Four Hamilton students chose to spend their spring break working at non-profit agencies in Utica through the Urban Service Experience (USE) program. They volunteered at Thea Bowman House, JCTOD Outreach, Inc. and Y-Girls in Utica, in addition to creating welcome baskets for new refugee families accepted through the Refugee Center.
According to Chrystal Pridemore, VISTA coordinator and Cornhill/Bonner Leader coordinator, "Providing extra hands to care for children ages 18 months to 6 years and after school programs kept us busy, and conducting interviews at the JCTOD Outreach transitional housing program altered our lives. We interviewed four women who told us their stories of life before drugs, the process of getting addicted and life on drugs and then getting their lives back on track, overcoming impossible odds and regaining custody of their children," Pridemore said. "It was very inspiring, and the interview transcripts will be used by the agency to tell the story of what they do and how it makes a difference in womens' and childrens' lives."
One Hamilton College student decided to spend the summer volunteering with JCTOD Outreach after her experience with the women and with the after-school program. At the Y-Girls program Hamilton volunteers did activities and spoke to them about college – the entry process, the goal, what they should think about and how to apply.
The Hamilton students truly enjoyed the week-long experience and found out a lot more about Utica as a community. Now that they know what's there, they spoke of bringing their friends into Utica and enjoying more of what it has to offer. All will be attending the Block Party"at the end of April to celebrate the nine-college initiative in "Hospitality Row" over the spring breaks.
-- by Chrystal Pridemore
According to Chrystal Pridemore, VISTA coordinator and Cornhill/Bonner Leader coordinator, "Providing extra hands to care for children ages 18 months to 6 years and after school programs kept us busy, and conducting interviews at the JCTOD Outreach transitional housing program altered our lives. We interviewed four women who told us their stories of life before drugs, the process of getting addicted and life on drugs and then getting their lives back on track, overcoming impossible odds and regaining custody of their children," Pridemore said. "It was very inspiring, and the interview transcripts will be used by the agency to tell the story of what they do and how it makes a difference in womens' and childrens' lives."
One Hamilton College student decided to spend the summer volunteering with JCTOD Outreach after her experience with the women and with the after-school program. At the Y-Girls program Hamilton volunteers did activities and spoke to them about college – the entry process, the goal, what they should think about and how to apply.
The Hamilton students truly enjoyed the week-long experience and found out a lot more about Utica as a community. Now that they know what's there, they spoke of bringing their friends into Utica and enjoying more of what it has to offer. All will be attending the Block Party"at the end of April to celebrate the nine-college initiative in "Hospitality Row" over the spring breaks.
-- by Chrystal Pridemore
