Teach for America Alumnus to speak on Social Entrepreneurship on April 8

Dr. Chris Myers Asch – Teach for America alumnus, historian, and social entrepreneur

Social Entrepreneurship: Think BIG, Be BOLD, Drive CHANGE

April 8, 2013 at 6:00 P.M. in Foster Ballroom Sec. S in the Colvard Student Union, Mississippi State University

Join the History Department, the Stennis Institute of Government, Volunteer Starkville, and the Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement in learning how you could become one of those “exceptional individuals who dream up and take responsibility for an innovative and untested idea for positive social change, and usher that idea from dream to reality.[i]”

On April 8^th, Dr. Chris Myers Asch will explain how you can use the principles of social entrepreneurship to unleash your talents to solve the world’s biggest problems. A former Teach for America corps member in Sunflower County Mississippi, Chris Myers Asch is an educator, historian, and social entrepreneur who has taught in, studied, and positively impacted the Mississippi delta region. A native of Washington, D.C., Asch graduated from Duke University and subsequently earned a Ph.D. in American History from the University of North Carolina. He taught elementary and middle school for three years in Sunflower, Mississippi, as part of Teach for America and one year in Taejon, South Korea, with the William J. Fulbright program.

Chris co-founded the Sunflower County Freedom Project in 1998 and served as Executive Director until launching the U.S. Public Service Academy in 2006. He won the 2007 Eli Segal Award from AmeriCorps Alums and became a 2007 Echoing Green Fellow. His first book, The Senator and the Sharecropper: The Freedom Struggles of James O. Eastland and Fannie Lou Hamer (2nd edition, University of North Carolina Press, 2011) earned the Liberty Legacy Foundation Prize from the Organization of American Historians, the McLemore Prize from the Mississippi Historical Society, and the Mississippi Library Association’s Non-Fiction Award.

For more information, contact:

Courtney Allen
Alternative Spring Break Trip Coordinator
601-622-0892
cma103@saffairs.msstate.edu

Dr. Jason Ward
Assistant Professor of History
662-325-3604
jward@history.msstate.edu

Jamey Matte

Director of Volunteer Starkville

1-662-268-2865

Jamey@volunteerstarkville.org

Cade Smith

M. Cade Smith, Ph.D

Assistant Dean of Students /

Student Leadership and Community Engagement

662.418.0140

cade@saffairs.msstate.edu

Echoing Green: Think BIG, Be BOLD, Drive CHANGE

Echoing Green video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pI4M11D-_Wc

Echoing Green believes “that social entrepreneurs are those exceptional individuals who dream up and take responsibility for an innovative and untested idea for positive social change, and usher that idea from dream to reality.”ⁱ

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[i] http://www.echoinggreen.org//

The Hobbit!

Lately it has been a little slow here at Volunteer Starkville/Maroon Volunteer Center. However, we have been doing a lot of preparation for the winter break when the school will shut down and we work off location. I am beyond excited about this, because this means that even though I still have to work I will at least be able to work from my Mama’s house in Tennessee. (It actually snows there!)

To prepare for the break Stedmond, a fellow VISTA with the MVC, and I have been contacting schools and after-school programs to better understand volunteer mentor roles and responsibilities from the organizations’ views. It has been very eye-opening and interesting. We had a special education teacher, who has been in the field for 37 years, tell us that being a mentor is “mission work” in her eyes, because she has seen children’s lives change for the better because of a mentor, even if that change isn’t immediately seen. Some of the things I’ve heard almost sound too cliché to be real, but they have seen it happen, and it is making me even more excited about this training we are putting together.

With all this good news, we did get some sad news yesterday when we met a staff member at the middle school. Ms. Shumaker oversees the volunteer mentor program at Armstrong Middle School. She said that she and several other people, including some at Emerson Family School and the Youth with a Purpose program, are employed because of a grant that will run out in February. What this means for the children in the Starkville School District is that after February there will be no more funding to allow for a mentoring program within the school. Stedmond and I are invited to talk about our training at one of their meetings in the next two weeks, so we will present our training idea to them and hopefully brainstorm ways to keep this program going after the funding is gone.

Speaking of funding, if you’re interested in donating to Volunteer Starkville, consider installing the Give Back America toolbar on your browser. This allows you to donate directly to Volunteer Starkville while doing your online shopping all at no additional cost. Check out this link for a way to give back this holiday season.

Okay, now for the most important thing happening this week.

THE HOBBIT COMES OUT TONIGHT. AS I AM TYPING THIS, IT IS ONLY 8 HOURS AND FORTY-FIVE MINUTES AWAY FROM ME!

I hope you enjoy this soundtrack preview from Howard Shore. It should suffice until you go and watch this movie.

Much love,

Lacy

Mississippi Delta Alternative Spring Break – Blog Update!

at: http://missdeltaalternativebreak.wordpress.com/

So I’ve been M.I.A. in the blog world for a while now.  Sorry about that folks!  Sometimes as a VISTA things get put on the back burner from time to time.  Hopefully I’m back for a while now though!  A lot has obviously gone on since my last post.  I probably won’t be able to fill you in on EVERYTHING, but I’ll break it down for you!

{Extension Visits}

I traveled to the Delta a good bit in October to meet with Mississippi State Extension Agents.  They were a great resource for lodging, food, community service, and experiential learning opportunities.  I was able to practice my pitch in these meetings and get useable information.  This whole process has definitely been a huge learning experience for me.  I enjoyed meeting with extension directors because I feel they had an open mind to what I am trying to do in the Delta.  At times, I lose sight… this project seems huge in retrospect and it’s hard for me to see the small pieces without feeling like the whole picture is just too much to handle.  All the extension directors I met with were open minded, excited about what we are trying to do in the Delta, and gave me help with contacts for the different aspects I need for the trips.

{Mississippi MLK Day VISTA Project}

MSU and Ole Miss have been working together to create a unified MLK project.  We have had them visit us and we have visited them a few times to prepare.  We are doing a school supply drive to raise supplies for local schools and programs in our areas.  We are hoping to create a unified front (not a rivalry) about the importance of going to college.  We don’t care which school you choose to attend, as long as you strive to attend college in general.  We are creating a promotional video for MLK Day that will have students at both schools saying what their “dream” is in life.  We will also have VIP’s in the video such as President Keenum at MSU (hopefully) and the Chancellor at Ole Miss.  We will present this video to middle and high school students encouraging them to make dreams for themselves and to go to college and continue their education.  We will then partner with our local volunteer offices (Volunteer Starkville and Volunteer Oxford) to work on the projects they have set aside for actual MLK Day.  The VISTA’s as a whole are super excited about the opportunity to work together and work united.  We have really enjoyed getting to know each other and building relationships!  Stay tuned for an update later on how our activities turn out.

{Lodging}

I think I’ve voiced how difficult lodging will be for the Alternative Break trips in the Delta.  We have to find the opportunity and sometimes that can be difficult.  I used extension, and they were a help, but I still didn’t find information I was looking for.  I then went through Red Cross and MEMA and they still haven’t been the biggest help yet, I’m working through those right now though.  One avenue that has at least given me a lead is the Chamber.  I’ve decided my next step is to try contacting all the local Chambers in the MS Delta asking if they know of anyone who has the facilities we need.  So that has been a long strenuous process making these contacts.  If you know of any lodging opportunities in the MS Delta, please give me a call at 662-325-0267 and leave a message if I’m not there.  Any information will help!

{Schools Involved}

We are trying to branch the trip out to other schools.  I spoke to students at Heritage Academy in Columbus almost 2 weeks ago and we are excited to possibly partner with them for the trip.  This will actually be high school students, so it will be interesting having the college and high school students working together!  I have a meeting set up with Ole Miss to discuss them possibly sending students as well and I’m waiting to hear back from other schools right now.  Our goal was to have 5 new schools participate this year, so I guess we are 2/5 of the way there!

Overall, the past few months have been good.  I, personally, as a VISTA, have had my up and down days, my motivated and unmotivated days, but overall, the experience has continued to be good.  I’m excited to see how the project turns out overall.   I consider my part of the job one of the most difficult and to be honest, I didn’t realize this is what I was signing up for.  At times, it’s hard to press on because some aspects of the job are difficult for my personality to handle, but I look at that as a learning opportunity and in the end I know I’ll be a better person, a stronger, more motivated worker, and I will be able to say that there is at least a small framework for the MS Delta Alternative Break program to continue and that’s something I’ll be proud of!

The Line – A Movie About Poverty in America

 

The post submitted by Lacy Jaudon, AmeriCorps VISTA. Read Lacy’s AmeriCorps VISTA Blog at:http://volunteerstarkvillevista.wordpress.com/

I know it’s been a while since I last posted, but it’s because we have been super busy here at work! I’m enjoying it again! My fellow VISTA wrote a post recently about how sometimes this job can get kind of… well, boring or wear you down. It did that for a while. But, now I am more energized than ever, and I think it’s because I got a great reminder a few weeks ago about why I am serving as a VISTA.

I watched The Line a few weeks ago. It was actually October 2, the day before the first presidential debate.

Okay, so you have to know this before I go any further – VISTAs are not allowed to be political in any sense. We can’t even help with nonpartisan voter registration drives as VISTAs. This is a tough year for all of us to do that. We don’t live under rocks, despite what you may think about how we survive on our small stipends. Cable TV and Internet are included in my rent, so I’m still aware of what’s happening in the political sphere. I am also a public policy major, so this is to be expected, right?

So, let me be clear about one thing before I get into the focus of this post: I am not here to proselytize, politicize, or ostracize. I only want to share my thoughts with you about this great film I watched about poverty.

The Line premiere was hosted by Sojourners Magazine, a progressive Christian magazine and organization, Oxfam America, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, World Vision, and many other nonprofits that strive to end hunger, poverty, and social injustice. Some are faith-based, and some are not. They asked many faith-based groups, social justice and civic groups to come together to host screenings of the film at the same time as the premiere so that many people could join in a conversation about poverty at the same time. Sojourners is still selling the DVD, and may still offer it for free if you choose to host a screening of the film. There is also a free discussion guide that is to happen after each showing of the film. After the premier October 2, Jim Wallis, the CEO of Sojourners, and others came together for a live-streamed discussion panel of the film and poverty in general.

I was not able to host a screening of the film October 2, because I did not find out about it until the Friday before, but I was able to order a DVD so I can host a screening sometime soon here in Starkville, MS.  While I knew that Sojourners was the main party to put this screening on, I did not feel that the film took a faith-based or political stance. The filmmaker Linda Midgett did a great job delivering the facts about poverty and following four individuals who have either entered into poverty after earning six figures or those who have struggled with poverty their entire lives. She did not push a political or religious position on the audience. However, the premiere showing was intentionally planned for October 2, the day before the first presidential debate. This was to encourage the entire nation to begin talking about poverty, because all the talk lately has only been about the middle class. Poverty affects everyone, whether you realize it or not, and this film depicts that so well!

This is the description of the film from the Sojourners website:

Poverty in America — It’s not what you think.

The Line documents the stories of people across the country living at or below the poverty line. They have goals. They have children. They work hard. They are people like you and me. Across America, millions are struggling every day to make it above The Line.

These are some of the individuals interviewed for The Line.

I highly encourage everyone to watch this film. Again, I am not promoting any type of political or religious agenda. We all need to be aware of the realities of poverty in America and around the world. Poverty affects everyone, and this film served as a great reminder of why I chose to become a VISTA.

While this is a more serious post (minus the Austin Powers clip, which I hope you all enjoyed), I want to leave you with something light and funny. I still ask that you allow your heart to become broken by these stories and then filled with thanksgiving that either you are not in these situations or that you can do something to help others who are.

M.I.A. but I’m back!

So I’ve been M.I.A. in the blog world for a while now.  Sorry about that folks!  Sometimes as a VISTA things get put on the back burner from time to time.  Hopefully I’m back for a while now though!  A lot has obviously gone on since my last post.  I probably won’t be able to fill you in on EVERYTHING, but I’ll break it down for you!

{Extension Visits}

I traveled to the Delta a good bit in October to meet with Mississippi State Extension Agents.  They were a great resource for lodging, food, community service, and experiential learning opportunities.  I was able to practice my pitch in these meetings and get useable information.  This whole process has definitely been a huge learning experience for me.  I enjoyed meeting with extension directors because I feel they had an open mind to what I am trying to do in the Delta.  At times, I lose sight… this project seems huge in retrospect and it’s hard for me to see the small pieces without feeling like the whole picture is just too much to handle.  All the extension directors I met with were open minded, excited about what we are trying to do in the Delta, and gave me help with contacts for the different aspects I need for the trips.

{Mississippi MLK Day VISTA Project}

MSU and Ole Miss have been working together to create a unified MLK project.  We have had them visit us and we have visited them a few times to prepare.  We are doing a school supply drive to raise supplies for local schools and programs in our areas.  We are hoping to create a unified front (not a rivalry) about the importance of going to college.  We don’t care which school you choose to attend, as long as you strive to attend college in general.  We are creating a promotional video for MLK Day that will have students at both schools saying what their “dream” is in life.  We will also have VIP’s in the video such as President Keenum at MSU (hopefully) and the Chancellor at Ole Miss.  We will present this video to middle and high school students encouraging them to make dreams for themselves and to go to college and continue their education.  We will then partner with our local volunteer offices (Volunteer Starkville and Volunteer Oxford) to work on the projects they have set aside for actual MLK Day.  The VISTA’s as a whole are super excited about the opportunity to work together and work united.  We have really enjoyed getting to know each other and building relationships!  Stay tuned for an update later on how our activities turn out.

{Lodging}

I think I’ve voiced how difficult lodging will be for the Alternative Break trips in the Delta.  We have to find the opportunity and sometimes that can be difficult.  I used extension, and they were a help, but I still didn’t find information I was looking for.  I then went through Red Cross and MEMA and they still haven’t been the biggest help yet, I’m working through those right now though.  One avenue that has at least given me a lead is the Chamber.  I’ve decided my next step is to try contacting all the local Chambers in the MS Delta asking if they know of anyone who has the facilities we need.  So that has been a long strenuous process making these contacts.  If you know of any lodging opportunities in the MS Delta, please give me a call at 662-325-0267 and leave a message if I’m not there.  Any information will help!

{Schools Involved}

We are trying to branch the trip out to other schools.  I spoke to students at Heritage Academy in Columbus almost 2 weeks ago and we are excited to possibly partner with them for the trip.  This will actually be high school students, so it will be interesting having the college and high school students working together!  I have a meeting set up with Ole Miss to discuss them possibly sending students as well and I’m waiting to hear back from other schools right now.  Our goal was to have 5 new schools participate this year, so I guess we are 2/5 of the way there!

 

Overall, the past few months have been good.  I, personally, as a VISTA, have had my up and down days, my motivated and unmotivated days, but overall, the experience has continued to be good.  I’m excited to see how the project turns out overall.   I consider my part of the job one of the most difficult and to be honest, I didn’t realize this is what I was signing up for.  At times, it’s hard to press on because some aspects of the job are difficult for my personality to handle, but I look at that as a learning opportunity and in the end I know I’ll be a better person, a stronger, more motivated worker, and I will be able to say that there is at least a small framework for the MS Delta Alternative Break program to continue and that’s something I’ll be proud of!

Hope you all are having a great Wednesday! 

MSU VISTAs Meet President Keenum @ Habitat Dedication!

What a day this way! As I mentioned earlier I got the opportunity to serve as the Volunteer Coordinator for Habitat for the 4th Maroon Edition Habitat House and the 50th Habitat Home for the Starkville Area. The Habitat Dedication was held on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 and it was definitely a proud day for all who attended. One of the greatest highlights of the day was getting the opportunity to get more acquainted with the President of Mississippi State University, Dr. Mark E. Keenum.

For a university as large as this one, its sometime very difficult to meet some of the high ranking officials who are very busy and are responsible for the well being of the University in a big way. I have met him a few times before, but this time by far was the best. The director of our center, The Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement, Dr. Cade Smith provided an introduction for us and right away we all started chattering. He is such an amazing person and you can feel that he really wants the best for this institution. He is a true visionary and we are lucky to have him.

The dedication was a huge success and we managed to recruit over 520 Volunteers to work on the house this semester and the results are truly superb! What amazing day that was and a great ending to a truly liberating experience!

Habitat for Humanity Dedication: The End to an Amazing Journey!

 

Post by AmeriCorps VISTA, Stedmond Ware. Visit Stedmond’s VISTA blog at:http://sware2u.tumblr.com/

 

Link to University Relations Press Release: http://www.msstate.edu/web/media/detail.php?id=5795

 

 

The completion of the 50th Habitat for Humanity House and the 4th Maroon Edition Habitat House was an amazing achievement for both the Starkville Area Habitat for Humanity and for Mississippi State University.

 

The ground breaking was Friday, August 10, 2012 and soon after construction began. On site construction leaders, students, faculty, staff, community leaders, churches, and many volunteers gathered to ensure the success of this house. The home owner is Ms. Daphne Walton, accompanied by her 4 children. The work that she, her family, and the entire community has put in has been simply astonishing, and they have a beautiful home as a result.

 

 

My name is Stedmond Ware and I serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA for the Maroon Volunteer Center and the Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement on the campus of Mississippi State University. VISTA stands for “Volunteer In Service To America” and VISTAs are placed in 1000s of areas throughout the nation to help alleviate poverty and inspire change among the communities in which they are placed. One of my projects was being the Volunteer Coordinator for this year’s Habitat for Humanity. This involves recruiting, gathering, and informing volunteers about Habitat for Humanity and making sure they have what is required to volunteer.

 

 

(Photo by Russ Houston, Mississippi State University Media Relations)

 

It was such a grand experience to get to work with and accompany all those who make this organization possible, especially the superb staff at Habitat for Humanity primarily Mr. Freddie Raspberry, Mrs. Peggy Branch, and Mr. John Brazil just to name a few. As a result, 520 volunteers, the majority of which were students at MSU, worked to complete this home, providing a total of 2,340 service hours toward Habitat for Humanity. The wonderful thing about Habitat is that everyone is accountable including those who will benefit from the work that is rendered. The sheer joy that come from lending a hand and seeing the results of what has been done is one of the most rewarding experiences that life has to offer.

 

The Maroon Edition Habitat for Humanity Dedication followed on Tuesday, November 20, 2012. Many of the volunteers and community sponsored who contributed to the home were there, including Mississippi State University President, Dr. Mark E. Keenum, who presented the family with their Bible and well wishes on a successful and prosperous home.

 

This has been an incredible journey for everyone involved and I have been particularly inspired by all the work and dedication put forth by this community. We must all work to help others in every way that we can and to commit a large portion of our lives to service and the betterment of our world!