CommUNITY Day Welcomes Students, Promotes Service Learning Opportunities
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?” These words have become a central theme to CommUNITY Day, which is an annual event hosted by Associated Students, Cadena Cultural and Transfer Center, Service Learning Program, and the Umoja Center to welcome students to the spring semester, celebrate African American History Month and promote volunteer opportunities that exist on and off campus.
CommUNITY Day will be held on February 13 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the quad.
“One of the unique features of CommUNITY Day is that students have the opportunity to connect with campus resources and start thinking about ways to get involved on- and off-campus,” said Vincent White, who serves as coordinator in the Cadena Cultural and Transfer Center.
CommUNITY Day is driven by the Fullerton College vision to “transform lives and inspire positive change in the world” and encourages students to give back. Many academic programs, student clubs, and campus resources will have tables on the quad during the event.
Now in its third year, the event also encourages students to learn about volunteer opportunities available through the Fullerton College Service Learning Program. The Service Learning Program gives students the chance to volunteer in the community while gaining an understanding of civic responsibility, said Service Learning Program Coordinator Morgan Kirk.
Students can typically earn 20 to 100 service hours during their participation in the program and are recognized for reaching specific service learning hour milestones, Kirk said. Last academic year, nearly 500 students participated in the program. Kirk is hoping CommUNITY Day will help increase the number of students participating in the program.
“This is a program that helps students grow as individuals and helps bring positive growth to our community,” Kirk said
The program has developed partnerships with more than 50 non-profit organizations throughout Southern California including the Fullerton College Food Bank. The food bank serves as a resource to all students enrolled in at least one class at FC and is run entirely by volunteers and donations. Kirk said many students earn most of their service learning hours by volunteering at the food bank and Fullerton College Disability Support Services. However, many students choose to complete their hours at a non-profit organization within the network of the program’s established partnerships. Some of the non-profit partners will be present at CommUNITY Day, Kirk said.
In addition to earning service learning hours, Kirk said the program offers students the opportunity to reflect on their service learning experience which helps build character and problem solving skills and is essential to building up a student’s sense of value and belonging here at FC and beyond.
For more information on CommUNITY Day visit cadena.fullcoll.edu or to learn more about the Service Learning Program, call 714-992-7178.
