Aaron Walker
Staff Writer/MC301
Jackson State University students had the opportunity to network with local agencies looking for student volunteers as well as meet potential employers at the annual Community in Action/Part-time Job Fair on Jan. 26.
Sponsored by the Alice Varnado Harden Center for Service and Community Engaged Learning (AVHCSCEL) and the Career Services Center (CSC), the event was held in the Student Center Ballrooms A & B.
Jackson State students are required to earn 120 hours of community service (60 hours for transfer students) as a graduation requirement.
Some of the agencies present included: AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Catholic Charities, the Center for Social Entrepreneurship, the Jackson Zoo, and many more.
Kimberly Harris, Service Learning/Community Service Resource Specialist/NSE Coordinator, coordinates the event with the help of CSC.
“Since all of our students must have community service to graduate, we make it as convenient as possible for them. Every semester we bring agencies that we partner with to the students and they can go from table to table and find who they want to do their community service with,” said Harris.
One of the many vendors on site was the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). They were looking for volunteers to help get the word out about HIV and STDS prevention and awareness.
Valerie Brown, an advocacy consultant for AHF was working hard to gain volunteers and spread the message about practicing safe sex.
“We go out into the community to raise awareness for HIV an Aids and STDS,” said Brown.
Shirley Clark Reed, a representative with the Living Independence for Everyone of Mississippi, was on site to share with students how they could help empower individuals with disabilities.
“Students will be volunteering to help make footsteps in the community by helping put on various fundraisers for the agency,” said Clark-Reed, coordinator for marketing/events for the non-profit agency.
Many students took advantage of the event and thought it was very important for other students to attend.
“It was really important for me to come today, because it is good networking and I’m really glad I did come. I made a lot of connections and it was a lot of part-time and community service job opportunities,” said Tyshara Mobley, a senior social work major from Biloxi, Miss.
Jerry Lee Rogers, a senior social work major from Memphis, Tenn., also appreciated the networking opportunity.
“I believe it was important to attend today’s event, because of networking skills, and to know what’s going on in the community by helping to give back to the community by volunteering,” said Rogers.
Other students welcomed the opportunity to meet agencies that offer opportunities to give back to the community.
“I believe that it is important to do community service, because you should always give back to the community you come from,” said Santranekia Willis, a senior social work major from Crystal Springs, Miss.
Also, many other students thought it was important to attend the event to find places to go, so they can help serve the community.
For students who could not attend the fair, the spring 2017 list of over 600 participating agencies is available on the JSU website’s Center for Service link. The offices of both the AVHCSCEL and CSC are located on the first floor of the Reddix Building.
Photos by Aaron Walker, Jamikael Kitt and William H. Kelly III
