Leaders in Service: Ben Spandau

We had a Q&A session with one of the service leaders at IUPUI.  Ben Spandau, along with two other leaders researched and presented on the issue of domestic violence.




Ben Spandau

Q: What made you three decide to cover domestic violence?
A: We really decided which issue to cover by choosing which month worked best with each of us and were assigned an issue.  The choice was really not much of a story but I have taken this opportunity to learn more about the social issue of Domestic Violence.  

Q: What organization are you serving at that helps those suffering from domestic violence?

A: I worked with the Salvation Army's Shelter for victims of domestic violence.  We helped paint, clean, and build storage shelving for their children's play room.


This service helps the children who have been affected by domestic violence to have somewhere safe and clean that they can play and receive educational life lessons.  This allows the family to either seek therapy for their issues or time for the mother to find ways of keeping her and her children safe and self-sufficient.


We all had a lot of fun and learned a lot about how the Salvation Army helps those who have experienced domestic violence.  I encourage everyone to volunteer at the Salvation Army shelter to further their knowledge to this important social issue.

Q: What can you do, as an individual, to help with this issue?
A: The first thing that you can do is to educate yourself on the social issue of domestic violence.  Knowledge is power when it comes to this issue.  Most people who are in an abusive relationship and experience domestic violence do not accept or see that they are.  Others are unable to escape the abusive relationship that they are in.  


Being knowledgeable of the issue allows you to identify the action or symptoms and effectively guide those in need.  The other thing that I would encourage someone to do to get involved is to volunteer at local domestic violence shelters such as the Salvation Army or Julian Center.  They are always in need of volunteers doing anything from painting a wall to playing with kids or even just stuffing envelopes.


Just remember, no matter how small or insignificant your service may feel like, you are changing someone's life.

Q: Any other comments or experiences you want to share about this issue?

A: I understand that finding the bright side to this issue is a hard thing to find.  Domestic violence is a very hard issue to take in because it is very depressing and hard to see.  We must take it head on though or it will continue in greater proportions.  


No matter how hard something is, we must strive to make this world better for everyone who is in need of our help.  Our luxury is our ability to help others to attain those inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 

Random Acts of Kindness Week

Last month we celebrated National Random Acts of Kindness Week.

Tables were set up with Kindness Challenge Cards. We designed and printed entire decks of cards with ideas for being kind. Each suit represented a different category and the challenges grew progressively harder to do as the rank of the card increased. A few examples are listed below:

Clubs: People you know
2 – Send a compliment someone’s way
A – Call a mentor to say thank you

Hearts:  For those Unknown

2 – Smile and say hello to a passing stranger
A – Sign up for the bone marrow registry (more information at www.marrow.org)

Spades: For our Community & World

2 – Pick up a piece of trash on the ground and throw it away
A - Start a piggy bank for a cause that’s important to you and donate it to them once it is full

Diamonds: For yourself

2 – Be spontaneous for the day
A – Stop negative self-talk: “I’m not good enough, too fat, not qualified, etc.”

We also did a Flash Mob of Kindness

We gave a bouquet of flowers to three random people.
We gave one flower at a time, until they had a full bouquet.

Here are the marvelous volunteers for the Flash Mob of Kindness



One recipient of the bouquet of flowers gave us a great reaction.

We will be posting videos of our Flash Mob of Kindness later. Keep a look out for it. 

Come Join the Family!

“Many small people, in many small places, do many small things, that can alter the face of the world.” - Anonymous

    This time of year our office is bustling with activity. We are currently recruiting new students into the Sam H. Jones Community Service Scholarship.  Talking with IUPUI students we encourage them to apply even if they don't have a long resume of service work.  We want people with a heart to serve others. 

For those interested, posted below are the programs:

Join the Sam H. Jones Service Scholarship Family!

Do you want to be a part of something that is bigger than yourself?

Do you have talents and skills to share with others to create a positive, sustainable impact on the community?

Join the Family!

        The Sam H. Jones Community Service Scholarship program is a group of students who work together in and with the community to positively impact the city of Indianapolis and the world. With nine different types of scholarships, there is need for students who bring a diversity of skills and backgrounds to the program.

        Scholarship amounts vary based on various requirements and hours of service performed in the community. If you are interested to learn more about the scholarships available or to apply, please visit the following links for more information.

· Alternative Spring Break Leader

o Application Deadline: April 15, 2012 at 5:00pm

· Community Partners Scholars

o Application Deadline: April 1, 2012 at 5:00pm

· Community Service Leaders

o Priority Application Deadline: March 15, 2012

· Community Service Scholars

o Priority Application Deadline: March 15, 2012

· Democracy Plaza Civic Engagement Leader

o Application Deadline: April 1, 2012 at 5:00pm

· Freshman Service Scholars

o Application Deadline: February 15, 2012

· Fugate Scholars

o Application Deadline: April 1, 2012 at 5:00pm

· Service Corps

o Application Deadline: April 1, 2012 at 5:00pm

· Service Learning Assistant

o Application must be submitted by an IUPUI faculty member or staff

o Application Deadline: See program information

The Sam H. Jones scholarships require a minimum GPA of 2.75, and a minimum enrollment of 6 credit hours. In addition, participation in several scholarships might be restricted depending on time commitment. For specific requirements, responsibilities and how to apply please visit http://csl.iupui.edu/OCS/samjones.asp  

Too Much Service?

I discovered an article written by Julia Moffitt of WTHR News in Indianapolis. Thank you to all of those who volunteered at the 2012 Super Bowl. Many IUPUI students were involved in the effort.
See the article written in early November 2011:

Courtesy of Volunteer Kristyn Siebert.
An inside peek at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Indianapolis - The Indianapolis 2012 Super Bowl committee has a problem - too many volunteers. With 276 days until Super Bowl 46, organizers say that they already have their 8,000 volunteers and an addition 5,000 on the waiting list. For those who didn't sign up soon enough, there are still ways to volunteer as early as this weekend.

Nate Robinson is one of the thousands of volunteers helping the Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee. Right now, he is working as a receptionist inside the main office.

A few of our people from the IUPUI Office of Community Service:
Jessica Jackson, Ashley Winfield, Brandon Amos and Patty Mathison

"It's fun seeing people come in and prepare for meetings," Robinson said. "you can even feel the energy inside the building even though it's contained right here, it's going to be fun."

When it comes to volunteers, Indiana has never had a problem.

"Oh, it's been very easy, very easy" said Sheila Bradley, the director of volunteer services for the Super Bowl Committee.

Bradley, who is in charge of recruiting and training, knows better than anybody. She says that even though more than 5,000 volunteers are on a waiting list, and most likely will never be needed, she gets calls and emails daily with requests. Her biggest advice to these people is to get involved with other areas of volunteerism in the city.

Hundreds of volunteers get together each weekend in parts of the city as part of the Super Bowl Legacy Project, planting trees, scrapping paint and pulling weeds.



The wonderful Patty Mathison downtown
during one of her many volunteer shifts

"Indianapolis is a great city and we want to make a great impression to the rest of the world to see," said volunteer, Crystal Babb.

Bruce Flanagan is another person volunteering now. He isn't necessarily getting his hands dirty but he knows the work he is doing behind the scenes, writing, filing and cataloging pictures, is just as important.

"I'd like to volunteer on a regular basis because most of the work is done before the final week and that's when the fun is," Flanagan said.

Current in News: HIV/AIDS

Here is a current topic in news.

In 1984 the National Organ Transplant Act established a system that would allow for a a fair a trustworthy source for organ donations.  Within the guidelines of NOTA, HIV/AID infected organs were not to be accepted. While this was not done out of prejudice, it was done to prevent further spreading of HIV/AID.

Today, a new push has been made to allow HIV/AID infected organs to be used for patients who have the acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
In order for that to happen there would need to be a change made to NOTA.

Those supporting the change claim that it will cut the list of patients on the wait-list in half.
Others are hesitant to move too quickly. Not wanting to allow for the risk of mixing organ donations.

Below are some links to articles on the issue.
Educate yourself.

Kidney Transplants
Risk

Leaders in Service: Jessica Rodenbeck

Jessica Rodenbeck is a member of the 

ServiceCorps Scholarship Program at IUPUI

Age: 21

Major: Pre-Dental Biology

IUPUI students recognize Jags in the Streets as a resource that provides service opportunities on or around campus.  For those organizing the monthly service events being a part of the ServiceCorps program gives them another reason to delve into social issues. 

             Jessica Rodenbeck decided to educate herself and her peers within the ServiceCorps program on a social issue that has recently been brought to her attention.

            “I participated in IUPUI's World AIDS Day events and realized there was a lot I did not know about the topic,” She said in an e-mail.

This past Friday the ServiceCorps volunteered at the Damien Center, an organization whose mission is "to care for those affected and infected with HIV/AIDS." 

Traci Johnson is an AmeriCorps volunteer and the Volunteer Coordinator at the Damien Center.  She worked with Rodenbeck on coordinating the service event.

There was a library of “a bajillion books” that Johnson needed help moving from the basement to the main floor.

“They helped organize the books so we could move them upstairs,” she said. 

What Johnson enjoys most about her job is seeing people speak out about HIV prevention.  Jessica also wanted to be educated so that she could use her knowledge base to educate others.

“HIV/AIDS is considered a sexually transmitted disease, it is automatically assumed by many that one contracts it through sexual contact, even though there are many other ways for contraction, including blood donation, etc.,” Rodenbeck said.

Children can also be infected through their parents, making it a disease they contracted by no choice of their own. 

Rodenbeck: “Throughout history there have been many children kept from school…just because they were infected with HIV. Now that the virus and disease is more understood, people affected can live very close to a normal lifestyle.”

Non-Profit Indy: Big Brother, Big Sisters of Central Indiana



“I’d definitely recommend BBBSCI to others. I hope that I have made and can continue to make a positive impact on his life. And he has made a positive impact on my life as well- it’s been a very rewarding experience, and one that I’ll always remember.”

-Big Brother and former IUPUI student, Jim Wisco

Building snowmen.
Shooting hoops.
Playing playstation.

These are types of things that most kids like to do. But that’s why Big Brother (and former IUPUI student) Jim Wisco and his Little Brother Jordan work so well together—Jim likes to do those things too. They can both do “normal” things that they both enjoy doing—but now they do them together.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana (BBBSCI) currently has around 800 mentors in Central Indiana who make a huge difference every day, but the need is great. BBBSCI currently has about 40 Little Brothers and Littles Sisters around Central Indiana waiting for a mentor with over 400 in the application process.

Bigs are needed, especially Big Brothers and Big Couples. Through the program, volunteers are coached with the help of "Match Support Specialists" who are fully trained, full-time staff who give advice, help, activity suggestions and coupons to their matches. They also work with each match to emphasize:

-higher aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships

-educational success

-avoidance of risky behavior

According to an Harris Interactive study, 90% of former Littles stated their Big made them feel better about themselves, 81% said their Big changed their perspective on what they thought was possible in life and 46% now have a household income of $75,000 or more.

Jim has been matched with his Little Brother Jordan since 2006. Wisco said “Overall I just remember the first time I met him and he was a shy little kid. Now he's not little and he's not shy; he's become a great young man. He has become more confident and outgoing over the past couple years. I think that is due to several factors, not the least of which the great support he has from his family, but I hope I have helped some too.”

Bigs meet with their Little for roughly 4-6 hours a month, for a minimum of 12 months. Using a “design your own schedule” approach, Bigs are able to adjust their schedule and change their schedule as they go, meeting their Little in the evenings, over the weekends and even during lunch and partner schools. Wisco also stated, "Time management has been, and still is, a constant challenge. But, I've just tried to do the best I can. Even when I've had too much on my plate, it's been important to me to stick with him- he's a great young man.”

Nothing beats a smile on a child's face. And Wisco hopes more of the IUPUI staff/faculty and students get involved. Wisco said, “I'd definitely recommend BBBSCI to others. It's been a pleasure getting to know him and his family, and we've done so many fun things together that I've enjoyed just as much as him. I hope that I have made and can continue to make a positive impact on his life. And he has made a positive impact on my life as well-it's been a very rewarding experience, and one that I'll always remember.”

To find out more about how you can make an impact in and around the IUPUI campus and through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana.

Interested?

Contact: Laura Halt, Director of Volunteer Engagement

Phone: (317) 472-3730

Visit their website at www.bebigforkids.org