Ongoing Volunteer Programs
The following service programs are coordinated by CASA’s student leaders and staff, and offer a wide range of volunteer and leadership opportunities for USD students interested in working with CASA. Please feel free to contact the coordinators provided in the descriptions below for more information on how to get involved. CASA is located in Hahn University Center 113.
Africa Programs: Learn about the many issues that affect Africa by working to raise awareness among students, including the crises in Darfur, Kenya and the Congo, HIV/AIDS, and other health pandemics and issues. Engage yourself in the conversation by attending events, learning about political issues and participating in fundraisers and community outreach. Contact Felicia Baldwin at bensavfan@yahoo.com for more information.
Color Your World: The Color Your World program facilitates canvass mural painting opportunities with community students and organizations of all types and sizes. Murals engage students from varying backgrounds, ethnicities, ages and developmental levels to address group and individual concerns. You do not have to be an artist to do group murals! Contact Kara Kimbell at karak-10@sandiego.edu for more information.
Cool Club: Cool Club is an organization in which USD students bridge the gap between USD and the students with intellectual disabilities at Mesa Community College in the TRACE (Transition Resources for Adult Community Education) program. The goal of Cool Club is to show that, as college students, our similarities outweigh our differences. Volunteers engage with the TRACE students through various arts/crafts and sports activities. Cool Club meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 1:45-3:30pm in UC 113. Transportation is provided. If you are interested or have any further questions, please email the Cool Club student coordinators at CoolClub07@gmail.com.
Hunger and Homelessness: Learn about issues of hunger and homelessness through educational workshops on housing issues, house-building projects with San Diego housing agencies, and participating in Hunger and Homelessness week with University Ministry. Contact Cara McMahon at cmcmahon@sandiego.edu for more information.
Immigration/Migration Issues: As a result of USD’s close proximity to the U.S./Mexican border, we have a unique opportunity to engage more deeply in the issues of migration and immigration. There are a variety of events and programs (see Migrant Outreach on reverse) that CASA co-sponsors addressing this important issue. Contact Cara McMahon at cmcmahon@sandiego.edu or Hannah Evans at usdmigrantoutreach@gmail.com for more information.
Pro Kids Golf Academy: Pro Kids Golf is a safe and fun environment where underserved kids can learn the game of golf and develop values and life skills that will aid them in their future endeavors. Volunteers are needed to tutor youth in the Pro Kids Learning Center and assist with various events and programs throughout the year. Contact Bryce Abraham at bryce.abraham-10@sandiego.edu for more information.
Public Policy: Public Policy addresses and investigates the many social issues that impact our lives from a political perspective. From healthcare to student tuition, the aim of the public policy group is to help students understand issues that not only directly affect their lives, but also the lives and communities that surround them. Public policy issues are examined through student research opportunities, programming, speakers, and service immersion trips. Contact Brenna Hughes at brenna_hughes@sandiego.edu for more information.
Social Issues Committee: The Social Issues Committee combines the energy and talent of faculty, students, staff, administrators, and community members to expand awareness and facilitate action concerning pressing social issues. Social Issues Committee activities include sponsorship of speakers, public forums, essay contests, themed courses and conferences. Contact Kelsey Johnson at kjohnson-10@sandiego.edu or Hannah Evans at hannahe-10@sandiego.edu for more information .
Sustainability/Fair Trade Task Force: The Sustainability/Fair Trade task force is dedicated to educating the USD community about sustainability issues that exist in our world and in our own communities. This task force recognizes that environmental and social issues are intertwined, and by working to improve the standard of living in less developed countries, it will benefit the environmental quality of the world. The Sustainability/ Fair Trade task force is dedicated not only to educating the community about these issues, but also providing opportunities to take direct action. Contact Hannah Evans at hannahe-10@sandiego.edu or Ashlen Nimmo at nimmoa-10@sandiego.edu for more information.
Youth Programs: In partnership with local elementary, middle and high schools, CASA offers numerous opportunities for college students to work with K-12 youth in the San Diego community through after school tutoring and program support. Contact Brenna Hughes at brenna_hughes@sandiego.edu for more information.
Short-Term Service Opportunities
Read Across America
Volunteer to read stories to students at Montgomery Middle School in the Linda Vista community for this national reading event. Transportation from USD is available, and the event will take place on Monday, March 2, 2009. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Brenna Hughes at Brenna_Hughes@sandiego.edu.
Linda Vista Multi-Cultural Fair: Education Lane
The University of San Diego’s Center for Community Service-Learning is a proud sponsor of Education Lane at the 24th Linda Vista Multi-Cultural Fair, held on Saturday, April 25, 2009. Education Lane is designated for educational institutions and youth-based community initiatives to share information and activities about their organizations with parents and youth in the community. Each booth aims to encourage the youth of Linda Vista to commit to their education and set the personal goal for themselves to attend college. If you would like to volunteer for the Multi-Cultural Fair and/or Education Lane, please contact Brenna Hughes at Brenna_Hughes@sandiego.edu.
Servapalooza!
Volunteer for Volunteeer San Diego’s First Annual Servapalooza event on Sunday, April 26, 2009. Volunteer opportunities include running service stations with local non-profits, helping Volunteer San Diego in the planning and implementation of this regional event and much more. If you would like to volunteer for Servapalooza, please contact Brenna Hughes at Brenna_Hughes@sandiego.edu.
City of Hope’s Walk for Hope to Cure Breast Cancer at USD
The Walk for Hope to Cure Breast Cancer is a national family-oriented, noncompetitive walk that raises funds to support breast cancer research, treatment and education programs at City of Hope that will take place on USD’s campus on Saturday, May 9, 2009. Volunteer opportunities for this event include joining the USD Student Planning Committee to increase campus involvement, volunteering directly at City of Hope’s San Diego office, and/or volunteering the day of the event. If you are interested in getting involved with this event, please contact the USD Walk for Hope student coordinators: Felicia Baldwin at bensavfan@yahoo.com or Kelsey Johnson at kelseydawnjohnson@gmail.com.
Tutor for the American Indian Recruitment (AIR) Program at USD
American Indian Recruitment (AIR) is looking for volunteers to tutor AIR students in their new tutorial program, which will be held every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:00-7:00pm throughout the spring semester on USD’s campus in the Ethnic Studies department. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Chelsea Simon at chelie412@gmail.com.
Cool Club
Cool Club is an organization in which USD students bridge the gap between USD and the students with intellectual disabilities at Mesa Community College in the TRACE (Transition Resources for Adult Community Education) program. Volunteers engage with the TRACE students through various arts/crafts and sports activities. Cool Club meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 1:45-3:30 pm in UC 113 – transportation is provided. If you are interested or have any further questions, please email the Cool Club student coordinators at CoolClub07@gmail.com.
Migrant Outreach
Migrant Outreach is a program that works with Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Rancho Penasquitos. Every Sunday morning members from the parish come to celebrate mass with the migrants. The parishioners provide lunch that we eat together as a community. USD students tutor the migrants in English for about an hour prior to mass to help them succeed in their new community. For more information or to sign up, please visit the CASA office (UC 113) or email Hannah Evans at usdmigrantoutreach@gmail.com.
Service Trips to Tijuana
Have an international experience through one of the many partnerships USD has in Tijuana! Trips can address issues of poverty, immigration, cross-cultural understanding, and/or take advantage of the vibrant art and culture of the city. Please contact Elaine Elliott at elliott@sandiego.edu to find out when trips are scheduled for the semester, and how to sign up and get involved.
Volunteer San Diego
Volunteer San Diego organizes all service opportunities in San Diego into a user-friendly database so that people can volunteer in the community without a long-term commitment. Because you can search by dates and times, this is a great website for college students who have a busy schedule. For access to these volunteer opportunities, please visit www.volunteersandiego.org.
