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Community Service Bulletin

Thursday, October 21, 2009

Spotlight

GPI-PSC Action Projects

This IAP, the Global Poverty Initiative and the Public Service Center are joining forces to offer the first GPI-PSC Poverty Action Projects.

We plan to send students in groups of four to three different countries for the duration of IAP to allow them to experience life in a developing country, work on an international development project, and identify future projects for themselves and other MIT students. To learn more, go to http://gpi.mit.edu/actionprojects.php. Applications are due October 23 at noon

One-Time Opportunities

Ongoing Opportunities

One-Time Opportunities

ForSE 2009: Forum for Social Entrepreneurs on October 23, 2009 at Babson College
The Forum for Social Entrepreneurs (ForSE) brings together social innovators with leading business professionals, investors, donors, government officials, academics, and students to facilitate the sharing of new technology and business ideas along with hard-earned management learnings to foster informed discussion and action on new social venture concepts. The response last year to previous forums has been overwhelming.
This is your opportunity to identify and recruit talent, meet potential partners to support your new idea, share best practices with peers, and interact with senior executives from Boston’s leading companies, non-profit/social ventures, foundations, philanthropies, and beyond.

Agenda for ForSE 2009:
Keynote Speakers: Pamela Hawley, Founder and CEO of Universal Giving and
Leonard A. Schlesinger, President, Babson College
Multiple tracks addressing key issues including

  • Social Media for Social Entrepreneurs
  • Sustainable Business Models for Social Ventures
  • Valuing Social Enterprises and much more

For information and registration: http://www-tie-boston.org. Registration is limited and we sold out last year. Register early to avoid disappointment. Registration is $100 per person.

Volunteer or walk in the 2009 Boston Monster March! (10/24)
Join in the 2009 Boston Monster March as a volunteer or walker! It’s a costume charity walk, carnival, and Boston’s largest festival in October. The event benefits the Samaritans, the international charity with a hotline for suicide prevention.

The March will take place from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on October 24, at Boston City Hall Plaza, 1 City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA 02201.

We'll have vendors, food, costume competitions, and prizes. The event starts with a kids’ parade, and switches at sunset to an adult charity walk and live concert by Lifted, Jaggery, Casey Desmond, and Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys. Over 10,000 people will come and break the world record dancing Michael Jackson's Thriller.

Walkers who join a fundraising team will have access to lots of games and activities. Alternatively, supporters can show up and join the fun – admission is $20/child, $20/student, and $30/adult.

To help, visit http://monstermarch.org/ and click “Volunteer.” Contact Johnny Monsarrat at johnny@wheelquestions.org or 617-899-7794 with questions. You can also check out the Facebook listing at http://facebook.com/event.php?eid=182728419008.

Teach local high school students carpentry! (Week of 10/26)
Interested in helping students build? Prospect Hill Academy Charter School’s Urban Food Elective course needs 1-3 carpentry mentors to help guide 12th grade students as they construct garden planters during the week of October 26. Carpentry skills and ability to use a wide variety of tools/equipment are ideal!

The School is located at 50 Essex Street, Cambridge, MA 02139 – just a 10-minute walk from MIT.

Volunteers should e-mail Kaitlin LeMoine with additional questions about timing and/or mentoring responsibilities. Kaitlin can be reached at klemoine@prospecthillacademy.org or (617) 284-7911. For more information about Prospect Hill Academy, please visit www.prospecthillacademy.org.

UCS Symposium on Science and Public Policy (10/31)
Please join the Union of Concerned Scientists on Saturday, October 31 in Boston for a symposium exploring the role of science and public policy. UCS is convening leading scientific, policy, and media experts to discuss emerging issues, examine the civic responsibility of scientists in the 21st century, and discussing how we can best meet that responsibility in the coming decades.

The event features Dan Reicher, Google.org; Steve Curwood, Living on Earth; Mario Molina, Nobel Laureate, Chemistry; The Honorable John Porter, former U.S. Representative; and many other experts on climate change solutions, global security, food sustainability, and the role of science in public policy.

For more details and to register go to www.ucsusa.org/40thsymposium. The event is free of charge and lunch is provided for those who reserve in advance. We request that you reserve your place by Friday, October 23 so that we may hold a seat for you.

Participate in Project Bread’s Strike Out Hunger Bowl-a-Thon! (11/9)
You are invited to Project Bread’s Strike Out Hunger happening on Monday, November 9th from 6:00-10:00 P.M. at Lucky Strike Lanes/Jillian’s in Boston (right next to Fenway Park). Start a bowling team with your friends, family, or coworkers and have a blast while you help us Strike Out Hunger!

For more information, please visit www.projectbread.org/strikeouthunger.

Ongoing Opportunities

Check out the Public Service Center’s paid Fellowship and Internship opportunities for fall and IAP!
The Fellowships and Internships programs both support MIT students working on capacity-building service projects. Students work with community-focused organizations such as non-profits, schools, and social enterprises. This IAP, we are focusing on projects in the Americas, but projects in other geographical areas are also welcome.

Applications for IAP projects must be submitted by noon on Friday, October 23.
Applications for fall projects will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Find more information about both programs at http://web.mit.edu/mitpsc/resources/internshipsandfellowships/index.html.

Looking for project ideas? Check out the PSC’s new opportunities page: http://web.mit.edu/mitpsc/showcase/opportunities/index.html. IAP opportunities in the Americas include everything from developing portable water infrastructure in Mexico to creating art and technology projects in El Salvador. Click on "Focus on the Americas" to find out more, and check back regularly for more opportunities!

Questions? Contact Alison at hynd@mit.edu

Take the 2010 Muhammad Yunus Innovation Challenge to Alleviate Poverty!
This year’s Yunus Challenge is “Promoting Clean Hands for Health and Prosperity.” We’re seeking students with innovative ideas to improve hand hygiene for disease prevention and improved productivity for those living in poverty. There are fellowships, internships, grants and IDEAS awards available for projects in developing countries.

Find more details here: http://web.mit.edu/idi/yunus.shtml

Support Cradles to Crayons’ second annual Gearing Up for Winter initiative!
With the weather growing colder and budgets stretched thin, many local kids are at risk of going without basic essentials like coats and boots this winter. You can help keep kids safe and warm by supporting our second annual Gearing Up for Winter initiative.

Volunteer slots are currently open for numerous days in October, November, and December.  Visit http://cradlestocrayons.org/giving_factory/ to sign up volunteer or e-mail Chris Bentson at chris@cradlestocrayons.org for more information.

The MIT Public Service Center is not responsible for the quality or safety of outside service agencies, and does not screen volunteer placements or projects. The Community Service Opportunities bulletin is published once a week by the staff of the MIT Public Service Center. If you have questions, feel free to call us at 617-253-0742, or stop by 4-104.

To be removed from this list, please email: psc@mit.edu.

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