2007
Robert E. Bryan Fellows
Kristen Bell, a Ph.D. candidate in philosophy, will establish a structured program in which UNC faculty and graduate students will offer and teach courses to residents of Freedom House, a residential drug and alcohol treatment facility in Orange County. A long-term goal of the project is for the residents to receive academic course credit at the William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education and/or the North Carolina community college system.
Area served: Orange County
Faculty Mentor: Susan Wolf, Department of Philosophy
Community Partner: Trish Hussey, Freedom House Recovery Center
Kristin Economo, a Junior International Studies major, will work to make Service Corps a sustainable program in Siler City. Service Corps, a program created by Kristin, connects at-risk middle school students with low-income, high-potential high school students who serve as volunteer tutors. Kristin will partner with the Chatham County public school system, build strategic alliances with area businesses and nonprofits, and research successful after-school program models to establish Service Corps as a permanent service for low-income Chatham County public school students.
Area served: Chatham County
Faculty Mentor: Regina Cortina, School of Education
Community Partner: Kim Caraganis, Chatham County Together!
Marilyn Lundin, a first-year Master of Social Work candidate, will establish a Johnston County affiliate of the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI). The affiliate will provide free monthly public education seminars and information about community resources for individuals with mental illness. A Consumer Council and family-to-families class will be established to enhance communication, knowledge and skills in coping with mental illness and how to advocate on consumers' behalf.
Area served: Johnston County
Faculty Mentor: Anna Scheyett, School of Social Work
Community Partner: Ulli Mattern, Johnston County Mental Health Center
Hope Marasco, a first-year Master of Social Work candidate, will develop and coordinate Camp Alianza, a high quality, affordable and accessible summer camp alternative for Latino and African-American elementary school children. The camp is in response to the local chapter of the NAACP and El Centro Latino's interests in increasing collaboration to bring together the African-American and Latino communities of Orange County. Camp Alianza would provide a safe environment in which the campers can learn about one another's culture and form healthy and lasting friendships.
Area served: Orange County
Faculty Mentor: Mathieu Despard, School of Social Work
Community Partner: Ben Balderas, El Centro Latino
Sara Safransky, a first-year Master of Regional Planning candidate, will aid in the further development of the Farm Incubator and Grower (FIG) program. Sara will research alternative agricultural models, develop a strategic plan for the FIG program, link aspiring farmers with access to land, capital, and educational resources, and ultimately develop a report of the food and farm economy of Watauga and Ashe Counties to encourage continued farming in the region.
Area served: Ashe and Watauga Counties
Faculty Mentor: Meenu Tewari, City and Regional Planning Department
Community Partner: Tom Phillpot, Maverick Farms
