Education Advisory Board |
The Northwest Project |
Being asked to be a part of the Advisory Board for the Education Department at Drury was crazy. First off, I had no idea what an advisory board was or why it existed, and secondly, I had no idea why it was me they wanted to be a part of it. But I said sure, why not and then I was on the board. The goal of this advisory board is to prepare for the Education Department to become nationally accredited through CAEP or the Council for Accreditation of Education Programs. This accreditation will be monumental for both the education department and Drury University. The board is composed of faculty and staff of Drury who are associated with education, local teachers and administration, and me, the representative for the students who are a part of the education programs. We only meet four times prior to the CAEP visit in October 2020, but our meetings are chalked full of data and ideas. We discuss the areas of strength of the education program, the areas which it has improved, and the ways in which it could still improve beyond here. In the scheme of things, my contribution feels miniscule compared to those around me, but I feel honored to have an experience that provides me with a learning opportunity that better prepares me for the world of education.
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Over the past year I have volunteered at the Fairbanks which is part of The Northwest Project in Springfield on a regular basis. The goal of this organization is to help families who are living below the poverty line move out of poverty with strategies and skills that would allow them to maintain a life beyond poverty. A typical night included prepping for and serving a community dinner to the families who are part of the program, then childcare while the parents attended the lesson for that night. During childcare, we would do a mini-lesson that correlated with the parent lesson and spend time reading and playing with the kids.
This organization is an instrumental part of the community as they are working to help those currently living poverty and to break the generational poverty cycle. They encourage families to have a meal together with the community dinner, and they teach practical skills to help these individuals take their futures into their own hands. Rather than simply fixing the individual's current situation, the organization focuses on longevity, investing in these individuals so that they can become a more successful member of the community. I have learned so much from my time spent volunteering at the Fairbanks about how to be a better person, teacher, friend, and ally to those living in poverty. I have met people who have changed my life. This place which works against struggle has brought me so much joy and laughter. |