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Residential Service Initiative (RSI)
The purpose of the partnership between Cal Corps Public Service Center and Residential Living, a department of the Office of Student Development, is to enhance leadership and service opportunities for UC Berkeley students living in the Residence Halls. By emphasizing social justice in Residence Hall service programming, this partnership will develop socially conscious students who can lead effective service programs and inspire their peers to participate in engaged scholarship.
Goals
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To utilize Residential Hall service programming as a gateway engaged academics
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To enhance the quality of Residence Hall service programs, emphasizing social justice
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To develop socially conscious student leaders to design and lead effective service programs
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To foster a relationship between Residence Halls and the City of Berkeley community
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To develop a sustainable partnership between Cal Corps Public Service Center an the Office of Student Development
Components of the Residential Service Initiative
1. Service Advocates
2. Training
3. Service-Learning Seminar: Social Issues, Social Action
4. Resources for Building Sustainable Partnerships
1. Vice Presidents of Service
As part of the Cal Corps Public Service Center Bonner Leader Program, five UC Berkeley students to serve as AmeriCorps members proving direct service to the Residence Halls. In the position of Service Advocate, these five students advise Resident Assistants on their service programming, coordinate two service programs per semester in collaboration with hall staff or hall association, advise residents on service and social justice opportunities, and serve as the liaison to off-campus community agencies.Contact your local Service Advocate:
Unit 1:
Unit 2:
Unit 3:
Unit 4 Bowles:
Unit 4 Stern:
Unit 4 La Loma:
Unit 5 Clark Kerr Campus:
2. Training
The Residential Service Initiative has integrated service as a part of leadership training in the residence halls. We’ve organized inclusion panels with local community partners, and service projects for teams of RAs. We can lead presentations on service-learning to Hall Associations or other interested groups, and cal also help community and campus groups learn more about service programming in the residence halls.
3. Resources for Sustainable Partnerships in the Residence Halls
- Service Programming Tool Kit
- The Residential Service Initiative is working to create annual dorm service programs, such as:
College Shadow Day with local Berkeley high school and middle school students
The Roll ‘n Shoot: Benefit 3-on-3 Wheelchair Basketball Tournament
Super Smash Brothers Tournament for Charity
Gift Giving Trees benefiting Women’s Day Time Drop in Center
Food Drives for Alameda County Food Bank
History
2007-2008
The 2007-2008 school year marked the Residential Service Community’s inaugural year. Students living in Priestly Hall and Ida Sproul Hall in Unit 3, will be encouraged to apply to the program during Welcome Week (August 19 – August 26).
Thank you
The Residential Service Initiative is generously funded by the Strauss Scholars Program and the Bears Breaking Boundaries Contest. We’ve also received tremendous support from the Cal Corps Public Service Center and the Office of Student Development. Thank you!
The Strauss Foundation: http://www.straussfoundation.org/
Bears Breaking Boundaries: http://contest.berkeley.edu/main_pages/1
People
Director – Brittany Murlas
This is my 4th year at Cal, and I’m still loving every minute of it. I proposed the Residential Service Community because I saw a need for service to be better integrated in the dorms. I’m extraordinarily excited to work with the RSC students, and to see how the program influences the UC Berkeley Residence Halls. If you have any comments or questions about RSC please don't hesitate to contact me, bmurlas@berkeley.edu.
Assistant Director – Tonya Newstetter
In Honor of – Jason Liao
Jason Liao was a Cal student from 2004-2005. A committed Hall Association member and great friend to students in Unit 2, Jason embodies RSC’s mission of community. His sophomore year was cut short, when doctors found that the cancer, Jason battled in high school, returned. He passed away in July of 2006. Jason hoped to spend his life in the medical field, helping people as his nurses and doctors had helped him, and although his goal was interrupted, he made a tremendous impact on many people’s lives, always serving as a reminder to his friends and family to live life to its fullest. He is greatly missed, and will always be remembered.
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