Looking Ahead to the Spring Semester.

As our group’s first semester comes to a close, I’d like to thank all of your for your involvement in the Student Activists, and look forward to our group’s new projects next semester.

One student who stopped by our info tables last week had a very interesting idea: the Student Activists could spend the week of spring break doing a hands-on volunteer project. Initially we thought about helping with Habitat for Humanity doing a construction project, but unfortunately (though understandably) Habitat for Humanity in Chicago shuts down in winter, and won't really get going until June.

Instead, we thought why not then head to warmer climes and spend spring break week volunteering in New Orleans? One excellent volunteer organization is Hands On New Orleans.

Hands On provides food and housing for volunteers and coordinates daily service projects ( ranging from construction work repairing homes and schools to helping in animal shelters, tutoring in schools and much more. Click here for more info). All we have to do is show up and be willing to help out! They are so well-organized it would make it very easy for us to spend a few days there doing very meaningful work. Click here for more details on the volunteer experience.

My sister and her wife spent 3 months volunteering with Hands On New Orleans last fall and had a very positive experience. You can read their blog about their experience in New Orleans here.

The obvious big hurdle to get over is funding: transport to get down there (appx $250 flight or $180 greyhound bus) and the HandsOn fee of $25 per person per day to cover room/board. I’m currently looking into availability of funding from the school, or feasibility of organizing a fundraising effort. I’m sure many of you have experience in seeking funds, etc. and I'd welcome any and all suggestions!
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Other smaller project ideas for the Student Activists next semester include:

-Recycling Campaign on Campus

-Homeless Outreach at Lincoln Park Community Shelter

-Establishing Free Speech Boards on campus and on the portal

(where postings do not need approval from campus activities office)

-Volunteering at the South Side Community Art Center (where there is a lot that could be done, including helping to clean up/ repair the building and grounds to make it a more useable community art center)

-Participating in rallies, letter-writing campaigns and the like for various causes such as Labor Right and Peace

-Inviting Guest speakers to give talks at SAIC.

Potential speakers include:

-representatives from the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (inviting in formerly-homeless people to speak about their life and experience)

-representatives from the Chicago Recycling Coalition

-representatives from some of the many Gang Prevention Coalitions in Chicago

-or others! Please let me know if you have suggestions on guest speakers!

I would very much appreciate your input and/or willingness to take a leadership role on these or other new projects. Your interest and participation directs our group activities!