Community Action Resource Night
Community Action Resource Night is an event enabling Providence area agencies and campus community service programs to recruit Brown community members. The program allows approximately 100 agencies to meet with students, staff, faculty, and other community members to discuss the range of opportunities for engaging in community work. Community Action Resource Night is held twice a year, September and February, and typically 600 people attend.
For Community Agencies
To register, contact Wendy Perelman via e-mail or at 863-1843. Agencies are given half of a 6-foot table for their display. The registration deadline for the Spring CARN will be published in November.
Over the years, community agencies have shared tips they feel have made their recruitment efforts most effective.
- Be clear who you are recruiting. Students? Seniors? First years? University staff and faculty members? What needs are you recruiting for?
- Articulate the goals of your agency and needs of your constituency as clearly as possible. Present students with clear job descriptions or outlines of responsibilities. Some students also attend the fair seeking to create a new opportunity that reflects their particular skills or interests.
- Be clear about support. Some students are anxious about assuming new responsibilities with little background. Make clear the kind of training you offer. Alternately, some students are surprised to discover that agencies require substantial time commitments for training. Being clear from the outset can help avoid conflicts.
- Clarify the time commitment. Brown students are typically very busy people. Often, course schedules, athletic practices or other commitments can limit the time of day or number of hours a student can give to community work. Many students at Brown must work to help defray the costs of their education. The Off-campus Federal Work Study Program provides matching funds to agencies to employ eligible students.
- Involve current Brown volunteers. Brown students already working with your agency can help you communicate your needs to their peers.
- Catch their attention. Bring brochures, photos or videos that excite people about the life of your organization. Tangible resources will help students remember you after they have spoken with a number of programs.
- Bring help. Staffing your table with more than one person will allow you to reach more students, and can allow you to take a break and visit with colleagues.
- Decide in advance how to follow up. Some agencies collect names and phone numbers of students and follow up. Others give out information and rely on interested students to get in touch.
- Be realistic. This event is attended by hundreds of students. Students will express interest in many agencies during the evening - we encourage them to talk with many people to inform their choices. Expect a fraction of the students you speak with to actually become volunteers.
- Follow up quickly with students who express interest. If you have access to e-mail it is often the quickest way to reach Brown students.