Sherwood Community Reflection

The sun rose, my Vigil concluded, and I was fetched back to the main campground. The motto of the Vigil was introduced, “leadership in service,” a capstone to the surreal lesson the restless night had delivered. I returned to school, band, Scouts, and the other organizations with which I was (and currently am) affiliated, and I reexamined my involvement in each through this newfound

Before having the responsibility of raising children, I volunteered for American red cross and for disaster emergency in the city of Alexandria. I am not doing any community involvement now because I am busy with a full-time job, school and two children, although I have a strong desire to be involved in community both in the country and outside of the country. Furthermore, I believe that my leadership role manifested in my ability to manage a full-time job, raising children and pursuing Master’s degree.

My drive to help others stems from my time volunteering with the service organization, Rotary, and their leadership program, Camp RYLA. When I attended this camp as a high schooler, I learned invaluable lessons of self-confidence and connecting with others, traits seldom found in a high school environment. My experience at this program inspired me to return as a counselor, where I have been helping foster the growth of today’s youth for the past four years.

This past year, my co-site-leader and I planned and lead eighteen other students on a week-long, service-learning trip to Indianapolis focusing on the issue of public health. Our group served the community for forty hours through seven different organizations in the community ranging from Gleaners Food Bank to the Julian Center, a center for victims of domestic violence. Through reflection and service, the interconnected network of social injustices soon became apparent in our discussion of public health as a major social justice focus. Through our discussions, we realized that we are capable of extending ourselves into the local community and making a significant difference. For me, leadership is not solely measured by the immediate outcome or a visible change; leadership should help others realize the untapped potentials within themselves. This goal was achieved in our lengthy service reflections in

I believe community involvement is essential in order to cultivate skills, increase awareness and educate people to have a fruitful venture in mind, body and spirit. The cultural diversity, partnerships with public, private and non-profit organizations have been instrumental to our success in this region. Despite the different ideologies and competing viewpoints, I hope to become an agent of

Without it, many things wouldn’t exist today. By overcoming challenges, we learn from our mistakes and are better prepared for our future. Wilbur Wright and Steve Jobs are great examples of showing how resilience is key to achieving success. Next time you are faced with something tough, try your best to not let it get to you. If you are knocked down, get right back up, push through it, and prove how strong you

My mother always told, “Verline you have to run faster and jump higher to be the best.” My mother emigrated from Haiti and my father from Dominican Republic. I am a trilingual speaker. I am fluent in French, Spanish, and English. My father and mother came to the United States for a better life for my siblings and me. Being the youngest of eight children, where six didn’t attend college brought a lot of pressure in proving to my family that I am going to be successful. While my mother juggled two jobs and attended night classes it was my community that stepped in and help me evolve into the young woman I am today. I gave back to my community when I entered high school, and I began by volunteering at the YMCA I attended. My position switched from an attendee, to a volunteer, and now a camp counselor. I was so excited to take on a leadership role because I wanted to help students find what they are passionate about just as my mentor once did for me. I appreciate the opportunities that my community gave to me. I’ve gained principles, discipline, and tough love from my mentors in my community. Growing up in a large family l learned to share and the importance of relationships. I am beyond grateful to my family and community support for instilling in me the belief that I could do anything, and the sky is the

Over the summer I will be working with an organization called Sacred Road, which is on a Native American Reservation in Yakima, Washington. Sacred Road was started by Chris and Mary Granberry, a couple from Alabama who moved to the Reservation in 2003 to serve the struggling community there. When they moved there, one hundred percent of the homes on the reservation were affected by alcohol/drug abuse, and the average life expectancy is 40 years old. Sacred Road works with members of the community to rebuild homes, counsel teens, and run a children's care center, along with starting a church. Since the Granberry’s have moved in, the average life expectancy has increased, the suicide rate has dropped immensely, and the amount of thefts

Although I have been employed with Spring City Corner Clubhouse for a year now it is allowing me to continue to learn and grow not only as a student but also as a starting Human Services worker in this field. Working with the population the Spring City Corner Clubhouse services it allows me to experience the persistence this particular population has during their road of recovery. The staff is continuing supportive in promoting further educational growth and open to any question I might

The first aspect that I wish to give back to my area is hope. For many years, my are has been called “dead” or “dying,” for lack of jobs, activities and opportunities. It is my personal goal to resuscitate my area by being a part of groups and organizations whose goal is to restore and

Although I was a little behind on my service project due to the miscommunication with Stormbreak, I used my problem solving skills to quickly figure out an applicable alternative. Another aspect of my restorative strength is taking the burden off others

The project I have chosen for my leadership project is the East Cooper Community Outreach program. This program is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1989 to assist victims after Hurricane Hugo. East Cooper Community Outreach, also known as ECCO, offers assistance to the many people in Mount Pleasant living at the poverty level, also known as the “working poor.” ECCO is vital to the community and we will learn about this organization’s origin and the significant ways it has contributed to the residents of East Cooper.

It was the summer of 2010 and I was attending an inner city missions trip in Peoria, IL. Each morning we served in an urban neighborhood volunteering at a local school or government housing. At the school, we found chipped and faded paint, walls yellowed from old age, water stains on the ceilings and walls, and lockers that were filled with graffiti. The government subsidized housing was in a horrid state of disrepair. Bullet holes riddled the doors and brick facade on the buildings. The windows and doors did not provide the safety the residents needed: ripped screens, broken glass panes and broken door locks prevailed throughout the units. The neighborhood community center had barred windows, broken concrete walks, and trash on the property. I was overwhelmed with the deterioration of the school and the neighborhood around me. I decided that summer, I would do what the neighborhood people could not do for themselves, be an active part of revitalizing broken communities through the

As Edelman had bettered the community by constantly working towards a solution that works for the community, despite any opposition, I will apply a collaborative method in my work. Without collaboration, there will be no ability to come to a solution, especially if there are parties that don’t agree with your ideals. As Edelman had worked through obstacles in Los Angeles, the city of Phnom Penh had done the same. Against all odds and working towards improving the community, Phnom Penh had brought running water to the city. The drive to constantly improve the community will help me to drive myself look for a solution or come to a compromise in various situations, for there is always something to improve on and there is never an end to helping

My research focused on a case study that depicted a school that was on the verge of collapse and how effective leadership can turn a negative situation into a positive outcome. After reading this case study, I noted several similarities to the movie “Stand and Deliver”, in regards to a school that was unable to obtain even a small degree of operational success, (Musca and Menendez, 1988). The support element was basically nonexistent, no one was assuming responsibility for their actions. Without established procedures there is no path to follow, which leads to corruption and disparity. Through effective leadership these problems were identified and corrected. Mike Odiotti and Judy Seiberlich successfully transitioned a school that was on the path of ruins and developing it into the school that it was destined to be, (Berger, Howard, &