August 1,
2005
A Lesson in Community
Students connect to city through service programs
rnab Datta '06 had it all worked out. He'd spend the summer before his senior year getting a firsthand look at big league politics as an intern in Washington, D.C. At least that was the plan until he heard about the Urban Fellows program and decided that Rochester, not the Beltway, was the place for him.
The Princeton, N.J., native spent 10 weeks this summer as a legislative intern at Rochester's City Hall where he got a crash course in local government and gained what he describes as a deeper understanding of the challenges facing urban areas.
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| Arnab Datta '06 says his Urban Fellows experience helped him realize there are so many opportunities available locally to students who want to make a difference. |
"The experience has opened my eyes to see how interesting it can be to work in local government, an avenue I'd never considered," says Datta, who is majoring in political science, math, and philosophy. "Most people think of local government as trash collection and snow removal, but obviously there are lots of important public policy issues handled locally. This internship has allowed me to really get my hands dirty and to work directly on important legislation."
Now in its fourth year, Urban Fellows offers undergraduates from Rochester and schools across the country the chance to immerse themselves in one particular outreach project and to connect with the local community. Datta is one of 18 students who participated in the program, a joint effort between the University and several community leadership organizations.
To help promote outreach efforts such as this one, the College Dean of Students Office recently developed the Rochester Center for Community Leadership. Students can visit www.rochester.edu/college/rccl to learn more about the various service programs available.
"At Rochester we encourage our students to learn what they love and to give where they live," says Jody Asbury, College dean of students. "The Center for Community Leadership is another way we can connect students to their community and encourage them to become active citizens during their college years and in the future."
Students participating in the 2005 Urban Fellows Program spent four days a week out in the field, working at a specific site location or on assignment. This year's projects included literacy activities for children, urban planning for local neighborhoods, a sports education program for Hispanic youth, and a campaign to address teen homelessness, among others.
The fellows also attended workshop sessions each week led by Rochester faculty members that covered a range of topics such as race, health care, education, and the criminal justice system. They also made visits to health clinics, city organizations, local schools, government offices, and other sites to connect with local leaders and see firsthand the impact those issues have on the lives of residents.
J'Mir Cousar, a Take Five scholar and neuroscience major, spent the summer developing a diabetes support group for primarily African-American patients at Jefferson Family Medicine as well as analyzing quality care issues related to diabetes management. Cousar says the program provided him with a more complete picture of urban life and made him feel more connected to the Rochester community.
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| J'mir Cousar, a Take Five scholar, worked to develop a support group this summer for diabetes patients at Jefferson Family Medicine through the Urban Fellows program. |
"This program gives you the background, so you learn the history behind urban issues and how complicated those issues can be. At the same time, it helps you realize that you can have some impact on those immediately around you and on the issues affecting local communities," says Cousar.
Community service is a longstanding tradition at the College. About 70 percent of undergraduates participate in service initiatives, including freshmen who are introduced to outreach opportunities during Wilson Day, an annual orientation event. For such efforts, Who Cares magazine rated the University among the top 15 colleges in service activity.
"The relationships established through Wilson Day will continue throughout the year, offering students a chance to get a more intensive introduction to community service," says Urban Fellow Patricia Waters '06, this year's Wilson Day coordinator.
Another resource available to those who are interested in volunteering is the Community Service Network (CSN), a student-run group that places more than 400 students each year in community service sites. Each month the network focuses on and raises awareness about a specific social issue and oversees initiatives that range from housing renovations to family services to environmental action to Alternative Spring Break programs. This fall, the group plans to introduce a new tutoring program based in the Rochester City School District.
"We let students know what opportunities are available, and we work to match the opportunities to students' interests and career goals," says John Borek, senior advisor to the Community Leadership Center. "For us, there's an emphasis on ensuring each student is engaged in meaningful and useful work—work that advances both the student as well as the agency."
To learn more about CSN, visit http://sa.rochester.edu/csn/index.html, contact Borek at jborek@admin.rochester.edu, or attend an information meeting on Monday, September 12, at 6 p.m. in Wilson Commons 510.
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