Several weeks ago I had the pleasure of spending time with
the College’s neighbors when the Western Bayside College-Community
Partnership gathered for
a discussion at the Heritage United Methodist Church. About 40 community
leaders (and many residents from the surrounding area) participated in the
discussion. As you know from my earlier writings, community service is an
important part of my educational philosophy and priorities.
Congratulations to our Director of Community Service Diane Hotaling
and Professor of Sociology / Associate
Dean for Innovative Teaching and Engaged Learning Kathy Stolley, for
their devotion to the Western Bayside Partnership project. I was impressed by
the passion of our community partners.
The Western Bayside College-Community Partnership
initiative seeks to build mutually beneficial campus-community partnerships
committed to enhancing both the Western Bayside area and Virginia Wesleyan
College by changing perceptions, improving quality of life, and increasing
civic involvement. Our geographic proximity to these partners is an asset to
our relationships.
Existing relationships between Virginia Wesleyan
College and the Western Bayside Community include:
Neighborhood Tutoring, an after-school
homework room, offered in the community since 1997. Currently serving the
Bayside Schools Tri Campus.
Marlins Read, a literacy program
offered at Diamond Springs, Newtown, Bayside and Shelton Park Elementary
Schools in Virginia Beach.
Marlins Count, a math literacy program
offered at Newtown, BF Williams and Bayside Elementary Schools in Virginia
Beach.
Global Marlins, a literacy program for
students whose first language is not English, offered at Newtown Elementary
School in Virginia Beach.
Future Marlins, a mentoring program
offered at Bayside Middle School in Virginia Beach.
Marlins Community Youth Garden Club, a
six-week fall and spring program in the Western Bayside Community Garden, in
partnership with garden leaders and the 4-H and Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Readings With Wesleyan, a program of the
Virginia Wesleyan Center for Innovative Teaching and Engaged Learning that
brings free college-level teaching to residents of the surrounding
neighborhood.
Professional Development School at Bayside High, enables
both partners to work together to educate tomorrow’s teachers and provide
educational opportunities for high-school students.
Work Study Community Placements: Currently
at Bayside Tri Campus schools in Virginia Beach.
Faculty as experts: For example, Recreation
and Leisure Studies faculty evaluate after-school programs and consult on recreation
center, playground development.
Students as employees: For example, at
Enoch Baptist Church in an after-school program and as Standards of Learning (SOL)
tutors at Bayside High School.
Volunteers: (As requested--for example,
assisting in the Community Garden, serving the assisted living residents,
conducting neighborhood clean ups with the Lake Edward Area Civic League, etc.
Our Community Service program under the able leadership of
Diane Hotaling is, I believe, a well-kept secret that is a very special part of
our United Methodist tradition and mission. I encourage you to contact Diane (dhotaling@vwc.edu or
455-3216), if you haven't already, and discuss ways to integrate community
service and service learning into your programs.
