Getting Involved
Clubs, Upcoming Service Opportunities, Fellowships and 5th Grade Day
Community Connections
Learn about RWU’s largest day of service!
Voter Registration
Roger Williams University has joined the All In Challenge, a national movement to encourage college student voting.
About Us
Who We Are
The mission of the Feinstein Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement is to support the University’s core purpose of strengthening society through engaged teaching and learning by meeting the needs of the community through fostering partnerships, encouraging and supporting service learning initiatives, and offering resources and opportunities for civic engagement.
Why We Matter
We are all about RWU’s commitment to the community. And while we love helping out community partners, we are equally as passionate about allowing students to grow their resumes. With endless opportunities for service throughout the year, it’s a win-win for everyone!
What We Do
We do all things community service!
Most notably, we are responsible for Community Connections, RWU’s largest day of service. We send more than 1,500 students, faculty, and staff to 40+ locations around the state and region. Are you a nonprofit looking to partner with us? Contact us here
Feinstein Community Connections
What is Community Connections?
The Feinstein Community Connections program began in 2005 to provide a common service experience that actualized commitment to service, a core value of the University and met the real needs of organizations and individuals in the local community, all while continuing the orientation process for new students.
Our entering class volunteers at non-profit agencies throughout Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, led by student or faculty/staff site leaders.
Ways to Get Involved
Clubs
Several student groups are involved in community service, both locally and globally. Clubs focusing on service have included Habitat for Humanity, Alternative Spring Break, Food Recovery Network, Helping Hawks, Hawks for St. Jude, Love Your Melon, the Eco-Reps, and many others!
For a complete list of all official RWU clubs, including those who focus on service, visit RWU’s Hawklink page at hawklink.rwu.edu.
Clubs
Several student groups are involved in community service, both locally and globally. Clubs focusing on service have included Habitat for Humanity, Alternative Spring Break, Food Recovery Network, Helping Hawks, Hawks for St. Jude, Love Your Melon, the Eco-Reps, and many others!
For a complete list of all official RWU clubs, including those who focus on service, visit RWU’s Hawklink page at hawklink.rwu.edu.
Upcoming Service Opportunities
RWU matches students, faculty, and staff with non-profit organizations that can benefit from our expertise, time, and enthusiasm. These include one-time experiences and long-term opportunities as well as local, regional, and international opportunities.
Want to join in on the fun? Opportunities are updated daily and are visible on our Hawklink page.
Community-Engaged Fellowship
The Community Engagement Fellowship Program provides opportunities for RWU students who are deeply interested in community engagement to build their skills, increase their personal capacity to affect change, and have more impact on the community.
5th Grade Day
Each May, RWU welcomes the entire 5th grade group from the Bristol/Warren Regional School District for a special program.
Experience Service with our Students!
Volunteers Engaged (Annually)
Hours of Service! (Annually)
Want to become a Community Partner?
The Feinstein Community Connections program invites you to consider what you could accomplish with the energy, enthusiasm (and yes, free labor!) of RWU volunteers.
Incoming Student?
Feinstein Community Connections 2019 will take place on August 26, 2019
You will register for the program online when you register for summer orientation. That’s why we ask you questions about the types of issues you are interested in and the skills you have. We do our best to match you with a site that uses those skills to benefit the community.
Want to become a Site Leader?
We need 100 returning students, faculty, and staff to lead our groups in the field. All “site leaders” recieve the training and tools to ensure a safe and positive experience for all participants.
Recruitment begins in the spring semester for site leaders and student program coordinators. So, keep an eye out on our Hawlink page and your RWU email.
Hear from our Community Partners!
Here are a few sound bytes from our community partners who have participated in Community Connections:
WARM Center- Westerly, RI
“The planned date coincided perfectly with a mailing that needed to be done for our organization. They completed the job with minimal supervision and freed up a lot of time for staff to focus on other duties. Thank you so much!”
Franklin Court Assisted Living- Bristol, RI
“Everything went smoothly. We host a car wash for the tenants at Franklin Court Independent Living, weather permitting! This year the Mother Nature was on our side! We had a meet & greet with the tenants, car wash, the tenants made delicious macaroni and meatballs for lunch, then bingo! It was awesome!”
The Nature Conservancy/Francis Carter Preserve- Charlestown, RI
“As always, they were great kids — smart, easy to work with, and eager to help out. Terrific representatives of the school. We would be happy to have them back with The Nature Conservancy next year.”
John Hope Settlement House- Providence, RI
“They were eager to learn the history about our organization and they did an amazing job!”
Voter Registration and Education
Roger Williams University has joined the All In Challenge, a national movement to encourage college student voting.
RWU Voter Facts:
%
of registered RWU students voted in the 2016 presidential election
%
of registered RWU students voted in the mid-term elections
“The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge strives for a more inclusive democracy—one in which all voices are heard. We envision a country in which the electorate mirrors our country’s makeup and college students are democratically engaged on an ongoing basis, during and between elections, and not just at the polls.”
Because RWU shares this vision, we have gathered a group of faculty, staff and students to gather resources, create programming and provide education around voting.
Voting laws and procedures vary from state to state. Navigating these can be difficult for anyone, but attending college in a different town or state from your home can make things more complicated.
Below you will find resources that we believe will make your participation in the upcoming election easier. Never let anything keep you from the polls.
Voter Registration Resources
Trusted Sources 2020 RWU Library Guide Includes comprehensive resources for voter education for this election and beyond.
All In Challenge on Hawklink Provides updated civic involvement and voter education and registration event information.
Turbo Vote Provides national voter registration information, including verifying existing registrations.
List of Secretary of State’s office in 50 states. Will link you to the unique voter laws in your home state.
Our Time is Now https://sites.google.com/g.rwu.edu/our-time-is-now/ Created by Honors CORE 102 Challenges of Democracy with out of state voter reg info!
Voter Education and Registration Events
This is a partial list of events. Details will be posted as they evolve. Please visit the All In Challenge page in Hawklink for updates.
September 22 – National Voter Registration Day
Voter registration resource tables on the sidewalk between the Law School and Campus Recreation Center from 11am – 3pm
October 20 and 27 at 8pm THE INTERCULTURAL CENTER’S NETFLIX WATCH PARTY “WHOSE VOTE COUNTS?”
RSVP TO: DHAY ES254@G.RWU.EDU. Join the Zoom meeting at ID:940 0423 3399
October 21, 12-130pm
Voter Suppression and the Intersection with the Legal Field , Moderated by Professor June Speakman, PhD, Department of Politics and International Relations
Sponsored by the RWU School of Law Black Law Student Association
Log on at https://rwu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0vduiqrTIuHdfYnDrEtzh8ullPkUt6cUSP
Panelists: John Marion, Executive Director, Common Cause RI, Nellie Gorbea, Secretary of State, Rhode Island, Ameratu Kamara, RWU Law School Class of 2021, Treasurer, Black Law Student Association, Chanda Womack, Founding Executive Director, ARISE, Niamiah Jefferson, Lead Organizer, ARISE
Learn a brief history of voter suppression and voting rights. Discuss how voter suppression affected the 2016 election and could affect the 2020 election.
October 28, 7pm – Debate
Presented by the College Democrats and College Republicans.
Watch the debate at here.
Have a question for the debaters? Submit it here.
2021 Voter Van/Transportation to the Polls
All In Challenge Committee 2020-2021
Adam Cavanaugh ’22, College Republicans and Student Senate, Co-Chair
KC Ferrara, Director, Feinstein Center, Co-chair
Kelly Blackhurst, Head Coach Women’s Field Hockey
Chrissy Gallardo, Community Director
Hannah Goodall, Learning Commons Coordinator
Dr. Allen Hance, Associate Provost for Community Engagement
Suzanne Harringon-Steppen, Associate Director of Pro Bono Programs, RWU Law School
Chris Higgins, Community Director
Zoila Quezada, Director of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Pamela Pereira, Assistant Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management, University College
Jason Regan ’22, College Democrats
Dr. Joseph Roberts, Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations
Jill Rodrigues, Director of Communications and Media Relations
Tara Stanzione, Community Director
All In Challenge Committee
All In Challenge Committee 2020-2021
Adam Cavanaugh ’22, College Republicans and Student Senate, Co-Chair
KC Ferrara, Director, Feinstein Center, Co-chair
Kelly Blackhurst, Head Coach Women’s Field Hockey
Chrissy Gallardo, Community Director
Hannah Goodall, Learning Commons Coordinator
Dr. Allen Hance, Associate Provost for Community Engagement
Suzanne Harringon-Steppen, Associate Director of Pro Bono Programs, RWU Law School
Chris Higgins, Community Director
Zoila Quezada, Director of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Pamela Pereira, Assistant Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management, University College
Jason Regan ’22, College Democrats
Dr. Joseph Roberts, Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations
Jill Rodrigues, Director of Communications and Media Relations
Tara Stanzione, Community Director
