Beyond Expectations In its debut, the FILL MY BACKPACK 5K RUN/WALK became the School of Education’s biggest community engagement event ever and raised $5,153 for the Inter-faith Food Shuttle’s Backpack Buddies Program.
A
B
IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR
AMONG THE RUNNERS WERE: (A) Dr. Hycy Prince Bull, chair of the SOE’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and his son, Prince Hycy Bull Jr. (B) Dr. Kisha Daniels, associate professor in Education Leadership, with her son, Lexx T. Daniels, who went on to win the event with the best time. (C) Mitchell Moody and his dad, Dr. Eddie Moody, chair of the SOE’s Department of Allied Professions (D) Dr. Cheresa Clemons, event organizer.
C
28
D
TEACHING MATTERS SPRING 2014
“Each week the program supplies backpacks containing six balanced meals and two snacks to sustain more than 470 children in the Durham Public Schools (DPS) over the weekend throughout the school year,” said event organizer Dr. Cheresa Clemons. The run/walk took place Sept. 28, with more than 400 people participating as runners, walkers, cheerers, volunteers and spectators. “We had such a great time,” said Clemons. “Our participants included university faculty, staff, students and administrators. There were DPS teachers and students, city and county councilmen, and our corporate sponsors from Pepsi, Walmart, Michael Jordan Nissan, Omega Sports, Smoothie King, Subject2Change, Whole Foods, the NCCU Police Department, the Durham County Office of the Sheriff, Dream Studios, Millenium Hotels and Resorts, and the Durham YMCA.” The project began as a community engagement activity in several courses taught by Clemons. “I wanted my students to study the correlation between student hunger and academic success. I wanted them to understand their role as agents of social change. This is also about the SOE being a role model of service to the community,” explained Clemons. “NCCU has a proud tradition of community involvement, and I wanted to offer my students the opportunity to serve the community in a way that would benefit many of the students they were teaching.” Clemons relayed her ideas to her students in threeclasses: EDU 3030: Diversity, Pedagogy and Social Change, EDU 3180: Healthful Living Education in Elementary Schools, and EDU 3210: Curriculum I: Art, Music and Drama. The students were excited. “I wasn’t sure what would happen, but the results exceeded our expectations,” said Clemons. “My students were thrilled. Dean Wynetta Lee was thrilled. Everyone involved with the event was so pleased and proud. Now, because of its success, this will be an annual event. Our second 5K run/walk is already scheduled for September 27, 2014, and we cannot wait to see all of our old and new buddies from the community for this great cause.”