 | Building Community/Classroom Partnerships Through Service-Learning
Service-Learning offers an exciting kind of “hands-on” learning in which students apply what they learn to make their community a better place. While serving others, students gain knowledge directly connected to the learning goals of the service-learning course they are taking.
Look through this site to learn more about how community organizations and groups can partner with
service-learning classes or click here for a list of organizations that have partnered with service-learning classes or that have requested services.
Connections for Life Honored as 2008 Outstanding Community Partner
 Connections for Life, a nonprofit agency providing opportunities for indigent women to become independent and productive members of the Baton Rouge community, won the 2008 Gulf-South Summit Award for Outstanding Community Partner Contributions to Service-Learning for its exceptional work with LSU English students. For the past seven years, LSU service-learning students in Sharon Andrews’ First-Year Writing and Introduction to Poetry classes have worked alongside women in the Connections for Life program. In their classroom, they read related poetry and then write, reflect, and discuss their experiences. The staff, residents, and Board of Directors ensure that service-learning students have a meaningful learning experience, changing the project for the benefit of student learning as well as for the interest of the program’s residents. The residents and staff take an active part in the students’ learning throughout the semester, visiting classes to share stories and information. At mid-semester—when students are working on projects that will benefit the agency’s fundraising and public relations efforts—residents and staff are often there in the classroom with them, offering feedback and assistance. Each semester concludes with a Service-Learners’ Appreciation Dinner where staff and residents prepare a feast for the students to celebrate their commitment to the service and learning that each has experienced. Connections for Life Administrator Karen Stagg received the award, which also honored agency founder Myria Andre-Martin.
Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank Named Summit's 2005 Outstanding Community Partner
 The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank has won the 2005 Gulf South Summit Award for Outstanding Community Partner Contributions to Service-Learning. The award is presented annually to a community organization whose members have demonstrated excellence in "creating, providing, and sustaining opportunities for engaging college/university students in service-learning projects." Students from a variety of service-learning classes--from composition to dietetics--have worked with the Food Bank. Students have helped with special events, worked in the Food Bank warehouse, contributed their writing and computer skills, and developed practical and nutritious menus and recipes for the Food Bank's population. The Food Bank provides food free of charge to 100 charitable agencies, operating food pantries, group homes, shelters, meal sites, and special agencies in an 11-parish area. Each day it helps more than 4,450 people. Food Bank Volunteer Coordinator Bonnie Bordelon accepted the award at the Gulf South Summit on behalf of the Food Bank.
Outstanding Creative Collaboration Award
 The recipients of the 2003 Gulf South Summit Outstanding Creative Collaboration Award are Cindy Seghers, Patsy Seguin, and Jan Shoemaker for their ten-year commitment to Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS). The partnership between East Baton Rouge Parish Schools and Louisiana State University (LSU) has helped improve literacy rate, reduce dropout rates, and educate college students about the need for public education. The commitment to social change is evident with 130 sections of service-learning being taught in 28 departments. VIPS is effective across disciplines with Entomology classes collecting bugs for elementary science classes, horticulture students planting school gardens, and biological engineering students designing and building playgrounds. Well-established and sustained relationships are integral parts of the program as well as advocacy and grant writing. Congratulations to Cindy Seghers, Patsy Seguin and Jan Shoemaker as the recipients of this award, and we off our thanks to each of them for their long-term commitment to service-learning and public education. |