Office of Community Engagement

The Academic Service-Learning Program supports classroom experiences that utilize community service, community-based research, or other civic engagement activities along with regular reflection to meet course goals and community needs. The program relates to Morris’s mission in the following areas: “preparing students…who value…civic engagement;” and supporting “outstanding teaching, dynamic learning…public outreach.

Service-learning classes generally begin with an initial meeting between a community partner or faculty member and the service-learning coordinator. To set up a time to meet, contact the Office of Community Engagement.

Bread ’N Bowls seeks to:

1. Raise awareness of violence and poverty in the regional community;

2. Celebrate the role of the arts and community-building in creating and maintaining a healthy, affirming, inclusive community; and

3. Provide meaningful service-learning and volunteer opportunities to UMM and high school art students.

Local businesses, places of worship, and individuals interested in donating food or supplies or volunteering should contact the Office of Community Engagement.

Bread ’N Bowls, o Pan y tazón es un evento anual que se realiza con la misión de incrementar la conciencia social. Este evento se efectúa a finales de abril o en los primeros días de mayo. Miembros de la comunidad son invitados a comprar un tazón de cerámica y una cena pequeña para contribuir a “Someplace Safe,” el “Stevens County Food Shelf,” y los programas para niños del Prairie Renaissance Cultural Alliance. El evento tiene lugar en la cafetería de la escuela primaria de Morris. Artistas del área, estudiantes de cerámica de UMM, miembros del club de arte de la escuela secundaria, restaurantes locales, negocios y lugares religiosos dan donaciones de los tazones de cerámica hechos a mano, sopa, pan y también postre, y estas donaciones hacen que este evento sea posible.

The mission of the Community Engagement Student Leaders’ Program is to provide leadership, training, and reflection opportunities for UMM students particularly invested in community engagement as work-study, MSAF, or institutionally-funded student employees of the office; interns or lead volunteers; or service-learning teaching assistants. This program relates to Morris’s mission in that it helps prepare “global citizens who value and pursue intellectual growth, civic engagement, intercultural competence, and environmental stewardship.”

Paid positions are posted at the UMM Student Employment site. Those interested in serving as a volunteer or intern should contact the Office of Community Engagement to discuss opportunities.

The Community ESL Program’s mission is:

1. to provide UMM students and community members with opportunities to plan and implement lesson plans for non-native speakers of English, particularly targeting new Latino immigrants;

2. to provide opportunities for UMM students to develop intercultural competence, critical thinking, and leadership and collaboration skills; and

3. to provide quality English language classes to new Latino immigrants to improve their ability to participate as fully as possible in the county professionally, civically, and personally.

The program relates to Morirs’s mission in that it helps to prepare students “to be global citizens who value and pursue intellectual growth, civic engagement, [and] intercultural competence.”

ESL tutors and teachers must have completed a 12 hour training, offered at the start of each semester in Morris by the Minnesota Literacy Council. They then attend an organizational meeting to determine a specific class level and role. Once teams are formed at the start of each semester, each team works together to plan and implement lessons each week; tutors must commit to teaching or assisting with at least one class each week. Monthly reflection meetings and ongoing trainings and class observations/feedback are provided.

Instructores voluntarios de inglés como segundo idioma, incluyen tanto estudiantes de UMM como también miembros de la comunidad. Juntos trabajan para planear e implementar clases de inglés para los residentes hispanohablantes de esta área de Minnesota. Hay seis niveles de clases de inglés que se imparten los lunes y jueves de 7:30 a 8:45 p.m. en Imholte Hall en la universidad. Además, hay clases menos formales de inglés los miércoles de 6 a 9 p.m. en el edificio de la escuela primaria de Morris y también de 1 de la tarde a - 2:30 en Federated Church.

The mission of days of service are to:

1. meet direct service needs in the regional community that require small or large groups of volunteers for short periods of time; and

2. introduce students to the history, mission, activities, and volunteer needs of a particular agency, as well as the social issues that affect that agency’s work.

Community partners interested in being service site for this day of service should contact the Office of Community Engagement. Register for the next day of service.

Gather in the Park seeks to:

1. raise awareness of domestic violence in the regional community;

2. celebrate the role of community-building in creating and maintaining a healthy, affirming, inclusive community; and

3. provide meaningful service-learning and volunteer opportunities to UMM students and community members.

All members of the community are encouraged to attend this event, and the date and location are widely advertised in regional media. Gather in the Park is a service-learning project coordinated by students in a UMM Intellectual Community course, with additional volunteers assisting with planning and set up and serving as guest speakers. For more information, contact the Office of Community Engagement.

Gather in the Park, o Reunión en la parque, es un evento anual que tiene como meta incrementar el conocimiento acerca de la violencia doméstica. Este evento ocurre en octubre y está patrocinado por Someplace Safe y la Oficina de Compromiso Comunitario. Cada año, este programa educativo ofrece información del impacto de la violencia doméstica en ésta región de Morris. El evento también incluye actividades para niños y una cena pequeña. Todos los miembros de la comunidad son animados a atender, y la fecha y lugar son anunciados en diferentes medios de comunicación en la región.

Como puedes estar involucrado: Todos los miembros de la comunidad son alentados a asistir a este evento. La fecha y el lugar son anunciados en diferentes medios de comunicación en la región. Gather in the Park es un proyecto de estudiantes de UMM, con voluntarios adicionales que ayudan con la planificación y la organización. Para más información, contacte a la Oficina de Compromiso Comunitario en engagmnt@morris.umn.edu.

Martin Luther King Day of service honors the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by providing students and community members with the opportunity to learn and serve together through projects designed to reflect Martin Luther King Jr’s. life and legacy. The mission of days of service are to:

1. meet direct service needs in the regional community that require small or large groups of volunteers for short periods of time; and

2. introduce students to the history, mission, activities, and volunteer needs of a particular agency, as well as the social issues that affect that agency’s work.

Community partners interested in being service site for this day of service should contact the Office of Community Engagement. Register for the next day of service.

El MLK Día del servicio es el único día feriado nacional que se acata como un día nacional del servicio. El MLK Día del servicio es parte de United We Serve, y el Presidente hace un llamado nacional para incrementar el servicio comunitario. Este evento fue establecido como parte de la asociación entre la comunidad y la universidad para celebrar la vida y las enseñanzas del Reverendo Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Miembros de nuestra diversa comunidad en Morris se congregan en varios lugares de la comunidad para aprender de temas acerca de la comunidad, participar en proyectos de servicio y educativos, hablar con los invitados especiales que dan discursos ese día y presentadores y compartir una cena juntos.

The mission of Morris Community Meal is to:

1. provide students, faculty/staff, and community partners with an opportunity to plan, cook, and serve a meal together in an atmosphere in which everyone is a learner and a teacher;

2. to promote cooking healthy meals with local ingredients;

3. to provide a free, healthy meal to those who cannot otherwise easily afford one; and

4. to provide an opportunity for fellowship among people who might not otherwise interact.

The program relates to Morris’s mission in that it helps students to “value…civic engagement, intercultural competence, and environmental stewardship.”

Volunteers are needed to help with meal planning on an ongoing basis and to help with meal prep, cooking, serving, and cleaning from 2:00–9:00 on the Sunday before and day of the meal. Community meal is funded by the generous support of community organizations and businesses, and we are always interested in new partnerships. To inquire about co-sponsoring a meal or helping with meal planning contact the Office of Community Engagement. Sign up to help with the next meal.

La Cena Comunitaria de Morris se sirve de 5:30–7 p.m. y se realiza seis noches cada año, usualmente en la Faith Lutheran Church, que está ubicada en 108 W. 8th St. en Morris. ¡Todos están bienvenidos a compartir y a comer una cena gratis y sana! Voluntarios, incluyendo estudiantes de UMM y miembros de la comunidad, trabajan juntos para apoyar, planear, cocinar y servir cada cena.

Como puedes participar: Necesitamos voluntarios para ayudar a planear la cena y también para ayudar a preparar, cocinar, servir y limpiar desde las 2:00 p.m. hasta 9:00 p.m. el domingo antes y también el día de la cena. Esta cena es posible gracias al apoyo generoso de organizaciones y negocios de la comunidad, y siempre estamos interesados en asociaciones nuevas. Si quiere involucrarse, puede contactar a la Oficina del Compromiso Comunitario, engagmnt@morris.umn.edu.

The mission of Soup and Substance is to:

1. provide opportunities for community partners and campus entities (disciplines, offices, or student organizations) to collaborate on planning a dialogue about

2. important community issues related to privilege and oppression;
to provide UMM students with facilitation training and opportunities to practice facilitation and meaningful conversation skills;

3. to provide attendees from the campus and community with information about ways to get involved in efforts to create social change in the community.

This program relates to Morris’s mission in that it promotes “civic engagement and intercultural competence” and contributes to “collaboration and a deep sense of community.”

We welcome co-sponsorships by student or community organizations. To suggest a topic or offer to co-sponsor or co-facilitate, please complete this short form. Look at the campus events on the calendar for dates and topics.

We welcome co-sponsorships by student or community organizations. To suggest a topic or offer to co-sponsor or co-facilitate, please complete this short form. Look at the campus events on the calendar for dates and topics

The Office of Community Engagement assists individual students, residential life communities, and student organizations with creating and sustaining partnerships with local community agencies that build civic and professional skills and meet community needs. These may include short-term, ongoing, or long-term volunteer opportunities or projects linking with our regional community.

To learn about projects that might be of interest to you, complete the volunteer interest form. To apply for funds for a project, complete the Community Engagement Fund application.

The mission of Trick or Can is to collect money, food, and toiletries for families and individuals who utilize the Stevens County Food Shelf, and to raise awareness among UMM students and within the community about regional poverty.

The Trick or Can date is widely publicized, and community members are encouraged to be at home on that evening or to leave donations outside their front doors. UMM students can get involved by contact the Office of Community Engagement or signing up.

TREC’s mission is to:

1. promote literacy in school-aged children;

2. to provide school-aged children with meaningful tutoring and mentoring experiences; and

3. to provide UMM students with meaningful work-study, volunteer, and service-learning opportunities.

At the start of each semester, available TREC work-study positions are listed on the UMM Student Employment website. In addition, an orientation session, followed by a training, is offered at the start of each semester for volunteers. Finally, some courses include TREC as a service-learning project option. TREC tutors commit to serving at least once each week and to monthly reflection meetings and ongoing trainings.

TREC es un asociación que ha sido establecida para darle a los estudiantes de UMM oportunidades de ser tutores y mentores de niños de preescolar hasta el sexto grado. Los tutores de TREC trabajan en una variedad de sitios, incluyendo la guardería del área de Morris También son tutores en clase en las escuelas, y son tutores y mentores en los actividades del Zone, un programa después de clase en la Escuela Primaria del Área de Morris. Además, los tutores de TREC leen y dirigen actividades para estudiantes pre-K durante “Storytime at the Library,” en la biblioteca de Morris. También tienen actividades de alfabetización y ayuda académica para niños durante los clases de inglés como segundo idioma para adultos y otras oportunidades para los miembros hispanohablantes de la comunidad.

The mission of days of service are to:

1. meet direct service needs in the regional community that require small or large groups of volunteers for short periods of time; and

2. introduce students to the history, mission, activities, and volunteer needs of a particular agency, as well as the social issues that affect that agency’s work.

These service days are widely advertised to UMM students and the broader community; however, weather and other factors affect the dates each year. Sign up for the next U.S. Fish and Wildlife Day of Service.

Students interested in making an ongoing volunteer commitment at a community organization, non-profit, or governmental agency can connect to these opportunities through the Office of Community Engagement.

The Office of Community Engagement assists individual students, residential life communities, and student organizations with creating and sustaining partnerships with local community agencies that build civic and professional skills and meet community needs. These may include short-term, ongoing, or long-term volunteer opportunities or projects linking with our regional community.

To learn about projects that might be of interest to you, complete the volunteer interest form.

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