Notre Dame de Namur University NDNU’s...GRADUATION: May 2017 IN THIS ISSUE Thank You Senior...
Transcript of Notre Dame de Namur University NDNU’s...GRADUATION: May 2017 IN THIS ISSUE Thank You Senior...
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NDNU’s Human Services
Community Capstone
Projects
Summer 2017 Newsletter
GRADUATION: May 2017 IN THIS ISSUE
Thank You
Every year, NDNU Human Services
students partner with community
organizations. Their challenge is to
lead a project in which they establish
significant goals and measure specific
outcomes so that they make a lasting
difference.
We are so grateful to the
organizations that work with these
students. The opportunities that you
give students access to allow them to
demonstrate the passion that they feel
for different causes, populations, and
communities.
Thank you for joining me to celebrate
these successes. They are highlighted
in just a few words here, but their
success is reflected in infinitely more
ways when measured in effort and the
potential for improved futures.
Sincerely,
Therese Dr. Therese M. Madden
Professional Studies Program
NDNU, 1500 Ralston Avenue,
Belmont, CA 94002-1908
Senior Seminar at the
Belmont Campus
Andonica (Nica) Williams worked
with Deborah’s Palm, which is a Palo
Alto-based women’s resource center,
to organize and facilitate a series of
divorce seminars. Though her
efforts, she empowered community
members with knowledge and
afforded them dignity and respect
though understanding and care.
Joy Fabre-Garcia challenged her
local girl scout troop to move beyond
social activities to service-oriented
ideas. Through her research and
facilitation, the troop participated
with a number of nonprofit outreach
efforts appropriate for their age,
creating a foundation of service and
philanthropy.
Jessica Castro worked with local
motorcycle safety organizations as
she penned a book about motorcycle
safety for women. She used her book
as the basis for a series of talks about
the subject and plans to remain
involved as an advocate for the health
and safety of women riders.
Daisy Marquez helped to organize
an Encuentro Alternative Spring
Break that focused on Immigration
Justice through the Sister Dorothy
Stang Center. She provided support
for one immigrant’s asylum hearing
and helped empower students with
knowledge and experience about
immigration efforts so that they can make a difference for others.
Melissa Maldonado organized a
youth project for Redwood City’s
Fair Oaks Community School in
which students visited two local
colleges to learn about opportunities in higher education.
Gratitude to participating organizations
Senior Seminar at Belmont Campus
Senior Seminar at Mission College
Notre Dame de Namur University
*Teaching Excellence *Social Justice* Community Engagement*
A Tradition of Creating Access to Higher Education
NDNU HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM – NEWSLETTER | 2017 2
Janice Zowasky partnered with the
California Dental Association Cares
San Mateo to provide local marketing
and advertising support for a pop up
clinic at the San Mateo Expo Center.
Her sponsor noted that “her
volunteerism and support, along with
many others, allowed us to provide
almost $1.6M in case to the San
Mateo community.”
Georgette Esquivel created a
semester-long yoga curriculum for
Gatepath, which provides programs
to create opportunities for greater
independence for people with special
needs and disabilities. This
curriculum focuses on the physical
benefits of movement and self-care
and aids participants in learning new
ways of calming the mind. Her
sponsor noted that “the results have
been very positive. The participants
love it and attendance has been
almost at capacity.”
Alassandra Hnatt worked with
Peninsula Family Services to create a
child-parent bonding night for low-
income families. This organization
provides preschool for children facing
extreme adversity and the project
included both outreach and
facilitation of an evening event.
William Leroy Wells organized a
college information project for the
Mid-Peninsula Boys and Girls Club,
inspiring youth to pursue higher
education through information, a tour
of NDNU, and facilitated reflection
about the learning process. The Mid-
Peninsula Boys and Girls Club serves
youth between the ages of six and 18
and seeks to inspire and enable all
young people to reach their full
potential as productive, caging, and responsible citizens.
David Muir created assistance for
the St. Bonaventure Outreach
Services in providing electricity and
water to families on the Eastern
Navajo Reservation in New Mexico.
Though a combination of outreach
projects, he raised money to purchase
a solar panel kit, a cistern, a water
pump, and a water heater. His
sponsor noted that the success of
David’s project will “greatly improve
the life of a Navajo family to receive
1200 gallons of water a month –
instead of 220 gallons of water a
month. It will allow a Navajo family
to have access to hot water and some
LED lights… to give Navajo children
an opportunity to do their school homework at night.
Monique Hunter supported the
Dorothy Stang Scholarship Fund
through the creation of a web-based
platform and an informative video.
The scholarship fund currently
provides financial support to four
women who have worked hard at
rebuilding their lives after trauma and addiction.
Candice Calero developed an
innovative marketing campaign to
spread awareness and attract
donations to Sacramento’s National
Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Candice continues her involvement
and plans to spread awareness
through peer to peer educational
programs designed to promote the
alleviation of stigmas associated with mental illness.
Marisela Nunez worked with
Community Health Partnership to
research curriculum development,
interviewing local organizations
about the development of a civic-engagement program.
Amanda Fletcher worked with the
Helen and Joe Farkes center for the
Study of the Holocaust in Catholic
Schools, using her extensive
experience in libraries to organize
their collection. Her sponsor noted
that this project benefitted not just the
450 students currently at the high
school but “an unlimited number of
students and teachers who will now
have knowledge of and access to the
collection.”
Marilyn Lara increased the visibility
of the Institute on Aging’s Friendship
Line, which is a free service to the
elderly and those who have
disabilities. It provides a warm and
confidential conservation to seniors
who may not have anyone,
supporting lonely and isolated
individuals in San Francisco, Marin,
and San Mateo Counties. Marilyn
partnered with agencies that service
the aging population in San Mateo
county, creating a data base, doing
presentations, and more. Her sponsor
noted that “the call value from San
Mateo residents is expected to increase.”
Nidia Medina announced the
completion of an outreach program
for REACH, which is an organization
that serves the needs of stroke
survivors and others with brain
injuries. They provide educational
and rehab services, plus activities, for
adults who are recovering from
strokes or other brain injuries. This
outreach program included both
research and outreach aimed toward
increasing phone calls by at least
20%. Her sponsor said that “this
project could literally serve thousands
of stroke survivors and their families.”
Geraldine Castrence developed a
social media outreach project for the
NDNU Clinical Psychology
Department. Deemed the second best
program nation-wide for student
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satisfaction, this program enhanced
program strengths by developing a
strategy to broaden student outreach through social media.
Senior Seminar at
Mission College (NDNU
Satellite location)
Cassondra Godinez drafted a
comprehensive employee manual for
the Grateful Garment Project and
designed a web site designed to
support other Human Services
professionals.
Darius Holmes redesigned and
reworked the Mission Middle College
website for greater communication
efficiency with both its targeted
population and the community at large.
Maria Velasco recruited 30 families
of Veterans to participate in an event
at Dream Power, which offers equine-
assisted activities and therapies. The
program, called Horses for Warriors,
provides innovative therapy services aimed at assisting Veterans.
Emily Neapolitan launched an
outreach program for Bay Area
organization Girl Ventures, which
combines outdoor adventure with
social/emotional learning for
adolescent girls. Emily’s project
included designing, creating, and
implementing a marketing and digital
media outreach program targeted at
hard to reach communities in order to
raise awareness, solicit donations and
members, and track media. Her
sponsor noted that she “has been
fantastic at taking initiative and
providing us with incredible materials.”
Carlos Echevarria worked with the
San Jose Vet Center and Crossfit
Kindred to implement a physical
training program to Disabled
Veterans as part of their
rehabilitation. The San Jose Vet
Center offers readjustment counseling
for Veterans coming from all war
eras. This project combined their
outreach efforts to those with
physical and mental health issues
with the expertise of CrossFit coaches
to involve more Veterans in physical
health exercises and nutritional
programs.
Adrianna Thompson led a Visual
and Performing Arts Project for
Gardner Academy in San Jose, a
bilingual elementary school. By
leading efforts to create the
foundation for a parent volunteer
position designed to organize events
for students around visual and
performing arts, AJ created
connections and facilitate increased
student experiences.
Student Reflections NDNU’s intimate setting builds a community of students, teachers and administrators who are working together to make the learning experience a positive one.
What I have learned at NDNU has prepared me for life. I am knowledgeable, confident, and curious. More importantly, I am not afraid of challenge. I have learned so much… about myself and what I am truly capable of. By creating a community that is learning and growing together we are better able to serve others. It does not stop when we leave NDNU. NDNU will always be part of my community; it has left its Hallmark on me. As I began accumulating information for this project, I was amazed at the wealth of topics covered throughout my courses at NDNU. Through the Human Services Program, my self-esteem has improved by leaps and bounds.
NDNU’s Human
Services Program
1500 Ralston Avenue Belmont, CA 94002
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Notre Dame de Namur University is the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area, with a mission and tradition on the forefront of innovative change and social justice. We are
committed to accessibility to higher education. We were the first university to offer degrees to women in California, the first private university to receive recognition as a Hispanic
serving institution, and one of the first in the Bay Area to receive the prestigious Carnegie recognition for community service.
We distinguish ourselves through great teaching, caring relationships, and a commitment to engaged social justice. We live this commitment through relationships,
continuous learning, and thoughtful dialogue about creative and inclusive ways to educate, bringing meaning, purpose, and relevance to our students and the communities we serve.
For more information about our programs,
please contact Dr. Therese Madden at [email protected]
Know a future student?
Contact Dr. Madden (info above) or Rey Penate
(Admissions) at [email protected]