My interns have been talking about midterms and it suddenly dawns on me that we’re halfway through the semester. With so many events and activities going on at Azusa Pacific in the past few months, the time has flown by. (That’s another way of me apologizing for not updating this blog as frequently as I would like.)
In a recent meeting we discussed community involvement and service-learning at APU, and how there’s much more going on than our campus realizes, in terms of working with and serving in the community. Not to say there isn’t always room for more. Many of the efforts of our students, faculty, and staff go unspoken and unnoticed outside of those who are impacted. I thought I would take a moment to highlight a few of the programs and activities APU participates in and leads.
C.H.A.M.P. Program
This is one of APU’s more well-known service-learning programs, but as C.H.A.M.P. students were recently on campus, I wanted to take a moment to give kudos to all the APU C.H.A.M.P. buddies who are reaching out to fourth-grade students and inspiring them to start planning for college. Just think, in about 8 years many these kids will be preparing to be college freshman. Read more about the C.H.A.M.P. Program.
Girls on the Move
We often read about it in the news: Obesity is a problem. Today’s youth aren’t getting enough exercise. We are a fast food nation. Girls on the Move is a new program that aims to change those statistics by helping 6th-8th grade girls start healthy fitness and nutrition habits early through a five-week fitness program designed by APU Exercise and Sports Science majors in collaboration with the city of Azusa’s Parks and Recreation Department. Read more about Girls on the Move.
Azusa Reads, Writes, Counts, and Calculates
This spring APU will celebrate 10 years of Azusa Reads, a program that provides free reading assistance to Azusa youth from kindergarten through fifth grade at the Azusa City Library. APU students volunteer as tutors for weekly half-hour one-on-one reading sessions. This program paved the way for Azusa Writes, Azusa Counts, and Azusa Calculates, which provide writing and math assistance to youth.
A-Town Kids and Cerritos Kids
These two programs, A-Town Kids and Cerritos Kids, take place in neighboring apartment complexes and give APU students the opportunity to live alongside their neighbors as they participate in community development and build relationships with Azusa’s youth. Volunteers tutor local children, lead a wide variety of activities, facilitate an on-site library, conduct language classes with families, and participate in community meals.
S.A.Y. Yes! (Save America’s Youth)
Each semester, APU students get involved with the Los Angeles-based S.A.Y. Yes! Program in which volunteers invest into the lives of youth living on Skid Row. Through tutoring, nutritional meals, recreation, and character development, children develop the tools to contribute to their community and to their families.
S.E.E.D. (Students for Environmental Education and Discovery)
Through S.E.E.D., APU students collaborate with the San Gabriel Mountain Regional Conservancy to focus on issues of the environment and the importance of environmental stewardship. For example, volunteers create educational classes at local elementary schools and participate in field trips and special events in the Azusa Unified School District.
Walk in the Light, South Africa
In addition to local service, students at APU's South Africa Semester are reaching out to the people in their community through Walk in the Light, an organization that works to meet the spiritual and physical needs of children, widows, and the sick in their community. Whether painting murals, cleaning homes, or educating and building awareness on HIV prevention and substance abuse, these students are getting to know their community and gain a better understanding of the people and culture of South Africa.
To share additional stories of community involvement and service, or to find about more about APU's service opportunities, email me at aoster@apu.edu.
