Students in Community Engaged Scholarship Courses are serving virtually in DC and around the country. As they continue to report their activities on GWServes, we will share some of their stories here. Thank you for continuing to support student engagement.
Virtual Service
Helping transcribe documents for the Smithsonian
"As part of this course, our class has been engaging in a variety of alternate community service activities, as we adjust to the COVID-19 crisis. Community service is required as part of our grade in the course. I helped transcribe documents from the "Women's History" and "Biodiverse Planet" sections of the Smithsonian online library, including work from astronaut Sally Ride which was very cool. This opportunity was something I didn't know was offered before the virus outbreak, and I found super interesting. It's at least a small reminder that some tiny good things can come out of this terrible event we're currently experiencing."
Free Minds
This student served at a virtual "Write Night" with Free Minds an organization that serves incarcerated youth and returned citizens through book clubs and writing groups: "As a journalist, getting to read other people's writing is beyond crucial to my craft. I honestly am not the biggest fan of reading (even though I know how beneficial it can be) and have a hard time with poetry because of its ambiguity and artistry— I find that if you're not the one writing it, it can be hard to understand. I edited/ made comments on about 20 poems and I have to say, I'm very impressed. Some writers were anonymous, and others included an anecdote about their poem. For instance, there was one which was a response to the question "what does freedom of speech mean?" The characters in his poem were flowers and nature, which seems to be a motif throughout his writing. I thought it was interesting the way he connected the human right of free speech to the basic right to life (via plants and nature)".
Latino Student Fund Virtual Tutoring
"It was a different experience tutoring online through zoom. Nevertheless, it was still amazing and I had a great time."
Service to GW
"I organized an event in conjunction with the GW Career Center. It was a virtual and open event with two career coaches to answer students' questions about jobs, internships, and online resources to help and volunteer."
Service in Students' Home Communities
"Helping my elderly neighbor. Under these tough circumstances that we are in with COVID-19, I am helping her with getting groceries and with things that she needs done."
"Helped to sew protective fabric masks for local health care workers, patients, and members of my local community."
"Purchased teddy bears with my younger brother and placed them in the windows of my house. Afterwards, we drove around our town to see that other families in our community had been doing the same in an attempt to spread hope in these troubling times."
Resources for Students
If your students are serving without a community partner during this time, they need to adapt their GWServes "Add Impact" entries accordingly. Please forward to them this information about how to report their service on GWServes.
If students are looking for more virtual ways to serve, there are hundreds of options on GWServes. Share this link for instructions on how to use GWServes' filters and searches to find the best fit opportunities: https://blogs.gwu.edu/nashmanfacultyupdate/2020/04/01/opportunities-for-virtual-service-across-the-country/
