CSO Info, Mission & More

CSO is located in the Chapel; stop by and visit!

CSO provides support to students performing community service, including transportation (students may drive CSO vans to get to a site once van training is completed and agency confirmation received) and opportunities for discussion, reflection, and meeting other volunteers. The director, Tiertza-leah Schwartz, Director of Voluntary Services, x2758, tschwart@email.smith.edu can give you more details.

Our mission is to support student engagement in meaningful community service work and leadership training that enhances the educational experience, meets community identified needs, provides opportunities for reflection, and models the development of effective collaborative community partnerships with local non-profit organizations.

Check out the Agency Directory!

CSO Volunteering Opportunities ‘09

Do you want to help make a difference? The following opportunities begin in September or October:

Volunteer at Homework House                           
Homework House in Holyoke, a non-profit, free tutoring and mentoring program, seeks caring and dedicated volunteers to provide academic assistance and guidance to at-risk children in grades 1-8, to serve as positive role models, and to be able to relate and communicate with children. Teams from Smith will leave in a CSO Van each afternoon Mon. – Thurs. at 3:00 pm and return at 5:45 pm. For info, contact Homework House: hpedroholyoke@aol.com, Maureen Broughan ssj, and to arrange transportation, email Sherry: swingfie@smith.edu.  

Connections Program for Middle-schoolers seeks volunteers
Students are needed to facilitate enrichment clubs or assist with enrichment club activities - Mural Projects, Nature Clubs, Tae Kwon Do Clubs and Dance for 8-week sessions; programs runs Monday through Thursday only and enrichment activities are usually once per week from 4:20 – 5:50 pm.  Tutoring also available. For more info, contact Karen at Connections:  413-335-5523 or kguillette@hps.holyoke.ma.us.

Educational Outreach Tutors
With the support of the Office of Educational Outreach and the Department of Education and Child Study, tutors receive training and participate in an enriching after school program in language arts and mathematics for 1st-5th grade students. Tutors work one on one with students and may participate in the program for 1, 2, or 3 days per week. Work study through America Reads is available. For more information, contact Doug Winsor at dwinsor@smith.edu, x3186.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters Kids To Campus
A new on-campus program KIDS TO CAMPUS will be at Smith this year.  Littles will come to Smith on Wednesday afternoons to visit with their Bigs, as well as have dinner in Duckett with them.  Kids will be brought to campus by 3:30 pm and will stay until 6:30 pm most Wednesdays. There will be a training at 3 pm on September 30th for Big Sisters and the program will begin the following week.  There is a commitment of both semesters.  For an application and info, email Ruth Harms at rharms@chd.org. 

Volunteer at Fit Together Wellness Center
Want to positively impact the health and wellness of an individual with developmental, intellectual or emotional challenges?  Volunteer at Fit Together Wellness Center.  We are looking for Smithies to support a member’s health goals by serving as an exercise partner/mentor.  Volunteers can commit to one or two exercise sessions per week.  For more information, please visit www.fit-together.org and contact on campus Fit Together representative Dominique Altarejos at daltarej@smith.edu or contact Megan Morrow at either fittogether@servicenet.org or 413-584-1508.

Stop It Now! seeks Intern
Stop It Now!, a national child sexual abuse prevention program located in Northampton, is seeking an intern interested in learning about and developing internet organizing strategies.  Position will also include reviewing latest research on child sexual abuse treatment and prevention. Experience in web design, blogging, facebook causes a plus. Visit our website at www.StopItNow.org and contact shudson@stopitnow.org for more information.

Decisional Training/Thresholds program working with Inmates         
Volunteer to teach decision-making, problem-solving, and life-planning skills to inmates at the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction or Franklin County Jail and House of Correction in Greenfield in an effort to help them redirect their lives in a constructive manner.  Mandatory training dates TBA.  Ten-week cycle ends in December.  Please contact Sherrill Ashton at 582-3053 or Janet Dahlberg at 586-1640 for more information or to register.  The Community Service Office at Smith can help with transportation; call the office at x2793 to find out more.