ENGAGE – Wesleyan University

Senior Bucket Lists are on bigger to-do lists this week…we heard rumors of a group of seniors who were, as part of their Senior Bucket Lists, “Bonding.” Bonding is a Senior Ritual where a group of students wearing sunglasses slowly roll up in a car blasting the James Bond theme song. As the unsuspecting students on the sidewalk turn to look at the car, the Bonding students slowly pull down their windows, and peel away. Mysteriousness abounds.

More friendly and less intimidating to-do’s are outlined in the Middletown Eye’s annual article, “Once Again: The Midd You Missed.” In the article, Wesleyan Professor of Biology and Middletown Eye Blogger Steven Devoto details a series of activities, eateries, and sights to be seen before you leave Middletown (forever? for the summer?). We’re especially partial to venturing out to Vecchito’s Italian Ice and checking out the arts, music, & film offerings at Middlesex Community College.

To see the full list click here. A small excerpt below:

“This is an update of an article published every year around this time, written by Ed McKeon with contributions from other fans of Middletown.  The Eye sends it out to graduating Wesleyan seniors, and the alumni and  families visiting our city this weekend.

Say you’re a graduating Wesleyan senior and you want to leave town (okay, no jokes), feeling you’ve seen everything you can see in Middletown. Or you’re a graduating senior who wants to ditch the parents and send them off for a few hours over the weekend so you can hook-up with a friend for the last time. Or say you’re a Middletown resident who spends too much time in the old cul-de-sac. You have probably had the best breakfast at O’Rourke’s, the best coffee at Klekolo’s, and the best tacos at Iguana Rana’s, but have you really seen all that our city offers?

Below are suggestions for places you, or your parents, can visit before departing the Midd.  Enjoy!”

Tags: middletown eye, seniors

The folks over at The Center for Prison Education (CPE) have published their new Spring Semester Newsletter. Check it out here.

Tags: center for prison education

If New York City is the city that never sleeps…Wesleyan is the university that never lies dormant. When there are things to be done, Wesleyan students can’t relax. Case in point: rallying for Need-blind, bringing awareness to on campus profiling, or working with the administration to further academic minor options. We’re proud to say that students are civically engaged, and in their own unique ways. That’s what keeps Wesleyan weird a destination for young people with a diverse set of passions.

Here’s an excerpt from an end of the year Argus article, “News to Know” on some of 2012-2013′s highlights (and lowlights). Read the full article here.

“Wesleyan Introduces Three-year Graduation Option
September 2012

The University will now offer a three-year graduation option to students in the hope that it will create a more affordable alternative for students. This will accompany the University’s 3-2 engineering program to create a more diverse array of options for students.

Students Sanctioned for Protesting Board of Trustees Meeting
October 2012

Seven to nine students were issued citations for entering a Board of Trustees meeting that was closed to students. The students entered in the hopes of voicing their concerns about need-blind policy changes to the Board. The students were sanctioned under Regulations 14 and 15 of the Code of Non-Academic Conduct.”

Tags: Wesleyan Argus

As a follow up to this May 15 job opportunities post, we wanted to share this WesChat email from Jennifer Roach ’14:

Hello Alumni!

I am a Wesleyan junior, and three years ago I co-founded the Summer of Solutions Hartford, a youth leadership development and food justice nonprofit in Hartford. We run ten-week summer programs to train young people in leadership skills and urban farming. Over the past two summers, we have built two community and two school gardens in Hartford, taught cooking and gardening to over 300 elementary school students, and welcomed over 200 community members to the gardens.

We are set to run our third program from June 17-August 16th this summer, and we have just launched an ioby.org crowd-funding campaign to raise $4,000 to provide need-based stipends to participants who are committing full time to the program.

I would love support from the Wesleyan alumni network on my campaign. Can you make a contribution to help us reach our goal?

You can read more about my project here: soshartford.wordpress.comYou can contribute to the campaign here: https://www.ioby.org/project/summer-solutions-hartford

Thank you very much for your support!

If you have any questions, please send me an email at jroach@wesleyan.edu

Thanks,

Jennifer Roach, Class of 2014

Idealist shares 6 tips for turning your volunteer position into a job. Here’s the first two:

“Be committed

This may seem like the bare minimum, but Kate and Em, who started with a job in the volunteer department before becoming communications coordinator, said that the organization recognizes consistency, notices if a volunteer is often a no-show, and appreciates when volunteers communicate that they won’t be able to make it.

“If you’re going to volunteer somewhere because you want to work there, show up,” Em explained. “Show up when they ask you. The dedication that people show never ceases to amaze us.”

Build relationships

As a volunteer, you can meet many different employees at an organization. Naturally, you will interact with volunteer coordinators and others who assist in whatever activity you are doing, but you also have an “in” with the rest of the team. If you are interested in fundraising, ask to take the development officer to coffee to learn more. Or, if you have an orientation period, try to meet or connect with others throughout the organization. Even if you don’t work with them directly, many people will be willing to meet you, simply because you are a volunteer.

“Don’t underestimate the relationships you’re establishing, with your fellow volunteers and also the people you are working for,” Em said. “Relationships run deep. It’s more than LinkedIn; it’s people and personal networking.” Then, when a job opens up, you are already top-of-mind.

“Having that face-to-face puts you light years ahead of everyone else, just because they know you,” Kate added. “They are going to put your resume on top.”

Read more after the jump on over to Idealist Careers!

Tags: career advice, idealist

From this Co.Exist Article:

“It’s hard to talk about the future these days without talking about apps. Back in 2008, our mobile phones were primarily for making calls and sending and receiving text messages. Now, they’re for tweeting, checking Facebook, playing Angry Birds, and utilizing apps that tell us when the next bus is coming, where the new Asian fusion restaurant in our neighborhood is, and allowing us to read the next new bestseller. They have also infiltrated our grocery store experiences, helping us when we’re choosing what types of foods to eat. Here are a few examples of apps that are already available to improve shopping and eating experiences and a couple that are coming soon.”

Do you know of any apps that help us to make better food choices? We don’t like to get too preachy here at ENGAGE, but if there’s one thing we can relate to, it’s not using up our veggies fast enough (there’s an app for that).

Tags: apps, food, sustainability

This just in…

Astronomy and Physics Associate Position

Summer Saturday program seeks instructor in Astronomy and Physics for grades 5 to 9.  This is a temporary position.  This program is organized and run by an unincorporated non-profit association operating within a faith-based non-profit community serving a small group of elementary, middle and high school students in a small community in Connecticut.

Knowledge of current topics in astronomy, particularly astrophysics, and research experience is a plus, as well as access to planetariums or other resources students may use beyond the classroom. Technological integration into the classroom is also highly desired.  We are able to utilize computers and other technology in the classroom so the more technologically inclined one may be, the better.  This program is geared toward teaching students at an advanced level.  We aim to challenge our students.  Recent graduates are welcome to apply.

The instructor will be needed for one hour of instruction and thirty minutes of individual tutoring availability after the one hour of instruction on Saturdays, beginning June 1, 2013 through September 7, 2013.  Please note that this is a temporary position.  The pay is $100 per week, paid each Saturday.  Lunch is also provided.  Depending on the circumstances, transportation costs may be eligible for reimbursement.

Please email resume and cover letter to the attention of Kriss Fuller, College Prep Education Associate at deenintellect@outlook.com, with subject “Saturday Program Applications.”

Tags: astronomy, education, physics

Two exciting volunteer positions from Wes Alum, Gabrielle Fondiller ’07, Director of Hatua Likoni. These are great opportunities for students looking to get experience abroad and connect with the powerful Wesleyan-NGO network.

VOLUNTEER POSITION:

Organization: Hatua Likoni

Description of Organization: Hatua Likoni is a community based NGO working to reduce unemployment and poverty in Likoni, Kenya. Through scholarships, mentoring and career guidance Hatua helps top students gain the skills, credentials and networks they need to contribute to and benefit from Kenya’s growing economy.

Volunteer Location: Mombasa, Kenya

Full-time: ☒ Part-time: ☒ Number of Positions: Many

Responsibilities: Hatua Likoni seeks short term volunteers to assist withour mentoring program for high school and university students. Mentoring topics include writing, art, computer skills and job search skills. Volunteers with expertise in other areas you are welcome to propose alternative topics. Hatua also seeks volunteers interested in helping to improve our library services, and those interested in communications, grant writing or scholarship administration. Those who prefer working directly with younger children are welcome to work with our partner organizations teaching elementary school students, assisting in an orphanage or coaching soccer. Learn more at http://www.hatualikoni.org/hatua/volunteer/.

Intended Start Date: Open

Intended End Date: Open

Unpaid: ☒

Housing Assistance? No ☐ Yes ☒ (please explain): Volunteers are welcome to stay in Hatua’s volunteer house. Meals, orientation activities and language lessons can be arrange at the volunteers expense.

Class-Year Eligibility: Rising Sophomore ☒ Rising Junior ☒ Rising Senior ☒ Graduating Senior ☒

Work Authorization: All Candidates ☒ Authorized to Work in U.S. Only ☐

Qualifications: Mature, comfortable in unfamiliar environments, passionate about community development and/or education, independent and self-motivated.

Application Materials Required

☐Resume & Cover Letter ☐Unofficial Transcript ☐Recommendation ☒Other: Email

volunteer@hatualikoni.org to request a Volunteer Application Form

Application Open Date: 5/15/2013 Application Deadline: 7/15/2013

DEVELOPMENT INTERN POSITION

Organization: Hatua Likoni

Description of Organization: Hatua Likoni is a community based NGO working to reduce unemployment and poverty in Likoni, Kenya. Through scholarships, mentoring and career guidance Hatua helps top students gain the skills, credentials and networks they need to contribute to and benefit from Kenya’s growing economy.

Job/Internship Title: Development Intern Location: Mombasa, Kenya

Full-time: ☒ Part-time: ☐ Number of Positions: 1

Responsibilities: Researching funding opportunities, writing proposals, and reporting to donors. Helping to edit communications materials prepared by Hatua’s communications coordinator, including newsletters and quarterly reports. Taking part in all staff activities, including new student selection and community event planning.

Intended Start Date: 10/1/2013 Intended End Date: 9/1/2014

Unpaid: ☐ Paid: ☒ Pay Rate (hourly/weekly/monthly): A small monthly living stipend

Housing Assistance? No ☐ Yes ☒ (please explain): Accommodation in Hatua’s volunteer house

Class-Year Eligibility: Rising Sophomore ☐ Rising Junior ☐ Rising Senior ☐ Graduating Senior ☒

Work Authorization: All Candidates ☒ Authorized to Work in U.S. Only ☐

Qualifications: Very strong writing skills, passionate about community development and/or education, independent and self-motivated.

Application Materials Required

☒Resume & Cover Letter ☐Unofficial Transcript ☐Recommendation ☐Other: Click here to enter text.

Application Open Date: 5/15/2013 Application Deadline: 7/15/2013

Contact organization directly for application.

Tags: abroad, gabrielle fondiller, hatua likoni

From this article on Educating Changemakers in New York City:

“Last Thursday, educators from across the New York City metropolitan area gathered to share the great work they are doing to cultivate their students as changemakers. The second selection panel in two weeks, the gathering shared several similarities with the previous week’s Bay Area Changemaker Schools Panel: culture and equity emerged again as important topics as well as the importance of giving students voice and the powerful influence of positive role models. However, this group of Changemaker School candidates brought some interesting new innovations to the table.”

Tags: education