Community Engagement News

Community partners value collaboration with Barry students, faculty, and staff

Mrs. Chandrell Larkin, principal of Hubert O. Sibley K–8 Academy, talks about the value of collaborative activities with Barry University. The north Miami-Dade school is one of this year’s two winners of Barry’s Community Partnership Award, the other winner being South Florida People of Color.

The winners of this year’s community engagement awards have exemplified excellence in service, collaboration, and scholarship. The students contributed to community impact; the community partners facilitated “commendable collaboration”; the faculty members connected their scholarship to community issues.

Amanda Gonzalez Garcia, a member of the Barry Service Corps, and Joseph Minani, a former fellow in the Barry Service Corps, demonstrated exemplary civic engagement that had “a considerable impact on the community.” One focused her efforts on food insecurity; the other concentrated on refugee resettlement.

Ms. Gonzalez Garcia is “deeply concerned about the detrimental effects of food insecurity on community residents, and she has responded through both direct service and advocacy,” said Dr. Scott F. Smith, vice president for mission and student engagement. “Her direct service has included volunteering for special anti-hunger projects and assisting at Feeding South Florida, a regional food bank,” Dr. Smith added.

The Barry undergraduate has pursued advocacy of food security through Bread for the World and also through Hunger to Action, a group she founded.

For his part, Mr. Manani has used social change strategies to “shine a light on the lived experiences, voices, and contributions of refugees,” noted Ms. Nikki Watkins, chair of Barry’s Community Advisory Committee. “In the process, he has contributed to the empowerment of refugees while effectively challenging stereotypes and xenophobia.”

As a community partner, Hubert O. Sibley K–8 Academy has provided a site for Days of Service as well as for applied learning and research.

Barry students participating in the Federal Work-Study Community Service Program have served at Sibley as tutors and mentors. According to Dr. Karen Callaghan, professor and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, as the students provide academic support, they help to “illustrate a few of the infinite possibilities created by a sound education.”

Former Barry Service Corps Fellow Joseph Minani receives the Community Impact Award from Ms. Nikki Watkins, chair of Barry’s Community Advisory Committee.

Barry Service Corps member Amanda Gonzalez Garcia (right) with Ms. Florence French Fagan, state organizer of Bread for the World and vice chair of Barry’s Community Advisory Committee (center), and Ms. Kaitlyn Gallagher, coordinator of the Barry Urban Garden.

Dr. Heidi Whitford, an associate professor in the School of Education, acknowledges recognition of her significant scholarly work across the faculty roles of teaching, research, and service that has addressed community issues.

Dr. Celeste Landeros, professor and chair of the Faculty Senate, congratulates the winners of the Community-Engaged Scholarship Award. And Dr. Sean Foreman, one of the award winners, expresses gratitude.

South Florida People of Color is one of the recipients of the Community Partnership Award for 2022. Dr. Karen Callaghan, professor and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (right), presented the award plaque to Ms. Roni Bennett, executive director, joined by two other representatives of South Florida People of Color.

Over the years, South Florida People of Color has partnered with Barry University on social justice and anti-racism efforts. Like Barry, the community partner is a founding member of the Miami-Dade Truth, Education, and Reconciliation Initiative.

“Through public forums, conferences, and workshops on campus,” Dean Callaghan said, “this organization has served as a vital resource for advancing Barry’s current anti-racism and equity agenda.” She added that the community partner’s support of Black History Month events, as well as the Africana Studies Program in the College of Arts and Sciences, was “notable and appreciated.”

Mrs. Chandrell Larkin, principal of Hubert O. Sibley K–8 Academy, and Ms. Roni Bennett, executive director of South Florida People of Color, accepted the Community Partnership Award from Dr. Callaghan. Both Mrs. Larkin and Ms. Bennett spoke about the value of community partners’ collaboration with the university.

Rev. Richard Clements, associate pastor of music and worship arts at Mount Tabor Baptist Church, gives the invocation at the Community Engagement Awards. Among guests at the event was Ms. Ines Diaz, an assistant principal of Hubert O. Sibley K–8 Academy (right photo, at center).

Mr. Raul Gonzalez, director of Facilities Management, expresses appreciation during the awards luncheon on April 12. Facilities Management received the Community Engagement Support Award from the CCSI.

Dr. Dale Hartz, an assistant professor of management (right), converses with Dr. Victor Romano, associate provost for student success and undergraduate studies.

Dr. Victor Romano, associate provost for student success and undergraduate studies; Mrs. Yvette Brown Koottungal, vice president for strategic initiatives and chief information officer; Dr. Glenn A. Bowen, executive director of the Center for Community Service Initiatives; and Dr. Scott F. Smith, vice president for mission and student engagement.

The collaborative work done by Dr. Sean Foreman, a professor of political science, and Dr. Jalane Meloun, a professor in the School of Education, reflects community-engaged scholarship that emphasizes civic learning and democratic engagement.

Presenting them with award plaques, Dr. Celeste Landeros, professor and chair of the Faculty Senate, pointed out that in recent years, these two faculty members have worked together, and with others, to promote voter registration, education, and engagement.

“Through public forums and presentations in various venues accessible to community members, they have championed democratic processes, contributing to the maintenance of a healthy democracy,” Dr. Landeros said.

Dr. Heidi Whitford, an associate professor in the School of Education, was recognized for her significant scholarly work across the faculty roles of teaching, research, and service that has addressed community issues. She has made “steadfast contributions” to community engagement locally as well as in the Bahamas since completing a service-learning faculty fellowship with the Center for Community Service Initiatives in academic year 2017–2018.

Over the years, Dr. Whitford has “designed, developed, and supervised service-learning projects that have enriched the learning experiences of her students and the quality of life for community stakeholders,” Dr. Landeros told guests at the Community Engagement Awards. “By working closely with community partners and colleagues to develop relevant projects at the graduate level in the School of Education, she has opened the door to engaged research that has not only benefited the community but has also provided important insights into students’ understanding of collaboration and advocacy.”

Faculty Learning Community Members Win Year’s Top Faculty Awards

Outstanding Faculty Member: Dr. Laura Finley, professor of sociology and criminology, shows off her award, presented by Dr. Paige Banaji, co-chair of the Faculty Senate’s Communiqué and Faculty Awards Committee. Dr. Finley is a co-facilitator of the Faculty Learning Community for Engaged Scholarship.

Two members of the Faculty Learning Community for Engaged Scholarship (FLC) are among the winners of this year’s top awards for Barry faculty members.

Dr. Laura Finley, a professor of sociology and criminology in the College of Arts and Sciences, received the Outstanding Faculty Member Award at the Communiqué and Faculty Awards Reception last Wednesday, April 20. The coveted award was presented by Dr. Paige Banaji, a co-chair of the Faculty Senate’s Communiqué and Faculty Awards Committee.

Dr. Finley is a co-facilitator of the FLC—a professional development community of practice for faculty members interested in community-engaged scholarship.

Medallion Recipients: Dr. Glenn A. Bowen of the CCSI and Dr. Sheila McMahon of Social Work—both FLC members—after receiving medallions at the Communiqué and Faculty Awards Reception.

At last Wednesday’s event, Dr. Dale Hartz, an FLC member and assistant professor of management in the School of Business, received the Innovation in Teaching Excellence Award. The presentation was made by Dr. John Boulos, a member of the Communiqué and Faculty Awards Committee.

Two other FLC members were awarded medallions for their distinguished submissions to Communiqué, the professional development newsletter published by the Faculty Senate. They are Dr. Sheila McMahon, an assistant professor of social work, and Dr. Glenn A. Bowen, associate professor and executive director of the Center for Community Service Initiatives.

Ms. Frances Sciurba, a member of the Communiqué and Faculty Awards Committee, announced the distinguished submissions made to the newsletter (No. 88, Spring 2022).

Barry University President Dr. Mike Allen and Provost Dr. John Murray congratulated the award winners. And both leaders thanked faculty members for their excellent work throughout the year.

Community Partner Emphasizes Need for More Attention to Food Insecurity

Mr. Roger Horne, executive director of Urban GreenWorks, addresses speaks at the Community Engagement Awards, emphasizing the need for concerted action to combat food insecurity.

The need for increased attention to food insecurity was emphasized by the guest speaker at Barry’s Ninth Annual Community Engagement Awards earlier this month.

Mr. Roger Horne, a cofounder and the executive director of Urban GreenWorks, said there was an urgent need for concerted action to combat food insecurity and to promote good nutritional habits.

Urban GreenWorks is playing its part, Mr. Horne said, through its efforts to provide South Floridians with improved access to healthy local foods and related environmental education.

He also spoke about the importance of developing sustainable community partnerships,

Ms. Kaitlyn Gallagher, coordinator of the Barry Urban Garden, introduced Mr. Horne, whose organization is a Barry community partner.

The CCSI hosted the Community Engagement Awards at the Health and Sports Center on April 12.

Barry Continues to Participate in Campus Democracy Challenge Initiative

Colleges and universities participating in the national ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge are gearing up to promote and facilitate increased voter engagement. Barry University is among them.

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge is a national, nonpartisan initiative that inspires, supports, and celebrates colleges and universities working to improve civic learning, political engagement, and voter participation. The initiative aims to “empower colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement.”

Barry participates in the ALL IN Challenge through the Campus Democracy Project (CDP). The primary purpose of the CDP is to foster civic learning and democratic engagement.

ALL IN defines democratic engagement as “the state of being engaged in advancing democracy through political institutions, organizations, and activities.” Examples of democratic engagement are voting, contacting elected officials, being active in political organizations, debating issues, supporting causes, and participating in rallies.

The ALL IN Challenge organizers have given participating colleges and universities a list of “important dates” of events for the remainder of this calendar year. The dates are listed below.

• April 27: State of the Student Vote
• June 12–July 4: Civic Season
• June 15: IL, FL, VA, and WI Campus Voting Challenge Virtual Kickoff with Campus Compact
• September 17: Constitution Day
• September 20: National Voter Registration Day
• October 3–7: National Voter Education Week
• October 28: Vote Early Day
• November 7: Election Hero Day
• November 8: Election Day

For additional information, contact the CDP Committee co-chairs, Dr. Sean Foreman (sforeman@barry.edu) and Skylar Smith (skylark.smith@mymail.barry.edu), or the Center for Community Service Initiatives (service@barry.edu).

Barry Students and Staff Participate in ‘March to End Modern-Day Slavery’

Students from Barry joining in the demonstration in Palm Beach. Hundreds of representatives of worker and faith organizations, higher education institutions, and community groups took to the streets for a five-mile march.

A representative group of students and staff members from Barry participated in a “March to End Modern-Day Slavery in the Fields” earlier this month in Palm Beach. The demonstration was organized by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW).

The Barry group was among an estimated 800 people representing worker and faith organizations, higher education institutions, and community groups gathered in Bradley Park for a protest targeting The Wendy’s Company, whose chairman, Nelson Peltz, lives in Palm Beach. They demanded that Peltz help to end “modern-day slavery” by having his company join the CIW’s Fair Food Program.

GivePulse is the community engagement platform that supports service-learning courses at Barry.

SUSTAINABILITY SATURDAY: Volunteers served at a Miami-Dade park on “Sustainability Saturday,” the last major day of service for this academic year.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARDS: Barry’s Ninth Annual Community Engagement Awards was a memorable event, as indicated in a pictorial report.

Community Engagement News is a publication of the Center for Community Service Initiatives.

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