Connecting With Our Community Through Service Learning
Students in Professor Renee Adamany’s classes were busy over the past few weeks collecting donations of hats and mittens, organizing games and craft projects, and putting together gift bags. Then, they went out into the community to lead activities at six local organizations as part of their service learning projects for SOC 127: Interpersonal and Group Dynamics.
Onika Thomas, April Diaz, Alana Weber, Stephanie Brown, Professor Renee Adamany, and
Arturo Roman.
City Mission of Schenectady
The group in both photos above titled their project “A Night to Remember,” encouraging
adults and children to dress up and provided them with dinner, activities, gift bags,
and an opportunity to have their photo taken professionally to take home with them.
Arturo Roman, a Chemical Dependency Counseling major, works at the City Mission. When his group members suggested the women’s side of the City Mission for a project, he thought that it would be a great fit.
“We wanted all of the women to feel empowered and valued," he said. "Especially through the photo, we wanted to tell them, ‘Remember what you mean to the world, that you have a voice, and that your voice needs to be heard.’ ”
Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region
The group, pictured above, organized a fall party for the girls with food, arts, crafts
and games.
YWCA NorthEastern New York – Early Learning Center
The group, pictured above, assisted the children in painting pictures on individual
canvases, provided food, and gave each child a hat and mitten set.
YWCA NorthEastern New York
The students conducted a bingo game for the residents, provided food, and gave each
woman a handmade scarf and a personal care gift bag.
New Choices Recovery Center
The group conducted a game session, provided food, and gave each participant a self-care
gift bag.
Schenectady ARC - Maple Ridge Center
Students assisted the clients in baking cupcakes and cookies and making aprons and
provided a baking care package for them to take home.
“The students gain valuable knowledge about working in teams, communication skills and they also learn about community agencies. I am so proud of what they have accomplished."