Community Service Work-Study

CSWS Newsletter

Welcome to the second edition of the CSWS Newsletter!

In addition to coordinating volunteer projects, the MIT Public Service Center manages Community Service Work-Study (CSWS) jobs for students who qualify for Federal work-study. My name is Linden McEntire, and as the Community Employment Coordinator, my goal is to connect student workers with non-profit and government organizations striving to improve quality of life for community residents – particularly low-income or under-served individuals – or to solve specific problems related to their needs.

A few benefits for students include:

  • Work experience 
  • Understanding of new communities and their issues
  • Seeing the results of the work you contribute to an organization
  • Opportunities to apply lessons from the classroom

Interested in participating, but not sure where to start? Read through this newsletter, look at recent job placements below, check out the spotlighted organizations, contact me at mcentire@mit.edu, or come to office hours on Tuesdays, 2-3pm in W20-500g. I look forward to working with you!

In This Issue

 

Recent Project Placements

  • Systems administration assistant with Partners in Health
  • Intern for the City of Somerville Planning Department
  • Math tutor with Tutors for All
  • Fundraising coordinator for BOTHANDS (organization promoting affordable housing in Flagstaff, AZ)
  • Research assistant with the Institute for Systems Biology
  • Staff for the First Church Shelter

As you can see, Community Service Work-Study can take many forms. If you are interested in any of these jobs or finding out more options, please contact mcentire@mit.edu. Many of our CSWS students are willing to speak to you about their specific experiences!

Back to top

CSWS Employer Spotlight

For 25 years, VISIONS has been committed to realizing the next phase of equality for all people in the United States. VISIONS is a national and international non-profit offering consulting to businesses, universities, hospitals and grassroots community-based organizations in how to promote equity within their own walls and with those they serve. VISIONS takes on all the “isms” and creates open conversation around issues often left unspoken.

VISIONS is ready to engage in social media to maintain our presence in the field of diversity and inclusion. We are looking for MIT work-study students who can help us develop and integrate our blog, Facebook, website and e-communications platform.

VISIONS also runs a youth program called Legacy that is training high school students to use our method and theories among their peers. We would like to work with an MIT student interested in learning about grant writing to scale and share the program more broadly with the Boston funding community.

- Greg Gale, Associate Director of Programs

Interested in one of VISIONS’ work-study opportunities? Contact Greg at ggale@visions-inc.org.

Back to top

CSWS Student Profiles

Joy Ekuta ’13 and Christie Lin ’11 both tutor at the MATCH Charter Public High School. The school prepares inner-city Boston students – including those with no family history of college attendance -- to succeed in college and beyond. MATCH is one of four Neighborhood Works organizations that hire multiple MIT students and offer a well-structured work-study experience.

Joy began working at MATCH this past summer, and she decided to continue by tutoring a high school sophomore in math and reading during the fall semester. Her four-hour tutoring sessions aren’t always easy. “The most challenging part is trying to keep him focused on things (such as reading proficiency) that he doesn't seem to like as much.” But Joy also sees her work as mutually beneficial. She reflected, “It gives me a chance to get out of MIT, and still be able to influence students lives for the future. My student actually wants to go to MIT, so I'm able to work as a good resource for him to help him use his opportunities to be accepted.”

Christie, now a senior, has been with MATCH for several years. “The most enjoyable aspect of working for MATCH is seeing the students be proud of themselves for being able to solve problems. I love seeing them eager to improve themselves,” she said. Christie has also been able to see the positive results of her efforts. “My previous MATCH students still welcome me back and share with me their latest updates. They show me that I have made an impact in their lives.”

Christie and Joy both take away more than the satisfaction of helping their students. Christie observed, “MATCH provides me with the patience to endure through tough challenges, helps me explain difficult concepts, and inspires me to teach while helping my community.” Joy also discovered a new academic and work interest; she hopes to take classes in education because of her positive summer experience with MATCH.

For more information about her work-study job, contact Joy at joyekuta@mit.edu.
To learn more about MATCH and other Neighborhood Works opportunities, contact Linden at mcentire@mit.edu.

Back to top