The Featured Volunteer Opportunity:

BravoBravo! June 8th-9th (late night clean-up) and set-up the week before (June 4th - 7th)

The Detroit Opera House is hosting its annual fundraising ball on Friday, June 8th! The moneys raised this night will help the opera house continue its cultural enrichment effort in Detroit. Volunteers are needed to help set up for the even on June 4th to 7th), tasks will include carrying tables and chairs, stuffing gift bags, hanging decorations, moving furniture, etc. After the even on Friday June 8th, volunteers will also be needed to clean up after the event and to move all of the furniture out of the building. This is a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes at the Detroit Opera House and to meet some interesting people. If you are interested please email the Community of Scholars coordinator at scholars@wayne.edu with your name, some contact information, and whether you are interested in working the week before and/or the night after the event. (If you happen to be 21+, volunteering for the event will get you a discount off of the ticket for the event!) 

http://www.michiganopera.org/support-us/annual-events/bravobravo/

For a full list of upcoming volunteer opportunities and events please visit the Community of Scholars facebook page. Here you will find upcoming volunteer events ranging in interest and location. The Community of Scholars is a group of students who are dedicated to the service to the community surrounding Wayne State University and in Southeast Michigan. For more information on the Community of Scholars, please visit their website at http://communityofscholars.wayne.edu/.

The office of Community Engagement has built many relationships with organizations in Detroit and South-east Michigan. These relationships have led to long-term volunteer opportunities. The following list of organizations are those that the Community Engagement Office has worked with in the past and those Community Engagement encourages students and non-students to volunteer with.

ACCESS-Education

Description: The Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) has been serving the community for over 35 years, and is proud to be one of the nation’s premier Arab American organizations. Started by a group of volunteers in 1971 out of a storefront in Dearborn’s impoverished south end, ACCESS was created to assist the Arab immigrant population adapt to life in America.

Now, with several locations and over 90 programs, ACCESS offers a plethora of services to a diverse population regardless of ethnicity. It is ACCESS’ mission to provide economic and social services to Arab immigrants, Arab Americans, and non-Arabs alike. We advocate for equality, justice, and opportunity, and to strive to break down the barriers of linguistic and cultural differences. To accomplish this task each department within ACCESS is structured to address the community’s specific demands and issues.

ACCESS’ six service-orientated departments and dozens of programs each work to achieve this mission in a distinct way. We are proud to serve our community on all levels- from assisting individuals in finding jobs at our Employment & Training Department and helping immigrants adjust to life in our Social Services Department; to helping families with medical illness at our Community Health & Research Center and building a better future by helping our youth through Youth & Education Department. The services ACCESS provides have reached beyond the local level, and ACCESS has become a truly national organization. Through initiatives like the Arab American National Museum (AANM) and the National Network of Arab-American Communities (NNAAC), ACCESS serves all Americans.

Target population: We are in need of volunteers for our Youth and Education Department. This department serves the academically at-risk children and their families. It offers a comprehensive program that works with the family unit to identify the barriers to academic success and working with the family on overcoming these obstacles. Activities including: Academic Enrichment, tutoring, recreational programs, character education, and summer school program, and a summer day camp.

Description: Beyond Basics is a school-centered program that brings targeted reading, writing, and other literacy and self-expression programs to students in grades pre-K through 12.

The work done by Beyond Basics staff and volunteers has been proven to help school children in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods change their destinies by significantly raising their reading proficiency scores and providing developmental and emotional growth opportunities. Typically, we get children reading at grade level or above in six weeks. 100% of the children we work with show improvement in literacy. We have done this work for more than a decade in several schools in the DPS system.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit

Description: BBBSMD is an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the world’s largest and most effective system of one-to-one youth mentoring, and the acknowledged leader in building professionally supported, dynamic relationships which unite children with committed volunteers. The vision of BBBSMD is successful mentoring relationships for all children and youth who need and want them, contributing to brighter futures, better schools and stronger communities for all.

Capuchin Soup Kitchen Earthworks Urban Farm

Description: Earthworks is a program of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, a human service organization of caring people inspired by the spirit of St. Francis and sponsored by the Capuchins of the Province of St. Joseph and concerned benefactors. Earthworks seeks to promote sustainable agricultural practices, nutrition and care for the Earth. We strive for peace, respect and harmony between Neighbor and Nature. Earthworks works to restore our connection to the environment and community in keeping with the tradition of our spiritual patron, St. Francis. It is a working study in social justice, as well as in being more connected to the food we eat. This project relies on the gracious donations from supports of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen and of time from volunteers and materials from sponsors. Neighbors and friends of all ages, incomes and faiths join us in our work."Earthworks" has two meanings: First, "Earthwork" from a military perspective is an earthen barricade to protect from an advancing attack. The concept of our Earthworks is that it protects the environment and us by showing people how to live in harmony with nature assisting in building relationships of mutual benefit. Second, "Earthworks" reflects the work that the Earth does. In this sense, we value the Earth's work and recognize ourselves as shareholders in the natural economy of energy exchange (goods and services) in this living system.

Catherine Ferguson Academy for Young Women (CFA)

Description: CFA is an alternative Detroit Public High School for young women who are pregnant or parenting. Our science department uses a unique school farm program as an outdoor classroom, as well as a greenhouse for plant growing for gardens and student experiments.

Detroit Science Center

Description: We serve a broad audience of all ages, races and socio-economic status. We provide hands-on science exhibits, theater shows, and programs to our visitors. As a non-profit organization we provide many types of experiences for everyone to enjoy regardless of age, race, gender etc.

Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation

Description: GRDC is a grassroots community organization in northwest Detroit. Our service area includes the neighborhoods of North Rosedale Park, Rosedale Park, Grandmont, Grandmont #1 and Minock Park. We take a comprehensive approach to neighborhood revitalization. Our current programs include acquisition/ development/ resale of single-family homes, grants/loans for homeowner home repair, commercial strip development, vacant house maintenance and security, crime prevention community security program, farmers’ market community garden, beautification and clean-up of public spaces. We serve the 5,700 resident households and 400 businesses in our area. It’s a diverse, mixed-income neighborhood.

(The) Heidelberg Project

Description: The Heidelberg Project is a Detroit community-based non-profit organization that empowers people through art. Our mission is to inspire people to appreciate and use artistic expression as means to enrich and improve their lives , and to beautify and preserve the environments in which they live, work, and play. As it grows, the project will help provide an economic base for this community through development and education.

Henry Ford Academy

Description: We are a 9-12 high school house in The Henry Ford- the Museum and Village. The population of the schools is approximately 470 students, about 70% African American. Students are from Wayne County. We are a public charter school. Students are accepted through a lottery process. Many students come to us below grade level in Math and Reading. Tutors will be needed for all subjects.

Hostelling International

Description: Hostelling International (HI) is a nonprofit educational organization recognized worldwide for safe, clean and affordable travel accommodations. Since 1909, HI hostels have provided a welcoming environment for the world’s youth to explore and learn about other people, places, and cultures. HI-USA includes nearly 100 hostels and over 30 councils, and is the recognized hostelling affiliate in The United States.

Macomb Michigan State University Extension

Description: Michigan State University Extension helps people improve their lives through an educational process that applies knowledge to critical issues, needs and opportunities. The mission of the 4H youth Mentor program is to provide youth aged 9-16 with a one-on-one caring adult volunteer. The program focuses on meeting the youth’s development needs through mentoring and life skills. This helps divert youths from costly levels of intervention. Youth are referred by the Macomb County Circuit Court/ Juvenile Division: Probation and/ or diversion staff and live in Macomb County.

(The) Parade Company

Description: The parade company is dedicated to creating fabulous, life-long memories for people of all ages through various events we produce throughout the year. We produce America’s Thanksgiving Parade, Turkey Trot, Hob Nobble Gobble, River Days, Target fireworks and other events throughout the year.

Ravendale Community Inc.

Description: To provide an environment for the community to grow and prosper; spiritually, intellectually, socially and economically. To encourage the community we serve to invest their time, talent and resources, for the enrichment of their community so that all residents can feel welcome and comfortable at Ravendale.

Restaurant Opportunities Center of Michigan

Urban League of Detroit and Southeast Michigan

Description: The Detroit Urban League’s mission is to enable African Americans and other persons of color to achieve their fullest human potential.  Since 1916, our programs and services have anticipated and responded to the changing needs of the Metropolitan Detroit community.  We nurture, counsel, and empower children, adults and seniors to live healthy and productive lives. The Detroit Urban League has a profound impact on the lives of minorities in the Detroit area.  We efficiently and effectively serve over 70,000 clients annually with more than 20 specialized programs and services.  The ripple effect of our programs, benefit far more people in our community than can be easily documented. We continuously review our programs and services to assess current community needs so as to always be in a position to better serve our constituents.