A group of college students volunteered at the Peoria Dream Center consecutively for the past six weeks. College students are busy enough with their coursework, it is not common that you hear about college students getting deeply involved with the community around their respective college/university.
It’s More Than Volunteer Work
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. has implemented a new campaign this year for the fraternity called 40 Days of Nonviolence. This campaign was brought about by the North Central Province chapters associated with the fraternity as their very own community service initiative.
The official website of the initiative states, “We are a faith-based and community-driven initiative, whose purpose is to deter and ultimately eliminate violence in our communities through education, awareness and job creation.”
The goal of this initiative is to provide 40 days of nonviolent activities for people in the community. It is for them to come together and to take their place as actual members of their community. It’s also for the members of these respective communities to get re-affiliated with their community leaders: religious, governmental, and educational.
The Iota Kappa chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. on Bradley University’s campus took on the task of implementing the 40 Days of Nonviolence initiative in partnership with the Peoria Dream Center. For the past six weeks, on every Friday afternoon, the members of the fraternity and their female counterparts took to the Dream Center.
The Peoria Dream Center is a place of refuge for the entire community. The center houses a clothing store that’s completely free, outlets for children to become productive members of society, housing programs for displaced women and their children, and a host of other services.
The group from Bradley was charged with the task of teaching a large group of about 45 youth about African American history, as well as giving them helpful tips on how to be better people.
“I believe that our kids have a new sense of value. I know that this partnership allowed them to see more than what they see in individuals on a daily basis,” said Robbie Criss, the Youth Services Coordinator of the Peoria Dream Center.
Criss and his team of assistants brought the children to the Bradley University campus on Friday, Feb. 21, 2014 to the Garrett Cultural Center. While there the younger children were challenged to remember the things they’d learned in the past weeks, the older children were in a resume building workshop.
“This is important to my Fraternity, especially my chapter the Iota Kappa chapter, because we were built on the principles of improving our environmental surroundings, as well as uplifting the African American community and others to a definite level of progress educationally and economically,” said Kyle Williams a senior at Bradley University and the member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. that brought the 40 Days of Nonviolence initiative to the Peoria Dream Center.
Bryanna Johnson, a Bradley University senior, said, “Being around the children and hearing them talk about how they want to become a part of society and be part of something that is bigger than themselves was really special. It is heartwarming and gut-wrenching at the same time to witness a new generation blossoming and thriving in an educational world that is designed for them to only meant for them to be mundane.”
This was Johnson’s first time volunteering with the children of the Dream Center.
“I believe the atmosphere and one on one involvement fostered a sense that they’re not alone and that there is a lot of support for them through various relationships,” said Criss when asked how he felt about the bonds the volunteers and the children had developed over the course of the six week period.
The program was set to only take place for six weeks; however, the leaders of the youth at the Dream Center and the children themselves have asked the volunteers to make this a permanent weekly event for them.
“Being involved in 40 Days of Nonviolence was truly life changing. I’ve always wanted to volunteer at a community center with inner city youth and I had such a great experience with these kids. They were so attentive and really took to our group, which made it so much easier to work with them. All in all, it was a program that I would like to participate in for a very long time,” said Imani Brown a Bradley University sophomore and volunteer.
Criss had this to say on the subject of the longevity of the program, “I truly don’t want the relationships to end. It has been so beneficial for our youth on so many levels, a few being positive examples, role models, the need for higher education, etc. I know the program makes a difference.”
The 40 Days of Nonviolence initiative put on the Iota Kappa chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. officially ends this Friday, Feb. 28; however, the group will continue going to the center to volunteer with the children.
Inner-city Students in Resume Workshop
High school students that attend the Peoria Dream Center, came to Bradley University for a college tour and a resume critique workshop.
Inner-City Youth in Resume Critique Workshop