History
The office traces its roots to the "B-W Construction Company," a student-initiated group started in 1985. The mission of the Construction Company was to build bridges to the greater community through service. In 1993, the Office of Community Outreach (OCO) was established and a full-time Director was hired under the Division of Student Affairs. Four students were also hired to coordinate special volunteer projects. These projects included the first Alternative Winter Break trip to Hull, IL, and three Alternative Spring Break trips to Hull, IL, New York City, NY, and Union, WV. The student coordinators also initiated Project X, providing five weekly volunteer programs for B-W students.
Since that time, the Office of Community Outreach has grown to include over 25 student leadership positions, an Assistant Director, and a Graduate Assistant. This team provides weekly service programs, mentoring programs, residential programs, Alternative Break trips and much more. Each year, B-W students contribute thousands of hours of service to the Greater Cleveland area through OCO programs!
Celebrating with a Campus Challenge
What better way to celebrate OCO's silver anniversary than through service? With the endorsement of The President's Office, OCO issued a campus challenge of 25,000 hours of service to the community during the 2010-2011 academic year.
Students, faculty, staff and alumni were encouraged to take part by serving the community and reporting their service hours back to the OCO. Hours could be contributed as part of a group or individually.
Silver Club
While every hour contributed was much appreciated, members of our Silver Club made a special pledge committing to a specific number of hours. Silver Club groups (student organizations, teams, College departments or divisions) achieved 250+ hours as a group, while individuals served for 25 hours or more.
More than Hours
While our goal of 25,000 hours gave us something to strive for, the staff and students in the Office of Community Outreach believe that service is about much more than numbers. To us it is about sharing our time and talents and connecting with those around us. It is about respecting the dignity of the unique individuals we encounter while serving and cherishing the opportunity to learn from their diverse perspectives. It is about being truly engaged in our community and working toward its betterment.
Awards
OCO's anniversary was also celebrated with a presentation of awards at a special reception on April 26th. In addition to Faculty/Staff and Student Volunteer of the Year Awards and Campus Challenge Awards recognizing the organization faculty/staff member and student contributing the most hours of service to the challenge, The Office of Community Outreach established a new award in the name of distinguished alumna and former Director of Community Outreach, Gretchen Carlson Natter. The Gretchen Carlson Natter Ethic of Lifelong Service Award was presented to Kristi Michaels, a 2007 graduate who has continued her service beyond B-W with Bike and Build, Americorps National Civilian Community Corps and most recently, Teach for America.
275 Eastland Rd.