for Game Day! Athletics needs volunteers to put 25,000 promotional items on the seats the afternoon prior to the game, September 7 at 4pm. FREE FOOD will be provided for volunteers! Please contact Sam Planto if you are interested: Splanto@nelligansports.com Fall UTSA Volunteer Opportunities Fair Come out to one of our Volunteer Opportunities Fairs! You will learn about volunteer opportunities in the San Antonio area and meet some of the agencies hoping to eliminate social issues in society. Wednesday, September 12, 2012 Frio St. Commons, Downtown Campus 11:00am - 1:00pm Wednesday, September 19, 2012 University Center 1st Floor Corridor, Main Campus 9:30am - 1:30pm Habitat for Humanity College Day! Saturday September 15th, 7:45AM-3:30PM Come out and show your UTSA spirit and help your fellow Roadrunners build a house for low-income families. Other San Antonio colleges will be participating this day including Trinity, Our Lady of the Lake, St. Mary’s, and Alamo Colleges. Contact Cristina.Dominguez@utsa.edu or 458.4770 to reserve spots for you or your student organization. Spots will be given on a first come first serve basis; limited spots may be available. Live music, refreshments, and free lunch will be provided! Roadmap to No Kill Needs You! Thursday, September 20, 2012 at Omni Hote, 9821 Colonnade Blvd. Volunteers will receive a free t-shirt & snack! Join the movement that is saving animals lives by being a volunteer. 2 shift options available: Shift A: 5:30-7:30pm; Shift B 7-9:30pm. If you are interested contact Jessica Beemer, Program Assistant at 210-242-4722.
Dreams Fulfilled Through Music Seeking a volunteer to help the organization develop and maintaining a user friendly, interactive website to help market and grow program. Contact Sharyl Lawn at Wlawn2@satx.rr.com. National Public Lands Day Savanna Restoration Join us on National Public Lands Day, September 29th in planting 5 acres of grassland restoration at Phil Hardberger Park from 7:30am- 12 p.m. For more information contact Kimya McIntosh at 210-207-5320 or kimya.mcintosh@sanantonio.gov. H.U.G. M.E. Ink – New Non-Profit founded by Roadrunner alumni are in need of volunteers/interns: Budget Specialist, Financials Assistant, Corporate Secretary These positions are remote in nature requiring internet access, relevant software proficiency, telephone, email & text availability and reliable transportation. Contact Sharon Luna at 210-275-6140/ business@hugmeink.org. Hispanic Religious Partnership Diaper Bank Looking for UTSA departments or organizations that would be interested in hosting a “Diaper and Baby Item Drive” for their new Diaper Bank. They assist low-income families with Emergency Diaper Assistance and also provide supplemental “My Healthy Child Classes” (parenting classes) that go hand in hand for additional monthly assistance. Contact Claudia Franco at cfranco@hrpch.org 210731-8118 X 205 if you are interested. Austin Film Festival Call for Volunteers! Do you have a love for film and want to help a great organization? Volunteers are needed October 18 – 25. You will have the opportunity to learn about marketing, PR, development, and basic nonprofit management, all while working with a wonderful staff. Call 512-478-4795 for more information or download a volunteer application form at http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/get-involved/ volunteer/. Kids College Club Recruiting College Scholars College Scholars assist students with their homework and academic lessons and then introduce college through various activities and field trips. Service in this club is a 10 month commitment with service hours varying based on member agreement. A living allowance is provided!
For more volunteer opportunities, come to Volunteer Services Office on the Paseo UC 1.216. Set up an individual appointment with the Volunteer Services staff to brainstorm ways for you to get involved! Call 458-4770 or email Cristina.Dominguez@utsa.edu