New Orleans Neighborhoods Partnership Network

Mobilization at Xavier (MAX)

Program Description

Mobilization at Xavier is the on-campus student community service organization at Xavier University, advised by the Volunteer Center. The purpose is to coordinate and cooperate in the planning and promoting of community service activities on campus. MAX offers a variety of campus service programs that help students MAXimize their time spent helping to rebuild our communities. Campus service programs allow student volunteers to become active in the community and promote social awareness and social responsibility through communiyt service. Student Coordinators provide constant support to the volunteers working in each program. Current programs focus on areas such as Literacy and Education, Special Populations, and Mentoring and Friendship. For more information, contact the Xavier Center for Student Leadership and Service at 504-520-5133

Xavier Rebuilding New Orleans Initiatives

Program Description

Rebuilding New Orleans One Home At A Time

Faith to Rebuild Together Initiative: is working to bring residents of New Orleans back home with the Faith To Rebuild Together Initiative. The Faith To Rebuild Together Initiative will help rebuild 25 homes during 2008. Volunteer skilled laborers will assist residents with electrical, plumbing, and carpentry work. Interested participants are invited to complete the application form on this website.

Alternative Break “The 2nd Freedom Ride”: is working to provide housing to colleges/universities willing to assist the New Orleans community with rebuilding projects. The XU Center for Student Leadership and Service wil also secure service sites and facilitate orientation sessions, if the group desires.

Xavier Service Learning

Program Description

Service-Learning is a teaching and learning method that connects meaningful community service with academic learning, personal growth, community involvement, and civic responsibility. It is often said that experience is the best teacher. Service-learning is a kind of experiential education in which service is an aspect of the experience from which one learns. Through service-learning, students learn and develop by actively participating in thoughtfully organized service experiences.

The Service Learning Program affirms that students make valuable contributions to society while gaining experience and learning through challenging community service endeavors. Students are given the opportunity to achieve academically, and to apply their knowledge and gain knowledge from their involvement in service that addresses immediate and long-term community needs.

Service-learning works hand-in-hand with faculty and community members to create conditions and experiences outside of the classroom that will enhance student learning and personal development. The old adage ‘learning by doing’ is the hallmark of service-learning. As a classroom resource, the community provides a valuable environment that can promote student learning. In conjunction with faculty, the Service Learning office designs community-based experiences linked to course objectives that encourage student involvement in activities that have the potential to foster a wide range of learning and personal development among Xavier’s students.

Our program intends to:
-Engage students in community service that allows them to practice and sharpen approaches of academic courses to meet community needs.
-Involve students in active learning experiences that inform academic inquiry.
-Heighten students’ interest and engagement in academic texts, class discussions and assignments.
-Place students in the learning contexts that enrich their understanding of the “real world”.
-Increase student commitment to community involvement, and sharpen their skills for working with others to benefit communities.
For more information, contact:
Mrs. Typhanie Jasper-Butler
Coordinator
Service-Learning
(504) 520-5735
(504) 520-7948 fax