I've gone and joined another organization!
Just for kicks, I ought to list which organizations I have actually paid (generally small) fees to join and be officially considered a "member."
Golden Key International Honour Society
ACLU of Utah
Utah Pride Center
Humanists of Utah
Center For Inquiry
Secular Student Alliance
American Humanist Association
I think that does it . . . I'll let you know if I remember any others. A couple of days ago, though, I joined a professional organization recommended to me by my boss at the Utah Pride Center, the Utah Nonprofits Association. I have been browsing their job board for a few days now, and have applied for five, maybe six different positions already, and new positions are posted every day! I just want to say how thrilled I am that I was able to join this organization. Their website is absolutely easy to use, they offer incredible services to the Non-Profits that use their services, and I am just so impressed over-all.
And already, I have an interview next Tuesday for this position at Red Butte Garden:
AmeriCorps Vista Youth Education Internship. Looking for an environmental education teacher for youth education programs.
Job Description: The AmeriCorps intern will work with a variety of young audiences, teaching about plants and the environment and providing engaging activities for young visitors.
Wish me luck! And, of course, I would highly encourage you to check out the Utah Nonprofits Association website.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
SHIFT - Secular Humanism, Inquiry and Freethought
SHIFT is close to my heart and mind now and will always be ~ I co-founded this group, along with Jason Cooperrider, a University of Utah Neuroscience Graduate Student from Ohio, on May 4, 2009. I acted as President from then through December 12, 2009, and am currently serving as the group's Interfaith Liason while Jason leads as President during this Spring 2010 semester.
The purpose of this Student Group is to provide a diverse, safe, non-dogmatic and engaging community for free-thinking students of The University of Utah. Our group (as you can see by the links along the right-hand-side of our blog) is very engaged in Atheist, Skeptic, and Humanist communities and causes locally, nationally and internationally. We are interested in providing a local comfortable space for free-thinkers here at the U, but we are also very interested in sending our students back out into the world as engaged, caring citizens who are aware of their rights, strengths, and commonalities with others in the world.
Many people do not know that they can "come out" as non-believers and still be respected in their communities. Many feel oppressed and/or discriminated against. I hope for this group to provide empowerment to students, so that they can not only find local safety and acceptance among like-minded peers, but so that they can know that they can be accepted in the wider world as well.
My goal as Interfaith Liason to the group is to engage our members in discussion and activity with people of faith in the community. Many people of faith have pre-conceived notions of people without faith, and the only way to break down these pre-conceptions is to engage ourselves calmly, rationally and kindly with people of faith and non-faith alike. Each and every one of us is human! We come from diverse backgrounds and cultures and live with diverse opinions and values, but fundamentally, each of us is human.
When I look a student leader of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship in the eye and, respectfully and curiously, ask him, "What exactly is Great Lent?" * or, "How exactly does your faith differ from Catholicism?" ** I learn more, which is a main goal of Secularism, and I see this peer as a human being with convictions and cares and values, which is a main component of Humanism.
I hope that SHIFT will continue to grow and assist many in SHIFTing their points of view, continually questioning their convictions and ideologies, and, basically, progressing always toward kindness, love and embracing humanity.
* Great Lent, as it was explained to me, is a 40-day period of fasting, prayer and self-reflection, ending on Palm Sunday, which is 7 days before Easter, which is the Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This year, therefore, Great Lent takes place from February 15 - March 28.
** Orthodox Christianity, as it was explained to me, differs from Catholicism in it's leadership ~ they respect the Pope as an inspired (by God) human being, but do not believe in his infallibility, or, his inability to make mistakes as a human being. Their church is therefore led by a Council of Bishops.
The purpose of this Student Group is to provide a diverse, safe, non-dogmatic and engaging community for free-thinking students of The University of Utah. Our group (as you can see by the links along the right-hand-side of our blog) is very engaged in Atheist, Skeptic, and Humanist communities and causes locally, nationally and internationally. We are interested in providing a local comfortable space for free-thinkers here at the U, but we are also very interested in sending our students back out into the world as engaged, caring citizens who are aware of their rights, strengths, and commonalities with others in the world.
Many people do not know that they can "come out" as non-believers and still be respected in their communities. Many feel oppressed and/or discriminated against. I hope for this group to provide empowerment to students, so that they can not only find local safety and acceptance among like-minded peers, but so that they can know that they can be accepted in the wider world as well.
My goal as Interfaith Liason to the group is to engage our members in discussion and activity with people of faith in the community. Many people of faith have pre-conceived notions of people without faith, and the only way to break down these pre-conceptions is to engage ourselves calmly, rationally and kindly with people of faith and non-faith alike. Each and every one of us is human! We come from diverse backgrounds and cultures and live with diverse opinions and values, but fundamentally, each of us is human.
When I look a student leader of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship in the eye and, respectfully and curiously, ask him, "What exactly is Great Lent?" * or, "How exactly does your faith differ from Catholicism?" ** I learn more, which is a main goal of Secularism, and I see this peer as a human being with convictions and cares and values, which is a main component of Humanism.
I hope that SHIFT will continue to grow and assist many in SHIFTing their points of view, continually questioning their convictions and ideologies, and, basically, progressing always toward kindness, love and embracing humanity.
* Great Lent, as it was explained to me, is a 40-day period of fasting, prayer and self-reflection, ending on Palm Sunday, which is 7 days before Easter, which is the Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This year, therefore, Great Lent takes place from February 15 - March 28.
** Orthodox Christianity, as it was explained to me, differs from Catholicism in it's leadership ~ they respect the Pope as an inspired (by God) human being, but do not believe in his infallibility, or, his inability to make mistakes as a human being. Their church is therefore led by a Council of Bishops.
Monday, January 25, 2010
The Thayne Center for Service and Learning
Named in honor of Emma Lou Thayne and created in 1994, the Thayne Center for Service and Learning is an entity of Salt Lake Community College and assists students in becoming civically-engaged. Their programs include America Reads and Alternative Spring Break, and they also assist students in becoming involved in AmeriCorps. They offer scholarships and assist students and faculty in Service Learning courses.
I graduated from Salt Lake Community College in the year 2007 with my Associate of Arts degree. During my time there I volunteered with the Thayne Center frequently, and became actively involved in AmeriCorps and the America Reads program. I am significantly impressed with the emphasis that is being put today on the importance and value of incorporating service into education. What I learned through the Thayne Center helped me to better understand the needs of others in my community, and, fundamentally, to better understand myself and my own needs. My education would not have been the same without my experiences with the Thayne Center, just as it would not be the same without the volunteerism and involvement so key in my educational life today. I learn more every day by serving others than I ever could learn by only attending typical college courses.
I graduated from Salt Lake Community College in the year 2007 with my Associate of Arts degree. During my time there I volunteered with the Thayne Center frequently, and became actively involved in AmeriCorps and the America Reads program. I am significantly impressed with the emphasis that is being put today on the importance and value of incorporating service into education. What I learned through the Thayne Center helped me to better understand the needs of others in my community, and, fundamentally, to better understand myself and my own needs. My education would not have been the same without my experiences with the Thayne Center, just as it would not be the same without the volunteerism and involvement so key in my educational life today. I learn more every day by serving others than I ever could learn by only attending typical college courses.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
The Utah Food Bank
The Utah Food Bank's mission is to meet immediate, basic needs of people in our community who don't know where else to turn. They not only provide food collection and distribution in our community, they also provide needed services for seniors, including home repair and security, yard care, and food assistance.
Every experience I have had volunteering for the Utah Food Bank has been incredibly positive. The resources available to those in our community who need food and for various reasons are unable to access it themselves are astounding. I encourage everyone who has ever given a dollar to a homeless man, woman or child on the streets of Salt Lake City to volunteer just one hour at 3150 South 900 West. See for yourself what can happen when we support food banks rather than pan-handlers!
Every experience I have had volunteering for the Utah Food Bank has been incredibly positive. The resources available to those in our community who need food and for various reasons are unable to access it themselves are astounding. I encourage everyone who has ever given a dollar to a homeless man, woman or child on the streets of Salt Lake City to volunteer just one hour at 3150 South 900 West. See for yourself what can happen when we support food banks rather than pan-handlers!
Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College's Vision is to become the premier comprehensive community college in the nation. This is quite a lofty goal, however, I believe that they will succeed. While I attended this college I heard President Cynthia A. Bioteau, Ph.D., speak to a congregant of students. President Bioteau embodies this vision and instilled in me admiration and pride for my school.
Their Health and Wellness Services and Thayne Center for Service and Learning are two on-campus organizations I benefited from personally while I was a student there. I encourage all who are interested in pursuing higher education, no matter their background, financial situation, or any possible hindrance in their mind, to start here.
Salt Lake Community College states that they are:
"... a public, open-access, comprehensive community college committed to serving the broader community. Its mission is to provide quality higher education and lifelong learning to people of diverse cultures, abilities, and ages, and to serve the needs of community and government agencies, business, industry and other employers."
Their Health and Wellness Services and Thayne Center for Service and Learning are two on-campus organizations I benefited from personally while I was a student there. I encourage all who are interested in pursuing higher education, no matter their background, financial situation, or any possible hindrance in their mind, to start here.
Salt Lake Community College states that they are:
"... a public, open-access, comprehensive community college committed to serving the broader community. Its mission is to provide quality higher education and lifelong learning to people of diverse cultures, abilities, and ages, and to serve the needs of community and government agencies, business, industry and other employers."
AmeriCorps
In the year 2007 I became an AmeriCorps Alumni. This is, to this day, an accomplishment close to my heart. I met several amazing people; Lynne McCue-Hamilton and Phuong Vu from Salt Lake Community College, for example. The organizations I explored and worked with during my time in AmeriCorps included the Utah Food Bank, The Thayne Center for Service and Learning, the Salt Lake County Division of Youth Services, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah. The most lasting of these connections was Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah, and my perfect match of a little sister is growing at an alarming rate and I still enjoy taking her on outings and continuing to get to know and mentor her.
I thank President William Jefferson Clinton for creating this U.S. Federal Government Program, and even President George Walker Bush, for expanding the program by 50 percent.
I would call AmeriCorps, and all I learned through my hours of service that year, the beginning of my dedication to community service and learning. Today I am devoted to building communities and relationships and I will always be grateful to the AmeriCorps program for setting me on this journey!
I thank President William Jefferson Clinton for creating this U.S. Federal Government Program, and even President George Walker Bush, for expanding the program by 50 percent.
I would call AmeriCorps, and all I learned through my hours of service that year, the beginning of my dedication to community service and learning. Today I am devoted to building communities and relationships and I will always be grateful to the AmeriCorps program for setting me on this journey!
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