serve. grow.
lead.
Center for Leadership and Service
annual report 09/10
Table of Content 1. ON BEHALF OF CLS STAFF 3. SNAPSHOT 5. ADVOCACY
annual 7. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT report 9. MENTORING 11. STUDENT DEVELOPMENT 13. AWARDS & RECOGNITION 14. SPECIAL THANKS
Tracey E. Reeves, Ph.D. Director Center for Leadership and Service
lead. serve. grow.
On the Behalf of the CLS The Center for Leadership and Service (CLS) provides the structure and resources to prepare students to become productive citizens and assume roles of leadership and service in a culturally diverse and increasingly complex society. The Center fosters lifelong service and civic participation by engaging the University with its greater community in action, change, and learning. Through our student-run leadership and service organizations, we provide educational programs, workshops, and conferences; coordinate community service, leadership, and service learning opportunities for students. The 2009 – 2010 was a year of continued transition as we further built our identity as a stand-alone department within the Division of Student Affairs. Additionally, two new staff members joined us filling our open Assistant Director and Senior Secretary positions. Throughout the year we focused on developing our strategic plan for 2010 – 2015 and made the decision to restructure our programs and services into four areas: Advocacy, Community Engagement, Mentoring, and Student Development.
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This was also an exciting year as we were named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the third consecutive year. Florida Alternative Breaks received “T-Shirt of the Year” from Breakaway’s 2010 National Alternative Breaks Awards, and the 2009 – 2010 “Waste Reduction Award” from the Office of Sustainability for their efforts in re-using t-shirts. We were also fortunate to have two UF project teams receive $10,000 grants through the Davis Projects for Peace program. We also held the inaugural Gator Global Initiative conference modeled after the Clinton Global Initiative University. This publication was compiled to highlight these and other significant accomplishments within the Center for Leadership and Service. We hope that it will help you learn about our efforts and reflect our dedication to students and the community. Go Gators, Tracey E. Reeves, Ph.D.
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Snapshot Our Mission The mission of the Center for Leadership and Service (CLS) is to engage students and cultivate opportunities for personal and academic achievement to prepare students to become leaders in the service of the global community. Below you will find some of the major accomplishments from our students and community partners. Together they worked towards creating positive change and fulfulling our mission. • 2009 Presidential Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll (3rd consecutive year) • Florida Alternative Breaks received “T-Shirt of the Year” from Breakaway’s 2010 National Alternative Breaks Awards and 2009 – 2010 “Waste Reduction Award”from the Office of Sustainability • Projects for Peace 2010 selected two proposals from UF to receive $10,000 grants: “Nafasi: Education and Microfinance in Tanzania” and “Anerobic Digestion in Pursat, Cambodia”
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• An estimated 103, 162 service hours valued at $2,150.927.70 completed by an estimated 20,632 students • 40 Presidential Service Awardees with over 100 hours of service Over 700 Volunteers in attendance at our days of service in the Gainesville and Alachua County Community (Summer Plunge, Gator Plunge, and Make a Difference Day, MLK) with over 3000 hours of service • Over 300 Mentors with 3000 hours of service in Alachua County schools • Organized 24 Florida Alternative Break Trips: 3 Domestic trips during Summer Break, 3 Domestic trips during Winter Break, 3 domestic trips during MLK Weekend, 12 Domestic trip during Spring Break, and 3 International trips during Spring Break; Over 300 participants and over 10,000 Service Hours • 60 Volunteer organizations in attendance for Fall 2009 Volunteer Organization Fair with over 500 students attending • Over 150 children were sponsored for the holidays through Partnership for Strong Families “Wish Upon a Star” program
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• The inaugural Gator Global Initiative conference was held with topics including global health, climate and energy, poverty alleviation and human rights and peace
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Florida Alternative Breaks Participants Summer Trips (12%)
MLK Weekend Trips (12%)
Wintert Trips (16%)
Spring Break Trips (60%)
CLS Student Participation FAB Trips (20%)
Plunges (45%)
Conferences (16%)
Mentoring (19%)
Service in the Community 120000
103,162 hrs.
100000 80000
75,205 hrs.
80,307 hrs.
60000 40000 20000 0
2007-2008 Approx. Monetary Value
$1,467.25
2008-2009
$1,626.22
2009-2010
$2,150.93
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By the Numbers: • Over 700 volunteers immersed in our days of service • Over 40 service host sites • 30 participants at the Oxfam Hunger Banquet • Two $10,000 grants given to UF students • More than 15 events planned by students to promote social justice
Advocacy We are committed to providing structure and resources for students to promote and advocate for social, environmental, and economic justice. Through our advocacybased programs students become more connected to inequities and problems facing our world, ranging from homelessness and poverty to global warning to veteran affairs support.
Major Programs and Events ACTIONS! mission is to create active citizens through a commitment to community service, leadership, and social change. They organize large events ranging from one day events to week and month long programs.
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This past year ACTIONS!: • Hosted 4 days of service totaling over 3000 hours of service with over 700 volunteers and more than 40 host service sites • Took part in 3 national initiatives including Hunger & Homelessness Week, World AIDS Day, and MLK Day • Hosted Raise Your Voice Month which provided social awareness, education, programs, community service, and events • Began new initiatives with veterans affairs, cancer research support, and partnered with UF GatorWell and the UF Office of Sustainability • Collaborated with more than 25 different organizations for stronger participation and to achieve the common goal of advocating for social justice Projects for Peace provides the opportunity for college students to create and implement proposals for building peace in the 21st century, this year we were proud to announce that 15 students applied with a variety of advocacy-based projects and two winners were selected at the national level to receive $10,000 grants each for their projects.
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Projects for Peace Winners: • Nafasi: Education & Microfinance in Tanzania: Kathryn Ranhorn will spend her summer delivering interest-free loans to the entrepreneurs of Mwenge by implementing microfinance-tourism model. She plans to integrate mentors and volunteers to serve as teachers on business management and financial education. • Anaerobic Digestion in Pursat, Cambodia: Engineers without Borders will spend the summer in Cambodia installing digesters and educating the community on construction, use and benefits. This will allow a decrease in deforestation and end health risks associated with smoke emissions cause by the large amount of firewood use. Gator Global Initiative is a social justice conference designed to educate student organizations about social issues. Participants have the opportunity to develop goals and projects to create change locally, nationally, and globally and hear from the experts in fields like global health, poverty alleviation, education, and energy and climate change/sustainability. This year at our inaugural conference: • Brian Dassler, a UF graduate, 2007 Broward County teacher of the year and principal-designate of KIPP Renaissance High School in New Orleans, Louisiana served as the Keynote speaker.
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• 4 Panels focused on Global Health, Human Rights and Peace, Climate and Energy and Poverty Alleviation • 4 Skills Sessions on “What Kind of Impact do I Want to Make?”, “How do I Fund My Commitment or Project”, “Creating a Business Plan”, and “Partnering with Non-profits”
Sara Plumley
ACTIONS! Service Chair I have been involved with ACTIONS! for the past two years. Joining this organization was one of my best decisions. ACTIONS! allows students to organize and lead service events. I enjoy this because I get to participate in the planning of the event, but at the same time I am able to serve the community. The people that ACTIONS! Serves are very diverse. We work with students, children, and adults in the community. This year my favorite project was our Martin Luther King Jr. Day Project. We helped renovate the Reichert House, a school for boys. This project was very rewarding because the boys were very gracious of our hard work. My favorite part of ACTIONS! is getting other students involved. During high school I was a very involved with my church’s service projects. I love helping other students experience the same satisfaction I receive while doing service. ACTIONS! has allowed me to do this on a much larger scale. Many people think college students are too young to make a difference in the world today, but ACTIONS! proves them wrong. This organization shows the community that a few dedicated students can have a positive impact on society.
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By the Numbers: • 308 participants totaling over 10,000 service hours in 24 alternative break trips • Over 150 Agencies established as community partners • A total of about $10,761 fundraised to lower the cost of the alternative break trips • Public Service Panel is praised by national organization
Community Engagement We provide our students the opportunity to learn about social issues in the local, national, and global communities. Our community engagement programs prepare students to become active citizens through direct-service, exposure to the non-profit sector, and service-learning opportunties.
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Major Programs and Events Gator Non-Profit Professional (GNP) The members of GNP have a common desire to help UF students find and launch a career within the non-profit sector that positively impacts the lives of others. Thi past year GNP: • Partnered with the UF Career Resource Center to host a “Public Service Panel” which included four national organizations: PeaceCorps, AmeriCorps, City Year, and Teach for America • Exposed students to non-profit organizations in Gainesville through a “Non-Profit Panel,” educating students regarding issues and opportunities in local non-profits • Over 50 students had the opportunity to speak with local nonprofits about opportunities at “Get to Know an NPO” Florida Alternative Breaks (FAB) through education, service, and reflection provides students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a particular social issue. They seek to heighten social awareness through regional and international service trips during academic breaks. With the passion, knowledge, and relationships gained from their experiences, members will become life-long advocates for social justice in their communities. This was an exceptional year for FAB as they:
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• Organized and lead 24 Florida Alternative Break Trips: 3 domestic trips during summer break, 3 domestic trips during winter, 3 domestic trips during MLK weekend, 12 domestic trips during spring break, and 3 international trips during spring break • Drew in over 308 participants totaling more than 10,000 hours of service • Fundraised approximately $10,761 towards lower trip costs and donations to service and housing sites • Trained and educated 48 site leaders on working with their specific social issues and pre and post trip service • Received Office of Sustainability’s “Sustainable Solutions Award” and Break Away’s “T-Shirt of the Year Award” Service Ambassadors promote active citizenship among University of Florida students as well as the surrounding community. They plan events that educate citizens about prevalent issues in order to remind them of their civic responsibility and to inform them of the opportunities available to those who choose to make a difference.
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Angela Garcia:
Student Director of GNP Working with nonprofits has always been a passion of mine, and helping students get involved with those organizations has been something I was able to do through the Center for Leadership and Service. Being the president of Gator Non-Profit Professionals, I made it a priority to not only educate students on the nonprofit sector, but also to help them find hands-on opportunities in our Gainesville community. GNP exposed students to areas and ways in which they could volunteer, both short term locally, and longterm years of service. One example of how we did this was through a Public Service Panel that we held in the fall semester of last year. We held an event in which students could meet leaders of service organizations and find out how to get involved. Americorps, Peace Corps, Teach for America and City Year were all present at this event. It educated students on the ways to get involved nationally, and also prompted some of them to join right away. Planning and watching this event unfold was a great experience for me because i was able to see how interested students were in these types of programs. It made me want to have these kinds of resources constantly available, and i was able to see the passion that our UF students have for service.
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By the Numbers: • More than 300 UF students mentored K-12 students in Alachua County •Over 3000 hours dedicated to mentoring young students in Gainesville •An approximate total of $8500 fundraised by mentoring groups •3 Impact Awards given to mentoring groups and volunteers including “Most Outstanding Organization of the Year” •More than 400 students from 7 different Alachua County Public schools were positively impacted by the CLS mentors
Mentoring We believe in the power of positive influence. Our students give back to our community is by enriching the lives of elementary, middle, and high school students through mentoring. They inspire, motivate, encourage, and empower young lives.
Major Programs and Events After-School Gators (ASG) work with students in various elementary schools during their after-school programs, where they help with homework, play kickball, do art, and many other fun activities. This year ASG:
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• Mentored over 110 “at-risk” students at 5 different elementary schools • Helped organize a Fall Carnival for Metcalfe Elementary to serve the students that were unable to pay to attend the school’s Halloween festival • 115 mentors volunteered throghout the school year Project M.A.S.C.O.T (Mentoring Alliance: Students and Communities Outreaching Together) is a one-year program where college students mentor at a local elementary school that has received a C grade or below during the previous academic year. In order to celebrate the students’ accomplishments; mentors coordinate a trip to an Orlando theme park at the end of the year. This year Project M.A.S.C.O.T: • Received the CLS Impact award for “Most Outstanding Student Orgaization of the Year” • Mentored 47 elementary school students giving a total of more than 800 hours at Rawlings Elementary School • Fundraised a total of $6,767.93 to lower the cost of the end of the year trip to Sea world
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Motiv•8 previously known as SOAR is a mentoring group dedicated to fostering mentorships between "at-risk" middle school students and caring University of Florida volunteers. This year Motiv•8 had many great accomplishments, they: • Received the Impact award for “Most Improved Student Organization of the Year” •Mentored about 65 middle school students, dedicating more than 345 hours at Howard Bishop Middle School • Fundraised a total of $563 to help put on social activities for their mentees Gator Teens are committed to providing "at-risk" high school students with the resources and skills to successfully pursue a higher education. This year Gator Teens successfully completed their second year in partnership with East Side High School:This year Gator Teens: • Mentored 55 high school student giving a total of more than 550 hours • Held various engaging socials and workshops for mentees
Max Costa
Student Director of Motiv•8 I have had the pleasure of working with a very unique organization on campus for four years. Unlike most on-campus involvement that caters to students’ academic fields or social interests, I was able to participate in an organization that helps teach the students at UF how to become better leaders. Lead101, a peer-educating organization, aims to develop and hone in the leadership skills of UF students through the conferences we plan and workshops we present. The success of our group is evident in every thing that we do. As an organization, we are taught the different aspects of leadership and leadership theory through our semester-long course. Not only do our members learn how to become better leaders themselves, but they also take what they’ve learned and apply it through the workshops other student organizations request from us. We create and present the workshop with great success. Most participants leave feeling that they’ve not only learned something about leadership, but that they can use that information to help their organization flourish.
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By the Numbers: • Over 250 students attended our leadership conferences and institutes • 20 conference sessions offered by faculty and staff • More than 30 events held during Women’s History Month • More than 20 leadership development workshops ranging from team building to the Leadership Practice Inventory were facilitated by lead101
Student Development We strongly believe that all of our students have the potential to be leaders. Through our programs, conferences, and institutes, we assist students in developing the necessary skills to assume roles of leadership and service in a culturally diverse and increasingly complex society.
Major Programs and Events Lead101 members are peer educators who provide and promote the necessary skills and knowledge needed to explore and apply new leadership practices through workshops, role modeling, service projects ad annial leadership conferences. This year was a successful one for Lead101:
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• More than 120 participants attended the Art of Leadership Conference, where students had the opportunity to participate in 8 workshops on topic ranging from diversity and leadership to group dynamics and development. Dr. Patricia Telles-Irvin, Vice President of Student Affairs as the Keynote speaker • Participants rated the Art of Leadership Conference an average of 4.43 out of 5 and the workshops were rated a total average of 4.30 out of 5. •About 98% of the Art of Leadership Conference participants agreed that the conference helped them find ways to achieve goals they have set for themselves. • Lead 101’s spring conference, Gator Institute for Leadership Development, was based on the book “It’s not about the Coffee: Lessons on putting People First from a Life at Starbucks” by Howard Behar, former president of Starbucks International • Lead 101 facilitated over 20 workshops throughout the year at various conferences, retreats, student organization meetings, formal classroom settings, and fraternity/sorority houses • 5 new leadership organizations joined Lead101 on their new “Lead Week” initiative providing developmental opportunities to both emerging and active leaders
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The Women’s Leadership Council strives to empower women with the resources and skills that prepare them to lead in the ever-changing settings of the 21st century. This past year the Women’s Leadership Council: • Co-sponsored their annual Artistic Reflections Today event with UF’s Poets Inc. where UF students (especially women) were able to express themselves through both visual and performing arts • The Women’s Mentoring Program paired up 36 female students with faculty and staff members who served to encourage, provide valuable insights, and inspire pursuit of careers that are typically make dominated • Hosted the 22nd annual Women Leadership conference with keynote speaker Wendy Abberger, Executive Director/President of the Leadership Florida Statewide Community Foundation, Inc. •Celebrated the 30th anniversary of Women’s History Month. Sarah Weddington, the Roe v. Wade Attorney as Keynote Speaker LeaderShape is an advanced, ethics-based leadership development experience for young adults. More than 24,000 participants from over 500 different colleges, universities, corporations, and organizations across America have graduated from the program. We coordinate a Florida state-wide session and this year. • 36 UF students attend LeaderShape 2010 along with participants from FIU, FGCU, UCF, UWF, and St. Leo University • 25 of our LeaderShape 2009 participants attended a Day Seven Reunion. Quotes from two of our 2009 participants: • “I am less afraid to hold fast to my beliefs, less afraid to get close to other people, and a more dedicated and encouraged leader and student.” –NerissaAnne Robinson • “It has changed my perspective on why I got so involved. As a leader, it has affected how I work and interact with peers, subordinates, and superiors. As a student, I learned just how much I can push myself.” –Adam Lindsley Florida Leadership Institutes are designed for participants to increase their understanding of the roles and responsibilities of leadership, increase their leadership skills, learn practical skills for event/program planning, meeting management, and budgeting, and interact and get to know their fellow student leaders. This year there were 2 FLI sessions: • 30 students attended the SG Cabinet session at Camp Weed •Topics covered included Social Change model of leadership, Who are your constituents, Stewardship, Working in a system/organization • Presidents and programming chairs from organizations including Reitz Union Board, Women’s Leadership Council, Lead101, Black Student Union, Hispanic Student Association, Jewish Awareness Month, Women’s History Month, Asian American Student Union, Student Government Productions, Islam on Campus, Asian Kaleidoscope Month, Hispanic Heritage Month attended the Programming session roundtables • Topics included “Building a Network of Student Leaders”, “Annual and Traditional Programs”, “Traditions and Change”, “Challenging the Process”, and “Transitioning to New Leadership”
Raisa D'Oyley
Student Director of Lead 101 I have had the pleasure of working with a very unique organization on campus for four years. Unlike most on-campus involvement that caters to students’ academic fields or social interests, I was able to participate in an organization that helps teach the students at UF how to become better leaders. Lead101, a peer-educating organization, aims to develop and hone in the leadership skills of UF students through the conferences we plan and workshops we present. The success of our group is evident in every thing that we do. As an organization, we are taught the different aspects of leadership and leadership theory through our semester-long course. Not only do our members learn how to become better leaders themselves, but they also take what they’ve learned and apply it through the workshops other student organizations request from us. We create and present the workshop with great success. Most participants leave feeling that they’ve not only learned something about leadership, but that they can use that information to help their organization flourish. Our biggest impact on student development on campus, however, is our conferences, Art of Leadership (AOL) and Gator Institute for Leadership Development (GILD). Each semester, we organize and run a school-wide conference geared to leaders of all different levels. The various breakout session topics draw students from the diverse areas of campus involvement, from freshman ready to acquire skills that will equip them to perform well in their new positions to student organization leaders looking to hone their current skills.
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CLS Awards & Recognitions: • Recipient of the National Presidential Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the 3rd consecutive year • 40 Presidential Service Awardees with over 100 hours of community service • 14 CLS Impact awards given to UF students, faculty, community partners and donors for their dedication and commitment to leadership and service
Awards and Recognitions Every year we encounter students, faculty, and community partners that selfishly dedicate their time to serving the community. Whether they are advocating for a social issue, performing community service, mentoring, developing student leaders, teaching a service-learning class, or planning a service events. We recognize these individuals or groups with the following awards: Presidential Service Award recognizes undergraduate and graduate students who have dedicated their time and efforts while at the University of Florida to promoting social justice, community awareness, and civic engagement on campus and in the community. The Presidential Service Award is a chance to acknowledge those students who have made outstanding efforts towards community service and too often go unrecognized and unrewarded for their selfless labor. This year we awarded 40 students who dedicated more than 6000 hour of direct community service. Women Leader of the Year Award recognizes undergraduate women who have made the University of Florida and Gainesville community a more positive and supportive environment through service to the public via volunteer programs and student organizations. The award is an equal opportunity for all undergraduate women at the University of Florida, regardless of age, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status, sexual orientation or gender expression. Most importantly, applicants are judged on their leadership philosophies as communicated through their written responses and live interview questions. In keeping with the mission of the Women's Leadership Council, the Woman Leader of the Year Award strives to celebrate the accomplishments of outstanding female students here at the university, while encouraging and inspiring women throughout our community to rise to the challenge of leadership.
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CLS Impact Awards is the culmination of all the efforts, time and commitment to service and leadership of all our students, faculty, friends, and community partners. It is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the dedicated efforts of our volunteers and community agencies that have been committed to volunteerism both personally and professionally. There were 14 different recipients in the organization, community, and individual categories this year. We had about 120 students, faculty, and friends who joined us to celebrate the achievements of our office, student organizations, friends, and staff.
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CLS Staff
Tracey Reeves, Ph.D. Director
Beth Nahlik Assistant Director
Evan Lauteria Senior Secretary
Tricia Cesarino Graduate Assistant
Nikole Duvalle Graduate Assistant
Steve Vutsinas Graduate Assistant
Olvin Carias
Darrell Stevens Graphic Designer
Special Thanks to:
Assistant for Special Projects
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annual report 09/10
Cent er f
ce rv i Se
adership an Le d or
For more information contact us at: leadershipandservice@ufl.edu or visit: www.leadershipandservice.ufl.edu University of Florida 301 Peabody Hall, PO Box 114075, Gainesville, FL 32611 Phone:(352) 392-1215; Fax: (352) 392-5566