CECI connects through community service
More than 30 College of Education and Community Innovation (CECI) faculty and staff gathered at New City Farm in late September for the annual CECI Gives Back Day.
Shelly Page, secondary & PK-12 placement specialist, said CECI partners with a different West Michigan nonprofit organization each year for the college's service day.
“We always look for a local organization that can use an extra hand, and this fall we decided on New City Neighbors," said Page, who is a planning committee member. "It’s encouraging for them to have groups of volunteers come in and help, and it’s great for us to just connect as members of CECI.”
The urban farm on Leonard Street in Northeast Grand Rapids builds community by providing employment opportunities for high-school youth and supplying food to local neighbors. The New City Cafe serves meals made directly from food grown in their garden.
Volunteers from the College of Education and Community Innovation are pictured at New City Farms during CECI Gives Back Day. (Grace deBest)
“It’s really cool to learn about things in our community that we aren’t aware of and then share that with other people," said Victoria Stubbs, dean's office assistant. "I’ve driven by this place a million times and had no idea there was an entire garden behind the building.”
CECI Dean Sherril Soman expressed gratitude for these types of volunteer opportunities.
“In addition to us helping our neighbors, it’s also a great opportunity for our college to collaborate," Soman said. "We don’t often get the opportunity to do community service like this all together, so it’s really valuable for us all to connect like this.”
— Sofia Ellis is a senior writing major and a student writer for University Communications.
Landon Canty, a criminal justice major, works at New City Farm on CECI Giving Back Day. (Grace deBest)