Students completing SESP's Certificate in Civic Engagement program in 2010 presented posters of their capstone projects at a reception on June 4. These projects, designed as culminating experiences for second-year students in this two-year program, involve at least 100 hours of community service and a reflective analysis.
Participating students, descriptions of their projects and sponsoring organizations are as follows:
Aaron Beswick, Jean Kim and Leah Martinez
Sponsor: Childcare Network of Evanston
Sponsor: Childcare Network of Evanston
Childcare Network of Evanston: Connecting Families to Early Childhood Services
Collaborating with numerous partner associations of the Childcare Network of Evanston, the project identifies the ways in which Evanston families communicate about early childhood and family services. The group conducted interviews with parents, administrators, social workers and staff of the Childcare Network in order to detail best outreach methods from multiple community perspectives. The project culminated in a video highlighting services utilized in the lives of Evanston families with young children.
Collaborating with numerous partner associations of the Childcare Network of Evanston, the project identifies the ways in which Evanston families communicate about early childhood and family services. The group conducted interviews with parents, administrators, social workers and staff of the Childcare Network in order to detail best outreach methods from multiple community perspectives. The project culminated in a video highlighting services utilized in the lives of Evanston families with young children.
Meredith Bundul, Elizabeth Machesky, Rebecca Stith and Manisha Taparia
Sponsor: Center for Independent Futures
Sponsor: Center for Independent Futures
The Origins of Community Based Living at the Center for Independent Futures
The purpose of this project was to investigate the origins of the Community Living Option developed by the Center for Independent Futures (CIF). The extended research project includes interviews with the organization’s founders, staff and residents. The students synthesized and analyzed these interviews to develop a rich picture of the program’s inception, laying the groundwork for a larger project to assess the quality of care provided by CIF.
The purpose of this project was to investigate the origins of the Community Living Option developed by the Center for Independent Futures (CIF). The extended research project includes interviews with the organization’s founders, staff and residents. The students synthesized and analyzed these interviews to develop a rich picture of the program’s inception, laying the groundwork for a larger project to assess the quality of care provided by CIF.
Alyssa Detwiler and Ehren Dohler
Sponsor: Connections for the Homeless, Inc.
Sponsor: Connections for the Homeless, Inc.
Learning Exchanges: Developing Participant Capacity
This project with Connections for the Homeless explored methods of developing mutually beneficial interactions within the organization. The students were interested in empowering the participants towards becoming a more integral part of the day-to-day functioning at Connections. They discovered the potential to shift the culture of the organization toward a model that focuses more on the assets than the deficiencies within each participant.
This project with Connections for the Homeless explored methods of developing mutually beneficial interactions within the organization. The students were interested in empowering the participants towards becoming a more integral part of the day-to-day functioning at Connections. They discovered the potential to shift the culture of the organization toward a model that focuses more on the assets than the deficiencies within each participant.
Valerie Green, Curie Lee, Chris Nho and Jessica Russo
Sponsor: Foster Reading Center
Sponsor: Foster Reading Center
Connected: Bringing Together Tutors and Teachers for Youth at Foster Reading Cent
The purpose of this project was to better prepare and educate Foster Reading Center tutors as a way to advance the achievement of the youth in the after-school program. The students researched childhood development and best practices for student tutors and in conjunction with Foster Reading Center specifics produced a tutor training manual and teacher questionnaire. Both will allow the Reading Center to better serve and educate Evanston’s youth.
The purpose of this project was to better prepare and educate Foster Reading Center tutors as a way to advance the achievement of the youth in the after-school program. The students researched childhood development and best practices for student tutors and in conjunction with Foster Reading Center specifics produced a tutor training manual and teacher questionnaire. Both will allow the Reading Center to better serve and educate Evanston’s youth.
Kelli Marks, Veronica Morales, Naadia Owens, Jerred Roggensack, Rebecca Swan, Esther Wang, Jessica Woll and Anne Wong
Sponsors: Evanston Township High School, Evanston Community Foundation, Northwestern University Alumni Association
Sponsors: Evanston Township High School, Evanston Community Foundation, Northwestern University Alumni Association
EMERGE: Evanston Township High School (ETHS) Sophomore Leadership Program
The EMERGE program aims to develop leadership skills among ETHS sophomores and encourages them to use these skills to positively impact their community. The students developed curriculum for eight monthly workshops, facilitated these workshops, mentored one group project and created sustainable means for continuing the program. The workshops focus on developing leadership skills and completing a hands-on project to benefit ETHS or the community.
The EMERGE program aims to develop leadership skills among ETHS sophomores and encourages them to use these skills to positively impact their community. The students developed curriculum for eight monthly workshops, facilitated these workshops, mentored one group project and created sustainable means for continuing the program. The workshops focus on developing leadership skills and completing a hands-on project to benefit ETHS or the community.
Last Modified: 6/22/10