Student Leaders are an integral part of our civic engagement work in many ways. Our CCEL Serves program typically relies on the leadership of 30-40 student leaders each semester.
CCEL staff will determine the schedule for Serves programs each semester, liaise with the schools and community organizations, manage our fleet of vans, and help facilitate student registration for the programs. When it comes to actually getting students to the sites and leading the programs, we cannot be everywhere at once! This is where our leaders come in. Each of our Semester Serves and Flex Serves activities is led by 1-2 CCEL Student Leaders who enhance the volunteer experience of students as well as the experience of our partners and the community members they serve.
Like the students who volunteer, Semester Serves leaders commit to volunteering on a weekly basis at the same program site over the course of a semester. These leaders can expect to volunteer 8-12 times over the course of a semester, on the same day and at the same time each week. Flex Serves leaders commit to a particular program that may take place between 1-4 times over the course of a semester, often monthly or every few weeks. There are also Pop-Up activities available that do not reoccur throughout the course of a semester - events of which we are made aware for which volunteers are needed.
Student Leaders receive training and support from the CCEL staff.
Responsibilities
CCEL Serves Student Leaders assist with many aspects of the program, including:
- Safely transporting a small group of CWRU student volunteers to the program site in CCEL mini-van**, via RTA, or via walking
- Getting to know and engaging with student volunteers to create camaraderie among the group; making students feel welcome, comfortable, and appreciated
- Liaising between the community agency site supervisor and CCEL staff
- Orienting and serving alongside volunteers on projects at the site; this may include helping volunteers understand assignments they have been given, asking on their behalf for assistance, and making sure each person has something to do
- Helping to educate CWRU student volunteers about the program site, the neighborhoods, the people being served, and the root issues of social injustice and the need for volunteers
- Accompanying student volunteers in reflecting on the service with which they have engaged (CCEL will provide prompts and resources)
- Communicating weekly with CCEL staff on how each program is going
- Helping to promote and publicize the CCEL Serves program to CWRU students - be a Serves ambassador!
**We especially need student leaders who have a valid drivers license and are willing to become mini-van certified! Read more about that process here.
Expectations
Expectations of a CCEL Serves Student Leader will include:
- Attending all scheduled program dates if the program is recurring
- Communicate with CCEL staff on a regular basis about how things are going at the program site and with the volunteers
- Participating in Serves Leader training (once each semester)
Get Involved!
Ready to get involved, get engaged in service, and be a leader? Email Assistant Director Samantha Cocco to express your interest and set up an introductory meeting.