Jaspers Partner with Local Organizations for Community-Campus Collaboration Event

Julia Ciampa Staff Writer

A Community-Campus Collaboration event was held to commemorate the partnerships Manhattan College has formed with the local Bronx area through its community service programs with local organizations.

Since the college relocated to the Bronx in 1922, MC has held a rich tradition of community service and involvement with the Bronx area.

The event included organizations such as MC’s Campus Ministry and the Community Engaged Learning Center (CEL). Some of MC’s closest partner organizations, like the Fordham Bedford Community Services (FBCS), Kingsbridge Heights Community Center (KHCC) and The Concourse House (TCH).

The panel at the event discussed community engaged learning courses, federal work study opportunities, paid jobs, volunteer opportunities and potential internships. Attendees were given the opportunity to network and meet community partners as well as hear from students who have been a part of these organizations and what their experiences entailed.

Manhattan College has been in strong alliance with the Fordham Bedford Community Services organization in efforts to support their mission to provide social services to families in Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation buildings and the surrounding community.

Among the several panelists at the event was Lois Harr, former director of Campus Ministry and Social Action at Manhattan. Harr has been heavily involved in community service since she started as a faculty member at MC and has constantly advocated for the continuation of community service.

“During the last fall semester, Mrs. Groarke and I met with a representative from the two organizations FBCS and KHCC several times,” Harr said. “We then submitted a proposal to an organization called Partners for Campus and Community Engagement, which is a non-profit organization that organizes campus community collaborations in the Northeast, and they were actually able to provide us with a grant to fund this event, which we were all so thankful for.”

Margaret Groarke, professor of political science and faculty assistant for community engagement at MC, engaged in the celebration and talked about memories she has made while participating in community engagement.

“Community engagement has always been extremely important to me, as it has changed my outlook on the world, and shaped me into the person that I am,” Groarke said. “It is so important to me to make sure that Jaspers have that opportunity for growth and exploration. This event truly shed light on all the good us Jaspers are capable of.”

The Concourse House was founded in 1991 by Fordham Bedford Community Services. Their mission is to provide safe, stable transitional housing to women and their young children.

Jamie Robbins, a senior at MC, is currently an intern at The Concourse House and was extremely passionate to aid the organization with creating this collaborative event.

“I think the event brought awareness to the community engagement aspect of Manhattan College, as I don’t think

The event was held to commemorate the partnerships Manhattan College has formed with the local Bronx area through its community service programs with local organizations. MANHATTAN.EDU/ COURTESY many students know about the great programs being offered,” Robbins said. “This event did a great job of highlighting all the wonderful partnerships that Manhattan College has with neighboring organizations and shedding light on the monumental work these organizations are doing.”

Through working at the organization, Robbins has been able to experience firsthand career development, while providing others with care.

“This form of community engagement genuinely opens up so many opportunities for students in career development as well as personal growth, and it has introduced me to so many wonderful individuals,” Robbins said.

Evidently, the Community-Campus Collaboration event was a success, and a reminder that the Manhattan College Community looks forward to continuing to foster their relationship with the organizations involved.