COMMUNITY OUTREACH
In addition to planning and implementing culturally responsive and student-centered lessons within the classroom, I find it incredibly important to impact positive change outside of it - within the community itself. The images below represent organizations that I spend time volunteering with in order to be a part of the aforementioned positive change. Hover over each image to read a summary of the organizations, and click the "See More" buttons to see additional information in relation to my role within that organization, as well as their roles in impacting positive change in the community itself.
THE LEADING EQUITY CENTER
I have a passion for researching and implementing new ways to make education more equitable. Due to this, I volunteer a great deal of time working for the Leading Equity Center, an organization with a focus on just that.
NOURISH NC
Nourish NC is an incredible "non-profit organization that provides hungry children with healthy food, empowering them to succeed in the classroom and in their community." I spend summer days volunteering my time to help in that effort.
PAWS4PEOPLE
This nonprofit organization is one near and dear to my heart. It "specialize[s] in training customized Assistance Dogs for two general groups: children and adolescents with physical, neurological, psychiatric, and/or emotional disabilities; and Veterans and Service Members with Chronic/Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder".
LATINO ALLIANCE
This program partners with UNCW students and community volunteers " to empower local citizens and organizations that serve the Hispanic/Latino community by creating positive change in areas of education, business, health care, safety, and community building."
YMCA of WILMINGTON
During the summer months, I spend time working as a camp counselor at the nearby YMCA. This organization represents what I believe should exist in all communities: caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Members of this organization also stress social and emotional well being for children and adults alike.
CALL TO ACTION
For the culmination of my Master's Degree at Johns Hopkins, I recorded a TED TALK style call to action to other educators throughout the nation. Within this presentation, I touch on racial and socioeconomic inequities that need to be addressed in order to impact positive change within American academic organizations.
By volunteering my time and energy to bring about positive change within my community, I am not only becoming a key stakeholder in changes made throughout the Wilmington area, but I am also demonstrating through my actions to my students and other individuals within the community that each citizen of our town has a responsibility to work towards it's progress.