From helping youth with their math homework to guiding recently incarcerated women through art projects, the Landis Center is offering a wide array of community service opportunities this semester.
Landis’s nine current community outreach programs will meet on a weekly basis until Dec. 11. These volunteer opportunities, which range from tutoring to gardening, offer a path to get involved with neighboring communities.
Generation Next is a program that helps future first-generation college students navigate the college application process. The program is designed to foster critical thinking and life skills in juniors and seniors at Easton Area High School that meet two of three requirements: being a person of color, being the first in their family to go to college or being eligible for free or reduced lunch.
According to the Campaign for Racial and Ethnic Justice, the main goals of Generation Next are to ensure that all participants take the SAT and graduate, with a focus on achieving a 90% acceptance rate for seniors into undergraduate programs. Since Lafayette students are only a couple of years removed from this standardized testing process, volunteers can provide helpful insight and guidance in navigating standardized testing, essays, financial aid and other applications. This program meets Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Another program to get involved with this semester is with The Journey Home Community Art Studio. The Journey Home is looking for volunteers to help recently released women from Northampton County Jail through meditative and healing art projects.
The Journey Home Re-entry Program for Women was founded by Bonnie Winfield, the former director of community partnerships at Lafayette College. The program’s goal is to provide a safe space for women reentering society and inspire a community of hospitality and compassion. Volunteers help with the program on Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Additionally, there are several opportunities to tutor young students in the Easton community. The Easton Area Community Center hosts volunteers to spend time with elementary and middle school students on Wednesdays from 4:45 p.m. to 6 p.m. A similar program is run on Mondays from 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. at the Firth Youth Center in Phillipsburg. Thursdays offer two chances for Lafayette students to get involved with local youth through programs with the Boys and Girls Club and the Mary Meuser Library. The library specifically asks for volunteers inclined in math to tutor youth in the subject.
Spanish-speaking student volunteers are encouraged to participate in Construyendo Puentes on Wednesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. This program partners with Paxinosa Elementary School to assist Spanish-speaking families. Volunteers help English as a Second Language students do their homework, as well as play games with the children.
Students can also get involved with the Easton Urban Farm by helping with the maintenance of the garden. The Easton Urban Farm provides low-income families access to fresh produce. This program is run on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
To learn more about these programs and get involved, visit calendar.lafayette.edu.
