Raul Yzaguirre, executive director of ASU’s Center for Community Development and Civil Rights, left, and Arizona Congressman Ed Pastor show their pride in the community during an American Dream Academy graduation ceremony at Balsz Middle School in Phoenix. Zara Gort photo

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An Arizona State University program that has helped nearly 8,700 parents across the Valley improve the education of their struggling children earned one of the nation’s most prestigious community engagement awards.

The American Dream Academy received the 2009 C. Peter Magrath University Community Engagement Award from A۰P۰L۰U, the oldest higher education association in America.

The American Dream Academy has had a profound impact on Phoenix’s K-12 educational community. Parents of struggling K-12 students enter the nine-week program to gain knowledge and skills necessary to improve the educational development of their children, including methods to improve parent/child relationships, reduce dropout rates and ensure high school graduation.

Since October 2006, the program has “graduated” parents of students attending 41 different schools, and indirectly impacted more than 24,000 low-income, minority youth throughout the greater Phoenix region.

“The American Dream project is a model for engagement and outreach for public institutions. Its impact on the Phoenix area will be felt for years to come,” said Lee Todd, chairman of the A۰P۰L۰U board of directors and president of the University of Kentucky. “Public universities, like Arizona State and the other four regional winners, exemplify the spirit and vision of university engagement championed by Peter Magrath, and we salute their fine work.”

The Magrath Award recognizes the outreach and engagement partnerships of four-year public universities. It includes $20,000 and a trophy. Arizona State was chosen from a pool of regional winners that included Michigan State University, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Georgia. Pennsylvania State University was ineligible for the national award this year since it won in 2008.

“The American Dream Academy is creating opportunities for children to achieve the education they deserve,” says Raul Yzaguirre, executive director of ASU’s Center for Community Development and Civil Rights, which oversees the program. “The program is a mutually beneficial partnership that aids in the transformation of the community and changes the way people think about the university.”

The American Dream project, which is underwritten by ASU, the Helios Education Foundation, SRP, participating schools and districts, and other funding partners, creates a community where parents and teachers collaborate to transform each child’s educational environment at home and at school. The American Dream Academy is the signature program of ASU’s Center for Community Development and Civil Rights at the Downtown Phoenix campus.

SRP provided audio, video and editing services for a video about the program which was used as part of the award nomination. View the video at http://copp.asu.edu/college-news/dream-award.

Made possible by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the award was presented during the A۰P۰L۰U Annual Meeting on Sunday in Washington, D.C. The award was established in 2006 and is named for C. Peter Magrath, who served as president of the association from 1992-2005.

The ASU Center for Community Development and Civil Rights works to build bridges between ASU and the community to address problems, share knowledge and act as a catalyst for transformation. Its programs are designed to strengthen low-income, marginalized populations and help them become knowledgeable in education, finance, healthcare, and the basics of housing, transportation and local ordinances. For information about the center, visit http://cdcr.asu.edu.

Founded in 1887, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (A۰P۰L۰U) is an association of public research universities, land-grant institutions, and many state public university systems. Its 219 members enroll more than 4.7 million students, award nearly one million degrees annually and conduct nearly two-thirds of all academic research, totaling more than $34 billion annually. As the nation’s oldest higher education association, A۰P۰L۰U is dedicated to excellence in learning, discovery and engagement. For more information, visit www.aplu.org.

Second Annual Community Clean Up
Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009
9-11 a.m.
Evelyn Park – McKellips Road & College Ave.

Come join Fraternity & Sorority Life, Canon Leadership Progarm, Off -Campus & Commuter Student Services and Council of Religious Advisors clean up TEMPE’S HALLMAN PARK/CANAL PARK on November 21st! This is one of the last opportuntiies to complete community service for the semester.

This is your opportunity to help ASU show the City of Tempe how amazing our students are!

TEMPE’S HALLMAN PARK/CANAL PARK is located at McMcKellips Rd. & College Ave. in Tempe.

Transportation will be available for those that need it.  If transportation is needed please register by November 16.

If you are driving yourself, please arrive at  TEMPE’S HALLMAN PARK/CANAL PARK no later than 9 am.

Refreshments will be able after the event!

Note: Please remember to bring your water, sunscreen and wear closed toe shoes!

Register at http://hallmancleanup.eventbrite.com/

Questions? If you have questions, please contact Jennifer Stults at jennifer.stults@asu.edu or 480-965-2935.

Give your resume a boost and make a difference in your community this Spring 2010 semester, while receiving 3 upper-division ASU credits appropriate for freshmen through grad students! Gain valuable “real-world” experience in a multicultural setting.

Volunteer at a hospice or non-profit, help the homeless, tutor & mentor children, advocate for working-poor families, address environmental issues, support animal rescue efforts . . . These are just a few examples–the possibilities are endless!

• USL 402 satisfies the General Studies-Cultural Diversity Requirement
• Fulfills community service hours required by some scholarships and programs
• Honors contracts available
• Also offered for 2010 8-Week Summer Session

Choose the internship option that’s right for you!

For a structured internship involving tutoring children from economically disadvantaged communities that satisfies the General Studies Cultural Diversity requirement, enroll in USL 402.

If you’d like to set your own schedule or choose a different internship setting or type of service, enroll in USL 484.

Questions?

http://servicelearning.asu.edu
service.learning@asu.edu
480-965-8431

Allen Booker (left), Brittany Allcott, Rebecca Albrecht and Shivaram Rajan Babu stuff one of 17 Thanksgiving baskets prepared by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance. Booker, a junior majoring in computer science, and Rajan Babu, a graduate student in industrial engineering, are students working at the American Indian Policy Institute. Allcott and Albrecht, along with Kathy Given, were organizers from the dean’s office for this annual community service project.

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Food baskets stuffed with ingredients for a Thanksgiving meal were assembled by staff, faculty members and students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences again this year for the St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance.

The annual community outreach project, which started in the dean’s office, now has a number of academic units and research centers participating. This year, students from CLAS Hall, the Liberal Arts and Sciences residential college located in Hassayampa Academic Village, also filled a basket.

“We are very happy to be able to provide baskets for 17 Valley families to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal,” says Rebecca Albrecht, director of special events for Liberal Arts and Sciences. “We had an outstanding response again this year from staff in the dean’s office and across our academic units and St. Mary’s Food Bank is thrilled about our baskets. We look forward to delivering the completed baskets in time for the families to shop and prepare their dinners.”

Because there was a wide range of items going into the baskets, participants could contribute at a variety of levels, from a single can of vegetables, to a $10 gift card or a board game, according to Albrecht.

Also participating in this year’s service project, in addition to the dean’s office and CLAS Hall, were: the School of Social and Family Dynamics, Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, and the new School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences; several departments and programs including chemistry and biochemistry, physics, military science, American Indian studies, and film and media studies; and the American Indian Policy Institute and the Melikian Center for Russian, Eurasian and East European Studies.

Hundreds of eighth-grade students acted out a court case Friday morning at the Sandra Day O’Connor United States Courthouse as part of a youth outreach program organized by ASU.

Students from the Murphy School District, Tempe Elementary School District, Roosevelt School District and the ASU University Public School filled the downtown Phoenix courthouse for “Court Works,” conducting mock trials and learning about different careers in law.

About 30 legal professionals volunteered to oversee the students’ trials. U.S. Probation Officer Leigh Anne Gibbons said the students were eager to get into character.

“The kids took it seriously,” Gibbons said. “The courtroom deputy even dressed the part with a hat and badge.”

The mock trials also allowed students to see a more realistic side of courtroom drama.

Read the rest of the article here

PHOENIX (Nov. 5, 2009) – Former ASU President Lattie Coor will be appearing at the Downtown Phoenix campus as part of Barrett Honors Lecture Series, to drum up support for a new state initiative.

Open to the public, Coor’s presentation “The Arizona We Want”, starts at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 10 in the Cronkite Theater at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, 555 N. Central Ave., Phoenix.

Initially implemented in 2004, the Barrett Honor Lecture Series brings a wide variety of intellectually stimulating scholarly work and issues to Barrett students and the ASU community. The series highlights both the faculty at ASU and scholars in all fields from across the nation.

Coor is heading up a new initiative “The Arizona We Want”, to help build a citizen’s agenda that reflects what Arizonans are thinking about and identifies a set of clear, measurable goals that describes what want the state to be and how they intend to get there.

“I welcome the opportunity to present this report as part of the Barrett Honors Lecture Series, and to share with those present the findings of the Gallup Arizona Poll from which the report has derived a citizen’s agenda for Arizona,” Coor said. “I will be asking all in attendance to personally take the poll at www.thearizonawewant.org, and to learn how their views match up with those found by Gallup.”

The survey, released Oct. 2, 2009 by Gallup Inc., asked 3,600 residents statewide for their perceptions of Arizona’s economy and quality of life. Respondents said the most important issues facing Arizona include the economy, jobs, housing market, transportation, immigration, crime, water, environment, schools, drugs, growth and prejudice.

What: Barrett, The Honors College at ASU Honors Lecture Series

Where: Cronkite School, 555 N. Central Ave., Cronkite Theater, Room 202

When: 4:30 p.m. Nov. 10

Admission: Free

Information: http://honors.asu.edu

Parking: http://uabf.asu.edu/parking_visitor

Contact:

Jill Johnson

Program Coordinator

Barrett, The Honors College

(602) 496-0557

Jill.Johnson@asu.edu

Each year, one week before Thanksgiving, ASU joins campuses nationwide to part take in National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. During this week, different organizations at ASU host events in effort to bring greater awareness to the problems of hunger and homelessness. The week will culminate with a service day, “Give Thanks by Giving Back”. To sign up, visit: http://hhawdos2009.eventbrite.com/

Some of the events for the week are listed below! More events to come! For more info or to see which events are looking for volunteers, email volunteer@asu.edu

Monday, Nov. 16

Empty Bowls, 11-1pm on Hayden Lawn – Purchase soup and get a free bowl. All money raised will go to fighting hunger! Sponsored by Programming and Activities Board.

Tuesday, Nov. 17

Hunger Banquet @ 7pm in MU Learn about hunger from the point of view of those who experience it every day. Sponsored by Residence Hall Association

Thursday, Nov. 19

Castle of Cans 11-1pm on Hayden Lawn – Circle K International is holding a food drive and creating a castle of cans to benefit St. Mary’s Food Bank. Donate your cans today!

Friday, Nov. 20

Come watch the movie “The Soloist” out on Hayden Lawn. This powerful movie highlights issues of homelessness. 8pm – A Friday Night Fusion event!

Saturday, Nov. 21

“Give Thanks by Giving Back”.

As the final event of the week, we will be volunteering at Salvation Army and Phoenix Rescue Mission. Both organizations deal with issues of hunger and homelessness in the Valley. To sign up, visit: http://hhawdos2009.eventbrite.com/ASU’s National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week! Nov. 15-21, 2009

PHOENIX (Nov. 2, 2009) – For the second year in a row, ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus is using the power of music to connect students, faculty and staff with the local community.

The “Know Your Neighbor Concert Series” promotes local music with downtown venues, and is designed to introduce students to each other and the community where they live. The free series, which is open to the public, starts this week and runs throughout the month of November.

“This is an exciting opportunity for ASU’s student body, faculty and staff to explore their communities and meet their neighbors. This series was created through an initiative to respond to the communities’ desire to see and meet our students in their venues and at their events,” said Malissa Geer, Community Engagement Liaison for the Office of the Vice President and Dean of the College of Public Programs at the Downtown Phoenix campus. “Using music, local venues and festivals is an innovative way for ASU to continue to integrate within our rich and vibrant community. It uniquely demonstrates our shared commitment of social embeddedness. ASU students and the community are working together to coordinate this really fun experience!”

The series kicks off with at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6 at the Paisley Violin, 1028 Grand Ave., Phoenix. Castles Made of Sand, a group comprised of two local ASU students, Spencer Gefroh and Weston Michl, will headline the five-hour music showcase.

The concert series includes:

• First Friday Jam Session, 7 p.m. to 12 a.m., Nov. 6, 1028 Grand Avenue, Phoenix
• Local First Arizona Fall Festival, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Nov. 7, 1651 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix
• Roosevelt Row Green Streets Fall Festival, 6 to 10 p.m., Nov. 13, between Fourth and Seventh streets on East Roosevelt Road, Phoenix
• Spanish Festival and Spanish Market, The Heard Museum, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Nov. 15, 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
• Kasama Film, Reception and Tour, Phoenix Art Museum, 4 to 6 p.m., Nov. 18, 1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
• 3^rd Friday Concert, Civic Space Park, 6 to 9 p.m., Nov. 20, 424 N. Central Ave., Phoenix

Contact:

Malissa Geer

Community Engagement Liaison

Office of the University Vice President and Dean

College of Public Programs

Office: (602) 496-0968

malissa.geer@asu.edu

The ASU New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences master’s degree program in social justice and human rights has teamed with the Light of Hope Institute and the West campus chapter of Amnesty International to present “Trauma and Compassion,” a day-long exploration of social justice and human rights issues in Arizona.

The event takes place from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Wed., Nov. 4, and features a wide range of discussions, workshops and the documentary film, “Miracles in Mexico.”  All activities take place in La Sala B in the West campus University Center Building (UCB).

Click here for full schedule information.  For additional details, contact William Simmons, director of the M.A., Social Justice and Human Rights, program at 602-543-6089 or via email at william.simmons@asu.edu.

This post was submitted by Steve Des Georges.