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Click here for info. about the 2009 participants!
Click here for COMMUNITY PARTNER information.
What is Project Affinity?
Project Affinity is an urban summer service program coordinated by the Office of Community Outreach. Six to eight students live together at the Archwood House, a B-W owned facility in Cleveland's Brooklyn Centre neighborhood. Through service (approximately 28 hours per week) and community events, students are able to develop a direct relationship with individuals on Cleveland's West Side and the greater Cleveland community. As a group, participants explore social justice issues related to poverty, hunger, homelessness, mental health, diversity, the environment, HIV/AIDS, etc.
Service Experience
Each student serves at two local non-profit organizations. The Student Director of Project Affinity facilitates service placements. Each participant serves at one site related to his or her interests and experience and one site that challenges him or her to explore a different issue. In addition, the group will serve together at one site once a week.
Reflection and education are integral parts of the service experience. Weekly educational sessions each feature a different community member, B-W staff or faculty member to offer expertise on community and or social justice issues.
Housing
Participants live together in the Archwood House, sharing bedrooms, living room and dining room facilities. Responsibility for cooking and cleaning is shared by household members. The Student Director of the program lives on site and is responsible for regulating community standards and enforcing college policies. The Archwood House is a substance free environment.
Community
Being a part of a community both within the Archwood House and the neighborhood are integral parts of Project Affinity. In order to allow more time for personal reflection, community building and exploration of urban issues, personal televisions and computers are not permitted at the house. A community television is available for weekly movie nights and a shared computer is available for Internet access. To foster interaction with the larger community, participants use public transportation. The household also invites a guest(s) to the Archwood House for dinner once per week. Guests include community members, B-W staff and faculty.
Learning Plan
Each participant will be expected to develop a learning plan to guide his or her summer experience. Specific guidelines will be given upon acceptance into the program.
Remuneration
Students receive housing, meals, monthly bus pass, and a stipend for their participation. Students may apply for internship credit through the Office of Career Services.
The deadline for students to apply for Summer 2010 has passed. For additional information contact: Johnny Caputo
Student Director
(440) 655-3869
jcaputo@mail.bw.edu
275 Eastland Rd.