Recruiting

Many programs recruit new volunteers at the start of each semester. Contact the student coordinator to find out more.

The Swearer Center's community-based programs reflect partnerships with community organizations, schools and government agencies, working with disparate missions, needs, and organizational cultures. A program with great success in one organization or neighborhood can fail in another if culture and context are not valued. We encourage students and staff to listen carefully, to be creative in their approach and to encourage local participation.

The Center's community-based programs do share some common structures. Most programs are facilitated by a paid student coordinator and a group of volunteers. Student coordinators, who assume considerable leadership as a part of the Center's staff, are organized into learning communities designed to maximize opportunities for critical inquiry and provide professional development in program management. In addition to fostering similar learning communities among volunteers, students work with full-time staff to facilitate training and orientation, opportunities for collaborative teaching, and a forum for formal and informal evaluation.

The Center's programs reflect a commitment to Art and Society, Living Well , Language and Literacy, Housing and Hunger Initiatives, and Youth Development and Education.