APPLES

Service-Learning Program

Engage communities

teaching

[2008–2009 Review]

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Engage Communities

TransformTeaching Rediscover learning

ngage communities

Rediscover learning

Rediscover Learning

Transform teaching

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Mission

S tat e m e n t APPLES is a student-

led program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that builds sustainable service-learning partnerships among students, faculty, and communities in North Carolina and beyond. By engaging all partners in an enriched, community-based curriculum, APPLES experiential programs foster socially aware and civically involved students.

Organizational B E L IE F S & VA L U E S •S  ustained commitment to public service integrated in academic curricula •C  ollaborative studentled program with university support •P  rogram development driven by community issues •P  artnership with the university & community • The relevant intersection of issues in local and global communities 2

Fall Break participants interested in urban poverty issues volunteered with Harvest for Health

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the President and Director APPLES organizers and staff had a full year of planning, analysis and implementation, while successfully serving over 1700 undergraduate students in 2008-2009. In 2010 APPLES will be celebrating its many accomplishments and recognizing its numerous supporters over the years in honor of its 20th anniversary. One particularly exciting aspect of this celebration will be the release of “Harvest from the APPLES Orchard: How a Student Empowered ServiceLearning Program at the Nation’s First Public University Transformed the Students, Faculty, Administration, and Community.” In this publication, the story of APPLES unfolds through essays contributed by a variety of alumni and advocates over the years, offering diverse perspectives on the organization’s rich history and impact. In light of our upcoming celebration, we’ve been working on reconnecting with APPLES alumni, offering new ways for them to stay abreast of APPLES news as well as share their inspiring stories since graduating from UNC. Finally, we are excited about the recent joining of APPLES with the Carolina Center for Public Service that became effective July 1, 2009. We are confident this reorganization will bring about a more successful and centralized approach to service-learning and engagement efforts at UNC.

Hannah Yin President

Jenny Huq Director

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Annual statistics

Student Project Grants

21

Social Entrepreneur Fellowships

4

Service-Learning Courses

80

Faculty and Instructors

82

Community-Based Research Fellowships

9

Course Participants Service Hours Through Service-Learning Courses

1,513 45,390

Global Programs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America

5

Service & Leadership LivingLearning Community Residents

18

Spring & Summer Interns

32

Service-Learning Initiative Participants

49

Connections with Academic Departments

26

Global Service-Learning Participants

23

Alternative Break Programs

10

Alternative Winter Break Participants

13

Alternative Fall Break Participants

52

Total Service Hours for all Programs

65

Value of Service Completed by APPLES Students* $1,225,530

Alternative Spring Break Participants

Community Partners in all Programs

163

Participants in all Programs

1,778 60,520

* Estimated rate of $20.25/hour according to the Independent Sector

APPLES through the Years

1990

1991

1993

a.p.p.l.e.s. task force founded by undergraduate, Tony Deifell, and friends

First six servicelearning courses offered

Campus forum held to address the survival of a.p.p.l.e.s. program

Receive $5,000 grant from C.O.O.L.

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TOTAL PARTICIPANTS BY ACADEMIC YEAR

Funding Sources

PARTICIPANTS YEAR

0

500

1000

1500

2000

727

2001



969

2002



918

2003



945

2004



1,078

2005

1,420

2006

1,422

2007



1,745

2008



1,778

8% Grant and Program Income

2000

47% Student Fee Funding

45%  State Funding

Student Fee Expenditures 16%  Salaries

20%  Administration

64%  Programs

1995

1996

1998

First full-time coordinator hired Social Entrepreneur Fellowships created Summer Internships permanently funded by the Advisory Board

First Alternative Spring Break program took six students to Macon County, GA

Ueltschi Course Development Grants begin

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Program Highlights & Accomplishments Program Audit A committee of students, faculty, and staff assisted APPLES with conducting assessments and audits of all of its programs. Each committee chair and staff member completed a self-assessment on each program, which was then followed up with discussions and interviews from program participants. The audit committee generated a final report for each program, which included strengths, weaknesses, and recommendations for future program development. It was determined that the main strength of APPLES programs continues to be its support of servicelearning pedagogy, namely the course development and reflection components.

Annual Showcase Celebration

Alternative Break Programs Expand

In April, APPLES showcased highlights from the year in the annual Fruits of our Labor celebration. This year’s event featured a new presentation format, consisting of an interactive poster session. This allowed Showcase attendees to intermingle with student participants, faculty, and community partner representatives to learn more about the diverse issues students work on throughout the year. The presenters offered a broad range of perspectives, which served as a lens to the multidimensional impact of service-learning experiences.

The Alternative Break Program witnessed continued growth in both student participation and program offerings this year. In addition to four break experiences in the fall and five in the spring, an inaugural Alternative Winter Break was launched in an effort to match growing student demand. This experience partnered with the Native Health Initiative, an organization that explores health issues facing American Indians in North Carolina.

Cabinet and Staff members

APPLES through the Years

2000

2001

2003

APPLES celebrates its 10th anniversary

Alternative Fall Break program launched

Student leadership doubled from 30 to 60 organizers

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Service-Learning Initiative created to introduce first-year students to service-learning

CommunityBased Research Collaboration

Fall Break participants interested in farmworker health issues volunteered with the Episcopal Farmworkers Ministry and helped with weeding in the fields

Program participants volunteered with several local organizations in Pembroke, NC, and also learned much about the cultures and traditions of the Lumbee Indian tribe. With the success of the inaugural trip, a new committee has been launched to improve and expand Alternative Winter Break offerings. 

Alternative Break Issue Areas: • Native Health • Civil Rights • Disaster Relief • Environment • Health • Latino • Urban Poverty •M  igrant Farmworkers

In conjunction with the Office for Undergraduate Research and the Carolina Center for Public Service, APPLES sponsored eight summer undergraduate research fellowships grounded in community-based research methodology. Fellows were selected from a competitive pool of applicants representing a diverse cross-section of disciplines. Communitybased research projects were conducted around the globe in a variety of locations including the Navajo Indian reservation in Arizona, Duplin County, North Carolina, Hyderabad, India and Antigua, Guatemala.

2005

2006

2007

2008

Global ServiceLearning Initiative sends first students to Guadalajara, Mexico

Service-Learning courses grow to 65 annually

Community-Based Research summer fellowships begin

Alternative Breaks expand and offer first Winter Break experience

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Highlights & Accomplishments continued

APPLES Joins The Carolina Center For Public Service On July 1st, 2009, the APPLES ServiceLearning Program became a program of the Carolina Center for Public Service This brings together two organizations with rich histories rooted in servicelearning and engagement to become more integrated in addressing Carolina’s mission of public service. The result will be enhance engagement with communities and better support of the students, faculty and staff with whom we work. During the summer, representatives from APPLES and the Center participated in a self-study planning process to assess program and organizational strengths, as well as opportunities for streamlining and integrating efforts. In addition, external scans of peer institutions were conducted to learn about existing and successful models for engaged scholarship at other universities. Both APPLES and CCPS are excited about this new opportunity for increased collaboration. 6

GO! GLOBAL Orientation on Culture and Ethics In collaboration with various groups on campus, including the Study Abroad Office, the Campus Y, and the Center for Global Initiatives, APPLES helped to spearhead and implement the first, campuswide Global Orientation on Culture and Ethics. GO! was designed to provide pre-departure and re-entry support for undergraduate students going to Asia, Africa, or Latin America to conduct international service, service-learning internships, or research during the summer or fall 2009 terms. Before departure, the orientation helped students evaluate expectations, anticipate potential challenges, prepare for culture shock, and develop intercultural competencies. The orientation offered in March, served roughly 150 students, and was highly successful. Upon their return, students will participate in GO! Reflection, an opportunity to discuss issues of relevance to them, such as continuing involvement with the community or specific challenges relating to their return.

Leadership Development & Conference Participation APPLES organizers participated in two conferences during the academic year. In November, 9 students attended the North Carolina Campus Compact Conference at High Point University, where the Social Entrepreneur Fellowships and Service-Learning Initiative committees, as well as Joy Messinger, the Community Partner Outreach Coordinator, presented workshops. In March, three students along with Hillary Stoker, APPLES AmeriCorps VISTA, attended the National ServiceLearning Conference in Nashville, TN and presented a workshop on APPLES as a model for student leadership in service-learning. In addition, APPLES staff members presented at several conferences throughout the year, including the Association for the Study of Higher Education Conference and the International Research Conference on Service-Learning and Civic Engagement.

ANNUAL AWARDS R ECI P I e NT S Service-Learning Award in honor of Ned Brooks Student Coalition for Action in Literacy Education, UNC Community Partner Excellence Award Central Regional Hospital Butner, NC Undergraduate Excellence Award Haley Koch, Junior Communication Studies Teaching Excellence Award Marcie Fisher-Borne, School of Social Work

Annual Showcase Celebration

Social Entrepreneur F e ll o w s David Baron Sophomore, Environment and Ecology “Hope Garden” Partner: NC State Department of Landscape Architecture & Town of Chapel Hill Rebeka Burns Junior, Art “Artheels” Partner: UNC Children’s Hospital/ DooR to DooR Aileen Sammon Junior, Nutrition major Erin Shigekawa Junior, Health Policy and Management “Saludamos” Partner: Carrboro Community Health Clinic Emily Zepeda Junior, Biology “Freckles” Partner: McDougal Elementary School

APPLES PROGRAMS Service-Learning Courses Global Service-Learning Community-Based Research Fellowships Social Entrepreneur Fellowships Alternative Break Experiences Service-Learning Internships Service-Learning Initiative Faculty and Instructor Development Community Partnership Development

Ueltschi Course Development Grant r e c i p i e n t s Dr. Andy Andrews Sociology: “Social Movements and Collective Behavior” Dr. Brian Billman Anthropology: “Poverty, Development, and Social Action in Peru” Ms. Kathleen Curtin English & Comparative Literature: “Intergenerational Collaborative Writing” Dr. Heidi HenninkKaminski Journalism & Mass Communication: “Social Marketing Campaigns” Dr. Jennifer Ho English & Comparative Literature: “ Mixed Race in America” Dr. Kelly Hogan Biology: “Principles of Biology: Donation of the Cellular Components of Blood” Dr. Margaret O’Shaughnessey English & Comparative Literature: “Back to the Garden: Nature and Literature” Dr. Bob Pleasants Women’s Studies: “Leadership and Violence Prevention” 7

Spotlight on Service-Learning i n t e r n s Leann Bass Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of NC APPCNC provides training and resources to professionals statewide who work in teen pregnancy prevention or teen parent support. In spring 2009, Leann Bass helped APPCNC in planning and implementing Adolescent Health Advocacy Day. In doing so, Leann gained an understanding of the impact of state policy on the health of NC adolescents, particularly in the area of teen pregnancy. Dexter Blackwell Bele Chere Festival City of Asheville Bele Chere is an annual downtown street festival benefiting the local economy while Photos right, top to bottom: Service-Learning Initiative participants help to construct new walking trails Spring break participants interested in civil rights issues assisted with home construction Fall Break participants interested in environmental issues volunteered with the Nature Conservancy to bag oyster shells to use as a natural barrier and additional habitat 1500 volunteers participate in Million Meals packaging event

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celebrating the unique culture and diversity of Asheville. The 3-day festival features live music, an impressive array of arts and crafts, and activities for children. In summer 2009, Dexter Blackwell worked with Bele Chere to gain a better understanding of event planning and task management, experience working in a municipal government office, and networking and developing community partnerships. Mary Hooke

BounceBack Kids The mission of BounceBack Kids is to improve the lives of children with serious medical conditions and their families throughout the Triangle area by providing free, yearround recreational activities. In spring 2009, Mary Hooke worked closely with the outreach coordinator to strengthen their ongoing outreach to health-care providers and school personnel. This included writing and editing email newsletters, brochures and fliers, as well as developing a promotional video.

Advisory Board Members Deborah Bender Health Policy & Management

COMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH SERF F e ll o w s

Madhu Eluri First-year, Biology & Sociology “Photovoice: Seeing Education through the Eyes of Slum Children” Andhra Pradesh, India Elaina Giolando Sophomore, International Studies & Chinese “Investigating Sustainable International Development” La Pista, Guatemala Elisa Greenwood Junior, Public Relations “Eliminating Educational Inequity by Implementing Strategic Communication Strategies in After-School Programs” Orange County, NC Sarah Hatcher Junior, Environmental Science “Effects of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Location on Nitrate Contamination of Well Water” Duplin County, NC

Beth Sams Sophomore, Computer Science “Computing and Public Health: An Innovative Solution to Fall Prevention for Older Adults” Chapel Hill, NC

Ned Brooks Health Policy & Management Elizabeth Dougall School of Journalism & Mass Communication Ann Dunbar African/AfroAmerican Studies

Alena Steen Junior, Southern Folklore “Growing Together: Investigating Community Assets While Rebuilding a Local Food Economy” Asheville, NC

Robyn Fehrman Triangle Community Foundation

Maggie West Junior, Public Policy & Latin American Studies major “Using Microfinance to Assist Transitions from Homelessness” Chapel Hill, NC

Darcy Lear Romance Languages

Cameron Zarrabzadeh Junior, Studio Art & English Literature “Arizona Indigenous Solidarity Project” Flagstaff, AZ

Marcie Fisher-Borne School of Social Work Rebecca Joyner Parker Poe

Lucy Lewis Campus Y Claire Lorch Carolina Center for Public Service Tony Macias Student Action with Farmworkers Graig Meyer Blue Ribbon MentorAdvocate Program Chris Payne Housing & Residential Education Carol Tresolini Associate Provost for Academic Initiatives Jimmy Waters Student Government

Fall Break participants interested in farmworker health issues volunteered with the Episcopal Farmworkers Ministry and helped in the fields.

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Staff

Student Organizers

Jenny Huq Director

Hannah Yin President

Leslie Parkins Associate Director for Programs and Leadership

Charlie McGeehan Vice President

Hilary Stoker NC Campus Compact VISTA Program Development Coordinator

Sarah Hatcher Executive Coordinator Taylor Wells Treasurer Michael Smith Treasurer

Joy Messenger Community Partner Outreach Coordinator Margaret McEndarfer Office Manager Tonya Walton Website Specialist

Dhivya Arumugham Alternative Fall Break Chair Sam Wurzelmann Alternative Spring Break Co-Chair Munashe Magarira Alternative Spring Break Co-Chair John Meyer Community-Based Research Chair

Trey Flaherty Service-Learning Courses Chair

Aisha Amuda Service-Learning Initiative Co-Chair

Justin Milner Global ServiceLearning Chair

Kimmie Garner Service-Learning Initiative Co-Chair

Elby Katumkeeryil Internships Co-Chair

Ryan Lei Social Entrepreneur Fellowships Co-Chair

Rachel Namm Internships Co-Chair Kelsey Kusterer Public Relations Chair Anthony Maglione Reflections Co-Chair Nisha Verma Reflections Co-Chair Blair Byrum Service & Leadership Chair

Daron Sharps Social Entrepreneur Fellowships Co-Chair Cameron Wardell Historian/Media Specialist Steven Eannarino Historian/Media Specialist

Researching the advertising bans outside of class while learning about them inclass really helped solidify my understanding of the subject. This dual exposure and reinforcement of the topics occurred many times during the semester and really gave the course material another dimension outside of the classroom. – Clay Vickers, AMST 259 service-learning student

Engage Communities

TransformTeaching

APPLES

Service-Learning Program

Rediscover Learning

Carolina Student Union, Suite 3514 Campus Box 5210 Chapel Hill, NC  27599-5210 (919) 962-0902 • (919) 843-9685 (fax) [email protected] • www.unc.edu/apples