Office of Community Affairs
The 2012-2013 school year promises to take us all on a journey of engaging, relevant, and real experiences of outreach, and help King students incorporate community service experiences into their education. At King, we look to facilitate and foster Faculty in adopting creative, experiential, community-based teaching methods to carry out civic education reflective of our mission statement and thus make a positive impact upon King, and the communities in which we serve.
Service Learning and Diversity Service Learning and Diversity at King supports the development and implementation of service learning and diversity of other community-based learning experiences in academic courses and programs of study. We advocate for the growth of high-quality service learning and community-based learning opportunities at King. Our goal is to bring students’ educational experience to life by cultivating reciprocal service and a learning partnership among our students’ families, Faculty, Staff and the surrounding community. Thereby affirming the belief that all students can learn and become productive members of the King community and connect the classroom to community needs. We enact the King mission of preparing our graduates to be well equipped to succeed in college and pursue lives of ongoing inquiry. To achieve this mission, the Office of Community Affairs. Raised awareness about service learning and community-based learning within the King community by extending our school wide engagement to “Honoring Those who Serve and Sacrificed”. Culminating with the 2012 commencement address given by Congressmen Jim Himes, where he recognized the efforts of King’s participation in The Veterans History Project, sponsored by The Library of Congress Cultivated relationships with a wide array of community-based organizations. Supports socially engaged teaching and scholarship among King Faculty Worked with Faculty and Staff to incorporate appropriate service learning and community-based learning opportunities. Partnered with King families to ensure quality-learning experiences in the community. Recognized the importance of diversity education with a focus on issues of diversity and cultural, racial, ethnic, class, religious and gender orientation. Hosted several multicultural events to raise community awareness.
The continued goal, for 2012-2013, is to remain a healthy resource and continue the partnership with our students, families, Faculty, and Staff in seeking vast connections to strengthen and broaden student learning that lends itself to interdisciplinary work. This year, we take that understanding to the service learning call to action on “Hunger, Homelessness, and Poverty.” In the United States, almost 14 million children live in poverty, more than 1.5 million children are without a home – that is one in every 50 children. Worldwide nearly 650 million children live in extreme poverty. This year, as a community we will focus on learning about the causes and effects of hunger and homelessness. All while performing meaningful service projects with reflection on what has been learned and accomplished. Our contributions to the immediate needs allowing us to become more adept at examining the systems, questioning the existing policies and working together to being part of the long-term response. To be part of this engagement, I encourage you to join the community readings of the following: “Enough,” by Roger Thurow and Scott Killman “Breaking Night,” by Liz Murray "I Shall Not Hate," by Izzeldin Abuelaish. “Framework for Understanding Poverty,” by Ruby K. Payne. Also, please save the date for Liz Murray, author of “From Homeless to Harvard: Breaking Night,” who will be our guest speaker on October 12, 6:30-7:30 p.m., in the PAC. On behalf of the Office of Community Affairs I would like to extend a warm welcome and best wishes for a successful school year. Also note that if you ever have any comments, questions or concerns, I am available for phone calls and meetings (by appointment please) each day before and after school. To schedule a meeting, you may contact me via email at Lleist@klht.org.