Latino Service-Learning

This engagement hub facilitates sharing of information between campus and community constituents to create a community of practice and to identify opportunities for service-learning on Latino-oriented issues. Participants help identify and prioritize areas needing additional resources or support (e.g., training, mini-grants, support personnel, MOUs, external grants, assessment of impact, etc.); and work to implement coordinated efforts to provide necessary resources.

In 2013, the Latino Learning Modules were debuted, to help prepare faculty and students for work with Latino communities, especially in the Athens area.

Below are recently shared opportunities to engage with the Athens-area Latino community. For more information, contact Dr. Paul Matthews.

Opportunities at ALCES

ALCES is an organization dedicated to helping the Athens Latino community become a part of the larger Athens area community while preserving and enriching its own heritage. ALCES furthers that aim by offering education and services that will help people to advance in society and make contacts within the local community. These include programs such as language education, immigration assistance, and advocacy.

ALCES is in need of course participation from University faculty and students to help develop the following:

• Fundraising: Students interested in fundraising will work with the fundraising committee set by the Board of Directors. They will work on planning small and large events including percentage nights, the Latino Festival and other events. Also, they will assist with assembling donation packets and materials in order to approach large corporations and community leaders to request funds and support.

• Grants: Grant writers will work with Executive Director and coordinators to assess needs, research, and apply for grants. Also, they may work with ALCES staff and contractors in order to track existing grants.

• Website development will work on website, facebook and twitter to update events, classes, and schedules.

• Social media/public relations: Our PR team will work with the board committee on creating press releases to highlight special events and the work of our organization in the community.

• Manual writing: Students will evaluate classes and asses proper procedures and policies for  volunteer and teacher protocols.

• Marketing team: Marketing for special events developing logo brand name

• Volunteer coordination: Will learn how to recruit and train volunteers for tutoring, front desk and special events

• Fluent Bilingual Volunteers for tutoring, special events, teaching and working the front desk

Contact information:

(706) 549 5002

445 Huntington Rd.

Athens, GA 30606

alcescenter@gmail.com

http://www.athenslatinocenter.org/

Opportunities at Oasis Catolico

Oasis Catolico Santa Rafaela provides after-school tutoring for pre-K through third graders, Monday through Thursday during the school year. Hundreds of tutors are needed! Many classes (educational psychology, Spanish, and more) incorporate Oasis's tutoring work into their service-learning options.

Orientation sessions for new tutors are generally the second week of the semester; see their website for details.

  • New tutors need to attend only one orientation session.
  • Returning tutors do not need to go through orientation again.
  • Please bring to orientation all forms fully completed.
  • Please be punctual ! 

Contact information:

Find volunteer application directives and directions at the Oasis website:www.oasistutors.org

oasistutors@gmail.com

Opportunities at Casa de Amistad

Casa de Amistad’s mission is to identify and address the needs of the under-served Hispanic community through direct service, education, advocacy and community involvement in order to create a just and harmonious, multicultural community.

Casa de Amistad is in need of course participation from University faculty and students to help develop the following:

• Fundraising: Students interested in fundraising will work with the fundraising committee set by the Board of Directors. They will work on planning small and large events including percentage nights, and other events. Also, they will assist with assembling donation packets and materials in order to approach large corporations and community leaders to request funds and support.

• Grants: Grant writers will work with Executive Director and coordinators to assess needs, research, and apply for grants. Also, they may work with Casa de Amistad staff and contractors in order to track existing grants.

• Website development will work on website, facebook and twitter to update events, classes, and schedules.

• Social media/public relations: Our PR team will work with the board committee on creating press releases to highlight special events and the work of our organization in the community.

• Manual writing: Students will evaluate classes and asses proper procedures and policies for volunteer and teacher protocols.

• Marketing team: Marketing for special events

• Volunteer coordination: Will learn how to recruit and train volunteers for tutoring, front desk and special events

• Fluent biingual volunteers for tutoring, special events, teaching and working the front desk

• Case management: Bilingual Social Work intern from the Social Work graduate program to help with case management.

• Music: Volunteers needed to help with our youth music program.

• Garden: Volunteers needed to help maintain our community garden.

Contact information:

(706) 206-2087

1685 Commerce Road Suite 1

Athens, GA 30605

info@athensamistad.org

http://www.athensamistad.org/

Opportunities at Pinewoods Library

The Pinewoods library and learning center provides library, computer, and educational services especially geared towards Latino clients in the Pinewoods mobile home park and surrounding areas.

Hours of Operation:

Monday to Thursday 1:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Friday 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Closed on weekends

The After School Program is Monday to Thursday from 3:00-6:00

  • Elementary school tutoring 3:00-4:00
  • Middle school 4:00-5:00
  • High school 5:00-6:00


The library also has evening opportunities for volunteers with Adult Classes:

  • Adult Literacy in Spanish
  • ESL Education
  • Spanish
  • Computer
  • Nutrition

Other opportunities include interaction with bilingual library patrons, and also help with music, gardening, or other enrichment activities.

Contact information:

Aida I. Quiñones aquinones@athenslibrary.org

Branch Manager

Pinewoods Library & Learning Center

1465 Hwy 29 North Lot G-10

Athens, GA 30601

(706) 613-3708

Main webpage

Volunteer information

Online Volunteer Application

Address: 1465 Hwy 29 North Lot G-10

We are located in a trailer park called Pinewoods Mobile Home Trailer Park off of US Hwy 29

Take Loop 10 to Hwy 29 N. Drive past Athens Tech and cross Hull Road. Go 1.5 miles and make a left at the Gas Station onto Trail Creek Drive (this is Pinewood Estates North) (across the street from Athens Christian school). Drive slowly due to speed bumps. When the road splits, bear right. Finally take a left onto F-G Street. The Pinewood Library and Learning Center is a gray trailer on lot G-10

If you get to the Georgia Department License / Transportation you need to turn around!

Opportunities with Clarke Co School District

There are several opportunities for working with Latino students and families at the Clarke County School District. These include:

  • Interpreting (Spanish/English) for parents at school events and parent-teacher conferences for middle school and elementary school parents. Contact the schools' family engagement specialists or look for details at HandsOn Northeast Georgia.
  • Clarke County Mentor Program:http://clarkecountymentorprogram.org/ While not just for Latino kids, this is an opportunity for more sustained interaction with students.