Tag Archives: volunteer

Campus Announcements Archive

Drake to partner with Joppa to build tiny homes as part of DU Good Day

The Drake community is teaming up with Joppa Outreach in a weeklong event to help build tiny homes for their tiny home community, which is designed to provide safe, transitional housing for the homeless. The build will take place in the parking lot across from the alumni house Sept. 11–16, and faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the Drake neighborhood are encouraged to participate.

The event coincides with DU Good Day on Sept. 16, in which alumni across the country participate in a day of service. Click here to sign up to volunteer for the build. This is a great opportunity for faculty and staff to use their community service leave hours. For questions or more information, contact Amelia Klatt, assistant director of alumni relations, at 271-3378 or amelia.klatt@drake.edu.

— Amelia Klatt, Alumni Relations

News & Achievements Archive

Volunteer with the Adult Literacy Center

The Adult Literacy Center at Drake University is seeking volunteers eager to change the lives of local adults by helping them achieve basic literacy (reading, writing, and/or speaking) skills. A tutor training will be held Friday, April 22, 5–8 p.m., and Saturday, April 23, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m., at the School of Education.

Volunteers will learn about characteristics of adults who lack literacy skills, the potential causes for adult illiteracy, and skills for delivering multisensory reading instruction. Registration is required and can be completed by contacting Anne Murr at anne.murr@drake.edu or 515-271-3982.

Learn more about the Adult Literacy Center in the Drake Newsroom.

News & Achievements Archive

Findley Elementary first grade to visit Drake

This past year Drake University teamed up with “I Have a Dream” Foundation to adopt the first grade class at Findley Elementary’s Dreamer Academy. “It’s never too early to start thinking about college” is the name of the game, and we hope you can join us in supporting this partnership!

Our adopted first grade classes will make their visit to campus this coming Tuesday, March 29. The 55 kiddos will arrive at Olmsted around 9:45 a.m., have lunch at the Field House at noon, and depart campus around 1 p.m. We have a host of events planned for them thanks to the organizing committee (Catherine Gillespie, Shelley Hurst, Amanda Martin, Laurel Haxton, and Jasmine Barr).

Volunteers are still needed for the day, please visit our website to see what’s available and share this with other students, faculty, and staff!

—Renee Sedlacek, Interim Director of Community Engagement & Service-Learning

News & Achievements Archive

Walk 34 miles in their shoes

Walk for the Horn is an extreme, long-distance charity walk. The event raises funds and awareness for unaccompanied Eritrean refugee minors in Ethiopia.

The walk starts on Sunday morning, April 17, and goes from Drake University to Iowa State University (34 miles), so it’s no walk in the park. Participants can walk any distance they wish.

Sign up today by signing up on our fundraising page: www.razoo.com/team/Walk-For-The-Horn

A $20 donation is required to participate, but that includes an awesome T-shirt, water along the walk, and shuttle rides to and from Drake’s campus. Want to help the cause more? Raise a total of $50 and get all of the above plus a sweet Walk for the Horn bandana.

—Adam Poole

Strategic Updates Archive

Volunteer at tonight’s Brown and Black Forum!

Tonight is your chance to get up close and personal with political movers and shakers at the Brown and Black Forum! Although Drake’s entire ticket allotment has been distributed, a few volunteers are still needed for positions following the event. Volunteers would need to arrive to Olmsted Center by 8:30 p.m., so anyone attending the forum is not able to participate in this opportunity. If interested, please contact Rachel Paine Caufield at rachel.caufield@drake.edu.

—Submitted by Jarad Bernstein, Director of Public Relations and Media Management

News & Achievements Archive

Make a difference with the Adult Literacy Center

The Adult Literacy Center at Drake University is seeking volunteers eager to change the lives of local adults by helping them achieve basic literacy (reading, writing, and/or speaking) skills. A tutor training will be held Friday, Jan. 22, 5–8 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 23, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., at the Drake University School of Education, 3206 University Ave. To register, contact Anne Murr, anne.murr@drake.edu, 515-271-3982. Click here to learn more.

News & Achievements Archive

Join a site visit to Findley’s Dreamer Academy

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As part of our United Way Campaign we are highlighting I Have a Dream Foundation and invite faculty, staff, and students to join us on a site visit to learn more about how they can get involved with our partnership at Findley Elementary. Drake has partnered with the I Have a Dream Foundation to adopt the 1st grade class at Findley in an effort to create a strong culture of pursuing college and careers among Dreamers at an early age. Throughout the year we will facilitate programing, learning opportunities, and support services for students and families. Every student at Findley Elementary is a Dreamer!

Two visits will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 8:15 a.m.  and 12:15 p.m.. Transportation will be provided, but each visit will be limited to 10 participants, so sign up today. Participants should meet in the Olmsted Parking lot 30 minutes prior to the start of the visit they signed up for.

For more information, please contact Renee Sedlacek, interim director of community engagement & service-learning at x2454 or renee.sedlacek@drake.edu.

—Submitted by Renee Seldacek

For Students Archive

Students: Volunteer with Meals from the Heartland

Exploring Food Justice and Community Building through Service
Friday, Oct. 30
5:15—7:30 p.m.
Marriott Hotel – Salon D & E

Meals from the Heartland is a nonprofit, largely volunteer-based organization that brings diverse communities—such as businesses, schools, individuals, organizations, churches, and families—together in an effort to provide food to the hungry around the world. They’ve packaged more than 50 million meals since they began in 2007. Join us in this hands-on experience to package meals for the hungry, and learn more about global service-learning. This event will also include light hors d’oeuvres.

You’ll have the opportunity to:

  • Learn about Meals from the Heartland and food justice/food security
  • Send meals all over the world; will pack about 20,000 meals
  • Learn more about global service-learning from a practitioner in the field of international education
  • Opportunity to network with international educators in the Midwest

Please RSVP to Maria Rohach, global learning program coordinator, by Wednesday, Oct. 28, at maria.rohach@drake.edu.

—Submitted by Maria Rohach

For Faculty Archive, For Staff Archive

United Way/Iowa Shares Campaign begins Oct. 30

Join your colleagues and the All Staff Council for a fun kick-off event on Friday, Oct. 30, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pomerantz Stage in Olmsted Center. This is a terrific opportunity to learn about and connect with a few of the Drake Neighborhood organizations that we donate to. Our partnerships with local community agencies are key to helping us provide learning opportunities for students. Many Drake alumni serve as United Way and Iowa Shares’ most generous and active donors, volunteers, and advocates.

While you’re learning, enjoy a delicious $5 lunch featuring chili, spiced pumpkin soup, and cornbread.

Stay for a short program at 12:15 p.m. featuring the talent of local poetry slam favorites RUN DSM.

All attendees will be entered to win a Drake parking pass good for 2016–2017.

—Submitted by Renee Sedlacek, Interim Director of Community Engagement and Service-Learning

News & Achievements Archive

Seeking volunteers for Sussman Leadership Conference

The annual Richard & Lila Sussman Fall Leadership Conference will take place Sunday, Oct. 25, from 1 to 6 p.m. in the Olmsted Center. The Sussman Fall Leadership Conference is designed for students who are interested in or are currently involved with leadership on campus.

The conference theme this semester is “Do Less, Achieve More” and the keynote speaker, James Robilotta, will speak on “More Action, Less Title: Empowering Student Leaders To Do More”.

I am looking for students, faculty, and staff to facilitate breakout sessions on a range of topics that will encourage attendees to be intentional with their involvement on campus and to explore leadership in the following areas:

  • Personal/Professional Development: Sessions will inform students’ understanding of their leadership identity as it relates to their activities on campus and beyond. Potential topics: time management, effective communication, avoiding burnout
  • Strategic and Organizational Leadership: Workshops will provide effective tips and training that student leaders can use in their organizations and on campus. Potential topics: event planning, navigating Drake policies, motivating members
  • Community Building: Workshops will build students’ understanding of effective community partnerships at Drake and in the Des Moines area. Potential topics: creating Des Moines partnerships, intentional philanthropy, collaborating with other organizations

Each session will reach 20–30 students and should last up to 50 minutes.

If you are interested in presenting at the conference, please complete this form by Monday, Sept. 28. Selected presenters will be notified by Friday, Oct. 2.

Questions? Contact Meghan Blancas, director for student leadership programs, at meghan.blancas@drake.edu

—Submitted by Meghan Blancas