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Students reach out, volunteer in Alabama |
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Thursday, 26 March 2009 |
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By CARL CRITZ KINGSTON - “You all clean up pretty well,” said professor Gail Faris as she greeted her honors colloquium students on Tuesday. It was their first class together since returning from Birmingham, Ala. as part of the University of Rhode Island (URI), honors program’s alternative spring break with Habitat for Humanity.
The program, which integrates service learning into the curriculum at URI, is rapidly gaining momentum behind a series of trips like Faris’ and other civic endeavors.
“We know from experience that this kind of academic programming works with the students,” Faris said. “In the next couple of years we will try to expand this program of service learning on campus.”
The effect on the students was immediately noticeable. Only two weeks ago the lecture hall was hushed as students filed in for class. Now it was buzzing with energy as they began to dissect their experiences in Birmingham together.
“I think its great that we left as students, and came back as friends,” said Matt Adams. “All types of people that wouldn’t normally hang out have become friends now.”
This class was special because it was the first one to be conducted by students. Evan Hunt and Kristen D’entremont were the first to lead the reflections, which will make up the remainder of the semester’s classes, and began the class by playing a round of catch phrase, a game they often played on the trip.
“I saw a different kind of poverty,” said Samantha Turner, “unlike that of New York City and other urban areas.” Turner also said that within the group she saw the dedication of the volunteers. “It was great to see so much growth in the group, especially when no one wanted to leave the work site at the end,” said volunteer Michelle Carracia.
The team experienced the evolution of a house as it was constructed before their eyes. This month, part of Habitat Birmingham’s projects were funded in part by “building on faith”, a Christian organization. Some were caught off guard by the religious approach of the residents. “People are very positive there,” Adams said. There is a bigger sense of community there, I wish New England would incorporate that style.”
“It’s always exciting to have a group return to us” said Jennifer Smith, Director of Volunteer Services at Habitat Birmingham. “When the site supervisor heard Gail’s group was coming back he got very excited.”
The URI team was the largest group of the week, and they were split into two. One was located in Shelby County on the outskirts of Birmingham. The other site was within Jefferson County itself. They stayed in Fellowship Hall, a church that was converted by Habitat into a volunteer center.
The students also learned some construction Habitat, fundamentals, guided by their site supervisors Geronimo Almanza, Milton Barnes, and Americorps member Brian Robbins. “Who knew we could have that much fun, you know, roofing and siding?” said one student.
They also discovered that Habitat was much more than just building a house. “I’d definitely like to up my game as far as service is concerned,” said Mark Scialla. He was inspired by a comment Milton Barnes made to him as they were up on the roof of their house. “He said ‘If the world doesn’t benefit from you being here, it’s your fault.’”
“Learning Milton’s and Geronimo’s past, seeing that they are still doing something that helps people, and that’s what they love, teaching people how to do stuff they’ve never done before,” Adams said.
Robbins, the group’s Americorps liaison, spent time in Zambia with the Peace Corps, and then with Americorps and Habitat for Humanity. He is a man who has taken his twenties and dedicated himself to that cause, Faris said.
Jami Halpern said that although the group had a positive experience, she said they were lucky to have really good recipient families to work with. “Brian had said at other times Habitat recipient families were not as grateful, and expressed a sense of entitlement when they were on the site.”
At each site the students worked alongside the recipient families, part of what Habitat calls a “sweat equity”. Each family is required to work at least 300 hours on the construction of their home and attend 10 hours of homeownership education workshops. In turn the house is sold to the family with a zero interest mortgage.
Many students said they were inspired by the work they did to consider changes in their own lives, and possibly career paths. “I almost contemplated not doing a full time job after this, and instead looking to do something like Americorps locally,” said Ryan Kilpatrick. Several students also felt inspired to do something for their own communities as well.
Donna Gardiner, the honors program administrator, said that going to Alabama was a big deal for her, not as much for the work but getting into the community, and seeing the reality of the poor in America.
“I got a lot out of it even though I’m not in the same age group as the class,” Gardiner said.
“Having been on four trips in the past four years, the biggest thing I came away with is the absolute value of URI students,” Faris said. “I have never been disappointed. Their willingness to suspend judgment and their work ethic shows that the quality of the students keeps this program going.”
Chris Lombardozzi has begun a blog dedicated to the alternative spring break, in an effort to collaborate the group’s scattered information and pictures from the trip. He also said he will use the page to promote service learning at the University and at large.
“It’s important to remember that socially aware work is a marathon, not a sprint,” said Ric McIntyre, URI honors program director to the assembled group. “I can see you’re all fired up from this experience. You’ve got to work hard to sustain that energy.”
McIntyre said that the success of service learning within the honors program, as well as bringing together such a variety of students with different backgrounds, will continue in the future.
Faris hopes that as her students go on to become professionals, they will bring the fortitude they have developed into their respective communities. “The more exposure students get to the concepts of service learning, the more committed they will be to a life of civic engagement after they graduate.”
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Last Updated ( Friday, 03 April 2009 )
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