DUKEENGAGE IN CHARLOTTE, NC This program is organized by Duke faculty/staff and Duke alumni leaders in Charlotte in collaboration with DukeEngage.

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1 DUKEENGAGE IN CHARLOTTE, NC This program is organized by Duke faculty/staff and Duke alumni leaders in Charlotte in collaboration with DukeEngage. Program Dates: May 31- July 30 (Dates subject to change up until the point of departure.) Service Focus Advocating for N.C. children and their families through education, policy, and programs in active partnership with community members and Duke alumni. Program Leader(s) Amy Anderson, Instructor, Program in Education; Service- Learning Faculty Consultant; Duke- Charlotte Alumni Association Program Scope DukeEngage Charlotte Advocacy for NC Children and Families: Practice to Policy connects students to nonprofit community partners focused on services, resources and policy related to children and youth. The program, conceptualized and led by Duke Alumni in Charlotte, was offered as a DukeEngage domestic group program for the first time in Summer The child and family nonprofit community in Charlotte is a network of providers who often share the same stakeholders, from clients to funders. DukeEngage Charlotte offers participants a wide range of placement opportunities designed to support students integration of academic and on- the- ground learning regarding advocacy efforts for North Carolina children and Families. Placements experiences include teaching opportunities to developing resources related to court- involved youth. All of the affiliated nonprofit organizations see themselves as one piece of the answer to a more equitable and just Charlotte community and Duke students will have a chance to learn from each organization and its knowledgeable staff. A unique and critical element of DukeEngage Charlotte is its enrichment programming. Duke alumni working together with nonprofit community partners will offer students opportunities that complement and integrate with their on- the- job service experiences. There will be a series of events and activities enabling the participants to enrich their intern experiences, network with and learn from community leaders (many of them Duke alumni), and enjoy the wide variety of social, recreational and cultural opportunities Charlotte offers. Please see the sample enrichment opportunities this profile page. Charlotte, home to over 3500 Duke alumni, offers an example of a community that is committed and very involved in civic engagement. As one prior participant stated, In Charlotte, community service isn t accepted, it s expected. Students will have the opportunity to form close relationships with alumni who can serve as role models both professionally and in their active role as civic leaders in the Charlotte community.

2 Service Opportunities Examples of placements may include: Council for Children s Rights: Council for Children s Rights leads the community to stand up for every child s right to be safe, healthy and educated. As the largest child advocacy organization in the southeastern US, the Council provides legal representation and direct advocacy for over 2,000 at- risk children every year in the areas of special education, school discipline, juvenile justice, mental health, civil custody and abuse/neglect. The Council compiles relevant research and data about children, leads public policy efforts and facilitates community strategic planning about the needs of the community s children. Freedom School Partners: Freedom School Partners (FSP) provides high- quality, affordable afterschool programs and Children s Defense Fund Freedom Schools summer literacy programs for students and families living in poverty in Charlotte. In partnership with area churches, colleges and universities, and the Charlotte- Mecklenburg Schools, FSP served over 500 children at nine CDF Freedom Schools sites in the summer of Duke students serving at the Children s Defense Fund Freedom Schools work with high- poverty students in Charlotte, offering literacy- based summer learning opportunities during an eight- week summer camp for students. Project Leadership & Investment For Transformation (L.I.F.T.): Project LIFT Allenbrook Elementary School is a public/private partnership organized as a nonprofit organization, operating as one of five learning communities in the Charlotte- Mecklenburg School System. L.I.F.T s goal is to transform the way students who traditionally perform poorly in school are educated by ensuring these students are equipped and ready to enter the 21st century and beyond by providing a strong educational foundation that includes reading and math and culture using a unique approach to teaching and learning that includes bold, innovative strategies. Allenbrook is one of nine L.I.F.T schools. Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Greater Charlotte: Big Brothers Big Sisters operates under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. The Big Brothers Big Sisters Mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported 1- to- 1 relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. The Big Brothers Big Sisters Vision is that all children achieve success in life. Charlotte Family Housing (CFH): Charlotte Family Housing provides an innovative solution for family homelessness in the greater Charlotte community through a continuum of care model that provides supportive transitional shelter and affordable housing for its families. During both phases, social workers and volunteers partner with families to provide supportive services including vocational counseling, financial literacy and advocacy. CFH empowers families to take positive steps in both phases to achieve financial independence and self- reliance. Community School for the Arts (CSA): By providing the most respected music and art programs in the region, CSA unleashes the creativity of future generations and brings joy, confidence and a sense of accomplishment to its students. CSA actively nurtures Charlotte s future innovators, leaders and arts enthusiasts. As it models equality and inclusion in arts education, CSA welcomes into its program every student, regardless of ability to pay, and educates its community about the absolute necessity of encouraging and welcoming all children to pursue their artistic dreams.

3 Below are examples of the types of contributions made by students: Developed a database of summer opportunities for youth in Mecklenburg County, NC, with over 700 data points. These data were used to create a "Summer Report Card" that identified trends in program offerings, resources, access, etc. Served as court translator for a young woman seeking U.S. citizenship; served as translator in various inner- office meetings; gathered data for the Coalition Mapping project inputted findings into database that generated a report providing the local community with information about the 500+ nonprofit agencies in the greater Charlotte area. Taught daily literacy- based instruction and enrichment programming classes of approximately students at different Freedom School sites in Charlotte. Collaborated with the volunteer program director on a community- based research project designed to evaluate the efficacy of current volunteer practices. Developed focus group protocols, implemented focus groups, collected data and wrote a report for the agency to use to evaluate current volunteer practices. Interviewed school families about their perception of and involvement with the school, using data to draft a comprehensive family engagement plan for school staff to implement. Researched major issues and policies impacting agency clientele and developed briefs for staff and external use focusing on the availability of foster and institutional spaces for displaced children and the implications of the current laws prosecuting 16- year- olds as adults. Conducted post- program surveys with former clients; researched financial literacy programming, opportunities, and resources for families served by agency. Conducted an extensive data analysis of commonly perceived indicators of housing insecurity and the actual effect these occurring problems had on housing and drafted letters to local landlords explaining the findings and advocating for potential tenets/clients. Wrote policy briefs and performed research for projects revolving around school readiness, juvenile jurisdiction, and per child spending by the county, also tracking legislation relating to youth through the NC General Assembly for host organization. Volunteer Placement Logistics Students will learn more about specific placement opportunities during the interview period for DukeEngage Charlotte, and will be given the opportunity to indicate placement preferences. The placement matching process and final decisions are made after students are selected and committed to the DukeEngage Charlotte program. Students will be expected to be at their placements approximately 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, during normal working hours (8:30am to 5pm). Some work may occasionally require evening and weekend commitments and those placed at summer camps may start earlier in the morning and end earlier in the afternoon. Responsibilities will consist of office- based work, hands- on service, and may require off- site community outreach or field- work. Program Requirements Language/Other Prerequisites: None

4 Course Requirements: We do not require specific courses but previous Charlotte participants with education or public policy coursework have found it useful. Other Technical Skills and Requirements: Charlotte community partners have required various technical skills including data collection, management and analysis experience; video production; news writing; marketing research; grant writing; and community- based research. Also, the programs that place students in direct service to children have sometimes required both a background check and a drug test. Personal Competencies Willingness to learn and support organizational mission and vision: Strong listening skills, willingness to take direction and learn from others, and willingness to ask for guidance when needed. Problem- solving and goal orientation: Ability to analyze and reflect on organizational data and/or practices; ability to set and respect deadlines. Curiosity and self- awareness: Understanding of personal strengths and limitations; ability to articulate beliefs, values, and interests in DukeEngage Charlotte; demonstrates curiosity about the lives of others without judgment; willingness to engage in a variety of cultural settings responsibly and with sensitivity and humility. Reflection Sessions: Students will hear from a broad range of community leaders at required weekly forums, and will have opportunities to participate in field trips, workshops, and community events. Weekly group dinners will provide ongoing opportunities to reflect on participants service in the community, as will blogging assignments over the course of the summer. Program Logistics Neighborhood: Students will reside in one of Charlotte s loveliest suburban neighborhoods. Public transportation is widely available with options including city buses; a light rail line that extends the length of Uptown Charlotte (including the historic South End district and on to South Charlotte); and the free Uptown Trolley. Uptown Charlotte is the heart of the business district as well as a vibrant area filled with cafes and restaurants, museums, theatres, music venues, shops and other attractions. Uptown is relatively compact and very walker friendly. From uptown, the city s traditional residential neighborhoods and surrounding communities from the university (UNC- Charlotte) to the lake (Lake Norman or Lake Wylie) to the NoDa Arts District are easily accessible by a short drive. Charlotte has abundant parks, green spaces, and bike and running paths/routes. Housing and Accommodations: Students will be living in residence halls or short- term apartment rentals in Charlotte. Students can expect to be living in fully furnished rooms with adequate furniture and access to laundry and vending services. Usually, students will need to supply linens and kitchen items such as pots, pans, and dishes. Meals: Students will be given a stipend to cover the costs of meals. Students can choose to cook in on- site kitchens in their housing facilities or eat out at local restaurants. Communication: Students will have Internet access in their housing. It is recommended that students bring a laptop to Charlotte.

5 Transportation: Students will be expected to use public transportation for their in- town travel needs; bus passes are provided for commutes ranging from 20 minutes to 1 hour. Vans or taxis will be rented by program staff for immersion activities and events. While not encouraged, students are allowed to bring their personal cars, but they must pay any parking fees incurred. Opportunities for Autonomy / Private Space: DukeEngage students are required to attend all group programming. Students will have program commitments one to two nights per week from about 6-9pm and approximately every other weekend. Programming may take place at various locations around Charlotte and could include: reflection sessions with the group and program staff, speakers, enrichment field trips, or group meals. The remaining three or four nights during the week and every other weekend will be free for students to relax or explore the city on their own. Occasionally students may have evening and weekend commitments with their community partners. While there will be some downtime, students should not anticipate a great deal of autonomy. Suggested Readings Claiborne, J. (2014). 27 views of Charlotte: The Queen City in poetry and prose. Hillsborough, NC: Eno Publishers. Leonhardt, D., Cox, A. & Miller, C.C. (2015, May 4). An atlas of upward mobility shows paths out of poverty. New York Times. Retrieved from atlas- of- upward- mobility- shows- paths- out- of- poverty.html. Rhew, A. (2015, May 11). Once again, Charlotte confronts race, segregation, and busing. EdNC. Retrieved from again- charlotte- confronts- race- segregation- and- busing/. Suggested Coursework EDUC 101: Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education before or after the DukeEngage Charlotte experience. Many of the contextual issues discovered and discussed in Charlotte form the basis for EDUC 101. EDUC 290S: De/Re/Segregation in Education before or after the DukeEngage Charlotte experience. Students study segregation, desegregation, and resegregation in education in the United States through examination of North Carolina education policies and practices, including Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. Miscellaneous DukeEngage Charlotte offers participants many additional opportunities to engage in the community and more fully understand the Charlotte community and challenges it faces. There will be a series of programs enabling the participants to meet others students from other schools, civic, nonprofit and business leaders, recent Duke graduates and to experience the wide variety of opportunities Charlotte affords. Activities that focus on further exploring both the social contexts and nonprofit strategies of a culturally and socio- economically diverse city will be emphasized in DukeEngage Charlotte. Students will attend a series of dinner or small group gatherings, each hosted by a Duke alum or community partner, in order to learn about the different aspects of local challenges and solutions in the healthcare, judicial, housing, and civil rights systems in Charlotte.

6 Enrichment programs and activities might include: Activities that complement and deepen the students experiences at their community partner sites by further exploring the program theme of solutions for children and families. Activities that expose students to the practice of civic engagement and service. To bring to life the concept of knowledge in service to society, students will be able to interact with people who practice civic engagement as a career or through outstanding volunteerism. An example might include dinner with the leaders of the Duke Endowment. Activities that capitalize on Charlotte s tremendous natural resources an abundance of engaged Duke alumni who are civic leaders, prominent professionals, and leading philanthropists and are also just interesting, fun folks who share a common bond as part of the Duke community. Activities that take advantage of Charlotte s cultural and recreational opportunities. Charlotte has a number of cultural establishments and events for participants to explore. This includes a series of theaters, a vibrant music scene, the African- American cultural center, a number of museums with free admission nights including the new Mint Museum uptown and the Levine Museum of the New South.