Domestic Experiences
Americorp
AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connects more than 70,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet our country’s critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment.
http://www.americorps.org/
City Year
An "action tank" for national service, City Year seeks to demonstrate, improve and promote the concept of national service as a means for building a stronger democracy. An action tank is both a program and a think tank - constantly combining theory and practice to advance new policy ideas, make programmatic breakthroughs, and bring about major changes in society. City Year's vision is that one day, the most commonly asked question of a young person will be, "Where are you going to do your service year?"
http://www.cityyear.org/
Peace Corps
Since 1961, the Peace Corps has shared with the world America's most precious resource—its people. Peace Corps Volunteers serve in 73 countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, and the Middle East. Collaborating with local community members, Volunteers work in areas like education, youth outreach and community development, the environment, and information technology.
http://www.peacecorps.gov/
Teach for America
Teach for America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates of all academic majors who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and become leaders in the effort to expand educational opportunity.
http://www.teachforamerica.org/
Student Organizations
Alternative Breaks
Alternative Breaks strives to develop growth and understanding through reflective, hands-on service learning projects, focusing on a variety of social issues throughout the academic year. AB offers students the opportunity to spend thier school breaks immersed in service projects in a variety of locations around the country.
http://www.gvsualternativebreaks.com/
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, non-denominational Christian housing orgainization. All people are welcome to join in and help build simple, decent, affordable houses in partnership with those in need of adequate shelter. Since 1976, Habitat has built more than 80 countries, including some 45,000 in the United States.
http://www2.gvsu.edu/~habitat/
Hunger and Homelessness
Hunger and Homelessness provides opportunities for service trips to Grand Rapids area shelters and soup kitchens, as well as on-campus events such as Share the Warmth blanket drive, Sculpt-It for the Hungry canned food drive, and the annual Hunger Theatre Banquet: an educational program about the unequal distribution of food worldwide.
http://www.studentlife.gvsu.edu/StudentOrg/OrgView.asp?OID=173
Students Against Sweatshops
SAS is a working group comprised of individuals who are goal-oriented to put to light sweatshop conditions around the world, bringing them to the Grand Valley campus, and to work with a Code of Conduct constructed to provide information regarding the conditions under which Grand Valley State University products are produced, specifically with the Worker Rights Consortium.
http://www.studentsagainstsweatshops.org/
Study Abroad Experiences
El Salvador: Social Work-GVSU Faculty-Led
The goal of the program is to increase one's awareness of issues of social justice and human rights as these issues relate to social work in a two-thirds world country. Students will learn abaout El Salvador's rich culture, the political-economic context for social welfare programs, community development, and the role of social workers in El Salvador.
Students will register for a total of 3 credits:
SW 354: International Service 3 credits OR
SW 630: Global Service Learning 3 credits
www.gvsu.edu/studyabroad
Volunteering and Service
Community Service Learning Center
The center is responsible for helping students, staff and faculty create or find volunteer opportunities, network with local non-profit agencies, and advertise volunteer opportunities available in the community. http://www.studentlife.gvsu.edu/default.asp?CID=8
Women’s Issues Volunteer Corps
Making a difference in the lives of women and girls through volunteer opportunities that pair education with activism.
http://www.gvsu.edu/women_cen/index.cfm?id=49B76213-B660-FF28-32B40C81CDA4A9C6
Nicargua: Grand Valley State University Faculty-Led
Come with us to discover Nicaragua, a beautiful yet impoverished country in the tropics of Central America! We will stay in a college in San Marcos, a lovely, quaint small town in the mountains about an hour from the capital city of Managua. While in Nicaragua we will have the opportunity to interact with Nicaraguans, learn about Nicaragua's rich culture, explore volcanoes and beautiful Pacific beaches and feast on seafood and fresh tropical fruit.The focus of the program is the psychology of social inequality or the unequal distribution of power and resources across class, race, and gender.
Students will register for a total of 3 credits:
PSY 380: Psychology of Social Inequality: 3 Credits
www.gvsu.edu/studyabroad
Mexico Solidarity Network
The Mexico Solidarity Network struggles for democracy, economic justice and human rights on both sides of the US-Mexico border. The Mexico Solidarity Network is a grassroots-based organization dedicated to profound social change that challenges existing power relationships and builds alternatives.
www.mexicosolidarity.org
School for International Training
The mission of the School for International Training (SIT) is to prepare students to be interculturally effective leaders, professionals, and citizens. In so doing, SIT fosters a worldwide network of individuals and organizations committed to responsible engagement in a changing world. SIT study abroad programs with a social justice focus include:
Brazil: Culture, Development, and Social Justice
Chile: Culture, Development and Social Justice
Mexico: Grassroots Development and Social Change
South Africa: Multiculturalism and Social Change
Switzerland: International Studies, Organizations and Social Justice
http://www.sit.edu/studyabroad
Partnership for Service Learning
IPSL programs integrate academic studies with volunteer service and full cultural immersion to give you a deeper, more meaningful study abroad experience.
Russia: Service Learning Program (IPSL)
Jamaica: Service Learning (IPSL)
Thailand: Service Learning (IPSL)
Czech Republic: Service Learning Volunteer Program (IPSL)
http://www.ipsl.org/programs
Khon Kaen, Thailand: Development and Globalization CIEE
(Council on International Educational Exchange)
The CIEE Study Center in Khon Kaen helps you to understand the complexities concerning development and globalization issues, and the role you play as global citizens. You'll learn about development and globalization from both an academic and a grassroots community level and its overall effects on a developing nation.
http://www.evi.ciee.org/program_search/program_detail.aspx?program_id=53
