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Volunteer Opportunities

The OCS has fifteen student run programs in a variety of areas.  These programs vary in level of commitment, with most being a weekly commitment.  We strongly encourage longer term commitments and connection with our community.
If you do not see a program that fits your interest, check out our listing of local service agencies, or stop by OCS and we'll be happy to help you find a site that connects with your interests. 
  • ASHA (AIDS Sexual Health Awareness)

    • COORDINATOR: Lena Solow (asha.wesleyan@gmail.com)

      MISSION: Focus on community sexual health education outreach.  Lead interactive workshops in Connecticut high schools about prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sexual consent, and safe-sex practices.  Coordinate free STI testing events in Middletown. Raise awareness of these issues on Wes's campus.  Fundraise and work with organizations on a local and international level. More info ...

  • Community Health Center

    • Coordinator: Stephanie LaCrose  (wesleyanchc@gmail.com)

      Gain experience through various programs of the Community Health Center.  Then meet periodically with the Health Advisor of the Career Resource Center to debrief experiences and see how it relates to potential careers in the health care field. Opportunities in 8 different programs including Miles of Smiles, the Family Wellness Center, Behavioral Health, Healthcare for the Homeless and more. Volunteers have participated in one-time wellness programs at Macdonough School, weekly interviews with patients with the Access to Care Program, administrative work such as patient chart reviews or baby sit children while their family attends medical appointments.

  • Connecticut Forest and Park Association (CFPA)

    • Student Coordinator: Annie DeBoer (wescfpa@gmail.com)

      Connecticut Forest and Parks Association (CFPA) is Connecticut's oldest conservation organization that works to preserve hiking trails, conserve land and forests, and educate the community. As a volunteer you could work to plan hikes for Wesleyan and our local community, set up events such as film screenings and lectures, create video podcasts that the CFPA will use to educate their hikers, and work on implementing an educational youth program at the CFPA headquarters located down the road from Wes! Working closely with the CFPA, students will have hands-on experiences and will work to create a strong and lasting community partnership.

  • WesAGE

    • Contact: Sofia Warren

      This program has a variety of opportunites to connect adn socialize with local senior citizens.  Commitments vary and provide volunteers with flexibility of weekly commitment to one time events.  More info ...
  • Green Street Arts Center

    •  Student Coordinator: Paulina Jones-Torregrosa

      Green Street Arts Center located in Middletown's North End neighborhood is a community resource for residents of all ages and walks of life to develop their talents, skills and abilities.  Volunteers who are able to make a regular commitment - be it once a week or every day - are encouraged to take on any one of a variety of roles in the AfterSchool program, as homework helpers, teaching asistants, and/or music instructors.

  • Housing & Hunger Issues

    • The Housing and Hunger Program provides both direct service opportunities and the opportunity to address the root causes of hunger and housing issues in our community. Programs and partners include: food salvage, Habitat for Humanity, End Hunger! CT, Eddy Shelter, Amazing Grace Food pantry, Middlesex County Anti- Hunger Task Force etc.  More info ...

  • Tutoring

    • Coordinator: Jackson Thomas (tutor@wesleyan.edu)

      This program is a request based one one one tutoring experience.  Local parents or community agencies request a tutor for a local child.  You will be matched with a child based on your interest/mastery of a subject matter and your availability.  All tutoring takes place in public locations such as the local or campus library.

  • North End Mentors

    • Coordinator: Helen DeKorne

      Purpose of Program: NEAT Mentors is a program that pairs Wesleyan students with a child that lives in the North End of Middletown for a mentoring relationship. Mentors build relationships with the children in the North End and their families. The pairs are asked to meet on a weekly basis for a minimum of an hour on their own schedule in Middletown. The mentors also become a part of North End Action Team which is a neighborhood advocacy organization dedicated to the development of grassroots leadership.  The mentors (where appropriate) will serve as community organizers, giving information to families about opportunities (summer camps,etc..) and helping to engage them in their neighborhood.  More info ...

  • Center for Prison Education Volunteer Programs

    • Student Coordinator: Margo Tercek (pspyork@gmail.com)

      Engage with incarcerated populations through a variety of activites organized and supported by the Center for Prison Education.  More info ...

  • Shining Hope

    • Student Coordinator: Nathan Mackenzie (shofcowesleyan@shininghopeforcommunities.org)

      Shining Hope for Communities-Wesleyan is the founding chapter fo Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), an international non-profit organization that began at Wesleyan in 2009.  SHOFCO seeks to address gender inequality and extreme poverty in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya by linking a tuition-free school for girls (The Kibera School for Girls) with social services for all.  SHOFCO-Wesleyan works with the Wesleyan and Middletown communities to improve understanding of issues that affects people in Kibera, to raise awareness of SHOFCO's various projects in Kibera, and to fundraise in support of these projects.

      Meeting Time: Every Tuesday, 9pm in the 200 Church Lounge

  • Special Events
    •

      The OCS sponsors and supports several one time events throughout the year including Halloween Halls, Daffodil Days and Blood Drives. 

      Interested students can contact Cathy Lechowicz (clechowicz@wesleyan.edu).

  • Traverse Square

    • Coordinators: Jalen Alexander, Micharri Pratts, Sarah Schorr, Amber Smith (traversesquare@gmail.com)

      Traverse Square

      Student run and neighborhood based, the Traverse Square After-school program provides a community setting for Middletown children to receive academic and social support.  Also known as "The Center," this student designed program is geared to provide Middletown children with the proper resources to succeed in all aspects of life. Helping the children with their homework is the main goal of the program, and we also provide academic enrichment, recreational activities, and Friday afternoon fieldtrips for the students. More info ...

  • WesESL

    • Student Coordinator: Amy Torres (wesleyanesl@gmail.com)

      Tutors for this program teach English to the custodial staff on-campus.  Wesleyan students tutor one on one for 1.5 hours twice a week.  We provide training, curriculum, and weekly meetings to help you plan your lessons.

  • Wesleyan Farmers' Market

    • Market Master: Shane Donahue (wesleyanfarmersmarket@gmail.com)

      The Wesleyan Farmers' Market is a student-run initiative committed to supporting local agriculture, providing fresh, affordable, nutritious food, and building community between the students faculty and staff of Wesleyan University, and the citizens in Connecticut. We have markets from September to May on the first and third Wednesday of every month. In the fall and spring we hold the markets in the Usdan Courtyard and during the winter they are in Fayerweather. Students do everything from helping set up and clean up, to staffing an info table, to advertising, to running the finances, and to arranging for elementary school classes to come on field trips to the market. We welcome new ideas and new people into our group.

      Dates for 2011 - 2012 coming soon.

  • WesReads and WesMath
  • Woodrow Wilson Tutoring Partnership

    • Student Coordinator: Daisy Chen and Cara Tratner (wwmstutor@gmail.com) 

      This program serves middle school students who are failing subjects, at risk of retention, and/or in need of general and academic support. Students are identified by their team of teachers and matched one-on-one with Wesleyan students for in-school tutoring. With a major focus on building relationships, tutors assist students with schoolwork, help supprt and enhance student's motivation, serve as a general support for building confidence and changing academic performance, and serving as a role model.