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2008
Citizens and Scholars
Mini-Grant Program
Project: Understanding Grassroots Obesity Control and Prevention Efforts
Project Leaders/Faculty: Joel Williams and Sarah Griffin, Public Health Sciences
The purpose of this project is to enable service-learning and engaged scholarship among Clemson faculty, the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC), and local communities. We will use a community-based participatory research approach and qualitative research methods to explore experiences of grass-roots community groups and residents related to perceptions, barriers and facilitators of community-level health promotion activities. These data will be used to identify important issues, from the perspective of community members, to guide future community-based obesity prevention programs facilitated by Clemson Extension and our SCDHEC partners. This project is a critical first step in establishing relationships and obtaining preliminary data needed to apply and compete for larger extramural funds to expand and coordinate our efforts across the state. This project is consistent with Clemson University’s Family and Community Living Emphasis Area.
Students enrolled in HLTH 480 Community Health Promotion, a senior-level undergraduate course instructed by Dr. Sarah F. Griffin, will be directly linked to the proposed study through several community-based research activities. As previously planned, students enrolled in the course this spring will assist several community coalitions through service-learning activities, including health improvement projects and health fairs. In addition to these previously planned engagements, HLTH 480 students will also be linked to the proposed project through active involvement in several aspects of the community group in-depth interviews, including: (1) participating in in-depth interviews with coalition members, (2) reviewing interview transcripts in small groups within the class, (3) applying text codes developed by the PI and Co-PI to the interview transcripts and analyzing the transcripts for common themes, and (4) discussing findings on Blackboard and in class.
All 31 undergraduate students (n=22 Health Sciences students; n=9 Language and International Health students) currently enrolled in HLTH 480 will participate in activities 2-4 described above. Students interested in “hands on” experience with qualitative research data collection - and whose schedules allow participation in scheduled interviews - will be provided an additional opportunity to assist with data collection through participating in activity 1 described above. The student volunteers participating in activity 1 will be trained in note taking and note-based analysis. All enrolled students will be instructed in using a coding dictionary and applying codes to transcripts.
HLTH 480 students will be evenly divided into four groups, with each group focusing on only one of the community coalitions: Eastside Neighborhood Alliance (urban), Morningside Neighborhood Association (urban), Partners for a Healthier Honea Path (rural), and the Pendleton Pride In Motion (rural). These coalitions represent demographically and geographically different communities, and some of the coalitions have been in existence longer than others. Students will be required to specifically assess and discuss how these differences influence their findings. Summaries taken from Blackboard and in class discussions will be incorporated into the executive summary document described under the communication plan of the original proposal. HLTH 480 students will be listed by name in that document and acknowledged for their contribution to the project and summary of findings.
Student Participation in Community Research:
Oconee County, Past and Present: Apples to Water
Project Faculty:
Cora M. Allard, Lecturer, Biological Sciences
D. Jason Caudill, Clemson Associate Extension Agent, Oconee County
Nick Gambrell, Curator, Oconee County Heritage Museum
John J. Hains, Research Associate Professor, Biological Sciences
Mike Jensen, Social Studies Specialist, School District of Oconee County
K. Dale Layfield, Associate Professor, Biological Sciences
Desmond Layne, Clemson Extension Tree Fruit Specialist, Horticulture
Guido Schnabel, Associate Professor, Entomology, Soils and Plant Sciences
Barbara Speziale, Professor, Biological Sciences
John R. Wagner, Professor, Geological Sciences
Chris White, Science Specialist, School District of Oconee County
Proposal Abstract
The proposed project will partner Clemson University undergraduate students with precollege students and teachers in their home communities to develop a display product on the topic, Oconee County: Apples to Water. During the Spring semester, the students will initiate individual projects related to the major topic. In May and June, the students will assist teachers and students in Oconee County schools to research the topic. Students will be supervised by Clemson faculty and Extension personnel. Advice on the historical and biological aspect of apple orchards and farming will be provided by Dr. Desmond Layne, Clemson Extension Specialist, Dr. Butch Ferree, retired professor of Horticulture, and local apple farmers in Oconee County. Dr. John Hains, research associate professor, and members of the Friends of Lake Keowee Society (FOLKS) will advise students on the historical, ecological and socioeconomic aspects of the water resources in Oconee County. The students will be offered an optional opportunity to participate in several software and technology training sessions using the interactive video based conference system, Adobe Acrobat Connect (Breeze), with the school district of Oconee County teachers and students to craft a multimedia product that incorporates all the students’ research.
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT II – COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR FUTURE DESIGN PROFESSIONALS
Project leaders/ Faculty :
Mary Beth McCubbin, Landscape Architecture
Jori Erdman, Architecture
Harry Crissy, PSA Extension
The goal is to have design students create a Master Plan for Denmark through visioning and community participation with local communities, as well as developing the initial steps towards a Master Plan for Williston, SC.
Design students rarely get the opportunity to work directly with communities at the beginning of the process, before a specific project has been identified. This course will serve to introduce the students to the preliminary stages of community development and into a master planning exercise.
In a parallel component of the course, students will be reading primary sources in community participation techniques and compiling case studies which they will present to the class. This will help to intensify their understanding of the process and heighten their abilities to contribute to the execution of he projects we will be working on in Denmark and Allendale. It will also expose them to the body of scholarship that is available for community participation and design efforts.
Since the class will be composed of upper level undergraduates and graduate students, they bring to this class skills in design but not necessarily having worked in communities yet. We see this as a perfect alignment of teaching (learning), research, and service. The students will be learning about community participation and engagement techniques, they will be conducting research (both scholarly and in the field) through the case studies and surveying, and they will be doing a service to the communities in which we are operating through these activities along with any design proposals that result.
The particular importance of this project is not just the activities that are taking happening, but the actual places where we will be involved. These communities have particularly challenging demographics, from racial considerations to education and class stratification. We look at this as an opportunity to bring up the real political impact of design and the role that our students can and will lay in the future.
New Grants, Tools, and Resources from Youth Service America
1) ServiceVote Launches
ServiceVote, a program of Youth Service America, is proud to announce the launch of a new, interactive website that will serve as a hub for young people to engage in every aspect of the ’08 election. The ServiceVote website provides young people with up-to-date news & information on the various races, the presidential candidates, and the defining issues; opportunities for peer interaction & dialogue through a discussion forum where youth can post videos, images, and audio files; and resources to take action through service, in the election, and in the policy process.
At ServiceVote, look for YSA’s Nine for 09: The Nine Ways for the Next President to Strengthen Youth Service When Taking Office in 2009. (http://www.servicevote.org/images/nine%20for%20%2709%20memo.pdf)
The site will be continually updated throughout 2008 with new information, tools & resources, so visit http://www.servicevote.org/ now and check back often!
2) The American Young Ambassadors Program
August 4-17, 2008 in Beijing, China
The American Young Ambassadors Program, Ltd. is an unprecedented global leadership program for 25-30 exceptional high school students, ages 15-18, recognized for the work they have accomplished in their communities. The youth selected for this program are of significant accomplishment academically, athletically or through public service efforts in their community. They will represent the United States as Young Ambassadors-at-large at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. By combining the dynamics of leadership, service and learning, the American Young Ambassadors put forth to the world this country’s greatest asset – our youth.
All applicants must be US citizens. The deadline to apply is March 3, 2008. To learn more about this program and to apply online, visit http://www.ysa.org/awards.
For program-specific questions, email AYAL at Slerner@AmericanYoungAmbassadors.com or Lfederer@americanyoungambassadors.com . For technical questions specific to the nomination form or the nomination process ONLY, email AYAL@ysa.org.
This is a program of the American Young Ambassadors Program, Ltd. (AYAL) with support from ArcaMax Publishing, the New York Film Academy, USA Freedom Corps and Youth Service America.
3) Deadline approaching soon. Disney Minnie Grants for Global Youth Service Day 2008 (US & Overseas applicants)
The Walt Disney Company and Youth Service America are excited to announce grants of up to $500 to support youth-led service projects. These grants support youth (ages 5-14) in planning and implementing service projects in their community. Teachers, older youth (15-25), and youth-serving organizations are also eligible to apply, if they engage younger youth (5-14) in planning and implementing the project. A significant part of the service must take place on GYSD 2008, April 25-27. We encourage youth to address important issues such as climate change, malaria or other diseases, human rights, literacy, or others. Applicants can use the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as a reference. Applications are welcome from all countries. To assist applicants who speak other languages, we provide translated information: the application materials are available in Español (Spanish), Français (French), Russian, and Hindi. Completed applications will be accepted in English only (an online translation tool is available at the YSA website). Applicants from China, India, and Russia are especially encouraged to apply. Past Disney Minnie Grantees are also eligible to apply. New! Electronic application available at www.YSA.org/awards. Questions? Email MinnieGrant@ysa.org. Deadline: January 21, 2008.
4) Disney Minnie Grant 2007 (2nd round) Grantees Announced
The list of grantees and project descriptions is now available at http://ysa.org/AwardsGrants/ListsofGrantees/Disneygrantees20072ndround/tabid/256/Default.aspx <http://clicks.benchmarkemail.com/link/redirect.asp?g=0&c=199276&l=212411597&e=cwessell@alumni.usc.edu&url=http://ysa.org/AwardsGrants/ListsofGrantees/Disneygrantees20072ndround/tabid/256/Default.aspx> . We received applications from more than 50 countries. Let these winners inspire you to apply for the 2008 Disney Minnie Grant and get out there and change your community!
5) YouthPower Grant 2007 Grantees Announced
The list of grantees and project descriptions is now available at http://ysa.org/AwardsGrants/ListsofGrantees/YouthPowergrantees2008/tabid/266/Default.aspx <http://clicks.benchmarkemail.com/link/redirect.asp?g=0&c=199276&l=212411597&e=cwessell@alumni.usc.edu&url=http://ysa.org/AwardsGrants/ListsofGrantees/YouthPowergrantees2008/tabid/266/Default.aspx> . These grants support youth-led projects that engage youth in foster care in service to their communities.
6) Youth at the Center Grantees
Funded by the Department of Justice OJJDP, the Youth at the Center grants help organizations that have had a successful youth engagement experience to replicate effective practices to organizations in a broader network or coalition without a youth strategy. Successful applicants plan to involve youth in addressing the world’s most pressing social issues and will use Global Youth Service Day 2008 and 2009 as a primary vehicle to engage youth in the issue addressed.
1.) The American Red Cross, Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter located in West Palm Beach, Florida plans to focus on the topics of leadership, group dynamics, diversity, communication skills, self-awareness, and peer pressure by using their 20-member Youth Council and a network of Red Cross school clubs to act as counselors, instructors, and staff to other chapters of the Red Cross as they develop their organizations. The Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter has plans to develop a Regional Youth Council to include youth from seven counties and it has a project structured around malaria awareness for GYSD 2008.
2.) The Omaha Zoological Society in Omaha, Nebraska will work with the Nebraska Park System to develop a statewide youth volunteer group called the Junior Master Naturalist. Funding will help develop and initiate a model to implement in the state of Nebraska and reach out to zoos and aquariums, nature centers, and botanical gardens in the United States through publishing GYSD experiences in national volunteer association journals and the Association of Zoos and Aquarium (AZA) journal.
3.) The Idaho Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health in Boise, Idaho plans to continue its efforts towards refining its Idaho Youth Council to educate other groups in Idaho about the emotional, behavioral, and mental health issues of today’s youth. They plan to provide a youth workshop on how to “unite and fight” stigma as well as prepare a presentation for the 2008 Idaho Youth National Conference. Idaho youth representing the seven mental health councils in the state will develop a workshop for GYSD 2008 and will focus on encouraging sustainable communication on mental health issues across Idaho.
4.) The Youth Leadership Academy, Project Safe Neighborhoods in Charlotte, North Carolina will focus on the harmful affects of gang involvement. It plans to organize a 2008 Youth Gang Forum to reach a large audience across North Carolina. This forum will train youth to prepare them to organize and lead youth gang forums in their communities.
5.) Careers in Aviation in Palm Coast, Florida provides educational tools for youth to explore the wide variety of opportunities in aviation. Funding will go towards developing their student volunteer mentor program and creating four Careers in Aviation seminars and workshops for younger youth.
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