Civitas E-newsletter
Week of April 1, 2011

Civitas: citizenship, esp. as imparting shared responsibility, a common purpose, and sense of community.

Through this listserv, we seek to provide students with short-term volunteer opportunities and connections to projects in the neighborhoods where you live. If you have ideas for a project you’d like support with, or if you have volunteer opportunities you’d like promoted send your thoughts to [log in to unmask]. Not finding what you want or where you want it? Let us know!

**Please take a few seconds to fill out this quick 4 question survey (http://bit.ly/fCIqoK) to let us know where and what kind of opportunities we should be looking for!**

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CIVITAS Member Meet-Up Event
Join other civically minded students and Civitas members for food, feedback, and fun April 19th 5:00-6:30 p.m. at the new STSS building on campus (right across from the Weisman). We’ve almost arrived at the end of our first academic year and we’d like to celebrate by meeting each other, getting your feedback on how we could improve the group, and getting to hear and ask questions from a few key neighborhood volunteer organizations. Free dinner from Holy Land will be provided. Bring a friend! Please RSVP at: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1512117785 

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Earth Day Clean-Up Events!
Saturday April 16th, 9:30am to Noon at: Father Hennepin Park, East River Parkway, 100 6th Avenue SE, East River Parkway& Franklin Avenue. For more information go to: minneapolisearthday.com or call 612.230.6400
Saturday April 23rd, 9am-Noon at St. Anthony Park’s Kasota Ponds
For more information, call 651-649-5992, or go to http://sapcc.org/kasota/cleanup


Heart of the Beast Theater presents... The MayDay Parade (May 1st)
Want to help build giant puppets out of paper mache, then join a massive group of Minneapolitans to take back Bloomington avenue dressed as Mythical Creatures? Want to help the MayDay Parade the wild and spectacular event that it’s been every year since 1975?!? Community workshops, taking place at the Heart of the Beast Theater, on 1500 East Lake Street, will take place on the dates listed below, and if you want to volunteer on the day of the event, contact Margery Otto at [log in to unmask] or 612-721-2535

Community MayDay Workshop Dates:
Saturdays 8:30 - 11:30 am – April 2, 9, 16 and 23
Saturdays 12:30 - 3:30 pm – April 2, 9, 16 and 23
Tuesdays 6:30 - 9:30 pm – April 5, 12, 29 and 26
Thursdays 6:30 - 9:30 pm – April 7, 14, 21 and 28


Contribute to a community effort to reduce graffiti through public art?
We’ve finished our initial report for a mural along the retaining wall on 15th Avenue between Rollins and 8th Street SE--now we are developing a community engagement strategy for the project.  Are you or do you know neighborhood artists (or want to help paint)? Want to contribute to the vision of the mural? If you want to find out how you can get involved, email Aaron at [log in to unmask].

Calling all gardeners! 
SE Como is introducing a new community garden, “FairShare Farm” on 22nd and Fairmount. Get involved with this exciting opportunity to be a part of a new food producing garden! Several roles (and all gardeners welcome) to be filled including help with coordinating educational and social events, inoculating mushroom logs, outreach, funding, and MORE! Interested in helping in any capacity? Contact Stephanie at[log in to unmask].

Be a voice at a Restorative Justice Community Action Conference
Restorative Justice Community Action
 aims to reduce repeat livability crimes by holding community conferences with the offender facing those affected by the problem and having both parties decide a constructive way to remedy their offense.  Two upcoming community conferences need voices from members in University area.  The first conference is next Thursday, April 7th, at 5:30 pm, at Van Cleve Park. The second conference is on Saturday, April 23rd at 10am. If you are interested in participating in these conferences, please contact Chanti Calabria at 612-746-0784 or [log in to unmask]. Chanti will give you the run-down on how you can be a part of RJCA!

Move In Move Out (MIMO) Recycled Goods Store Volunteers Needed!
SECIA is continuing a project this spring with funding from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to try to address the massive amounts of curbside waste left after students move in/move out. The MIMO neighborhood free store will be held again at the University of Minnesota's Reuse Warehouse located at 883 29th Ave. SE., 55414. SECIA needs volunteers to keep the store open from May 12 - June 4, 2011 Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. & Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (closed 5/28). For more information email [log in to unmask] or go to http://www.comogreenvillage.org/.

Volunteer at Zenon Dance Academy and take Free Dance Classes
Interested in getting involved at the City Pages “Best Place to Learn Dance” in the Twin Cities? Classes range from ballet, to modern, to jazz, to hip hop, to contact improvization and many more. To learn more, visit www.zenondance.org, or contact Patty Lefaive at 612-281-6125 or[log in to unmask] if you’re interested in volunteering in Zenon’s Work Study Program.


Afterschool Enrichment Nights
Help with the Project for Pride in Living’s (PPL) afterschool program at 12th and Como Avenue. There are two age groups: 1st-3rd graders meet Monday-Wednesday, and the older group 4th-8th graders meet Tuesday-Thursday. Mondays and Tuesdays evenings need tutors, and Wednesday and Thursdays are enrichment nights, which usually involve going on a field trip to museums, or other similar community organizations. Very noncommittal--interested individuals could participate once or twice if desired. For more info contact [log in to unmask].

Help with a neighborhood playgroup in Marcy Holmes/Dinkytown area
Play with toddlers, learn child development, and participate in story time and activities. Help is need every Monday from 9-12:00 p.m. Contact Jerry at [log in to unmask] or at 612-204-9745 for more information.

 

Assist a senior near you
Seniors living in your neighborhood frequently are looking for help with one-time or ongoing help around the house. If you live in Minneapolis neighborhoods contact Carolyn Kennedy ([log in to unmask]) or for St. Paul residents, contact Noreen ([log in to unmask]) at St. Paul Senior Chore Service for more information about neighbors who might need an extra hand on your block.

Free Arts Mentorship Program – Weekly or when available
Free Arts Minnesota is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing the healing powers of artistic expression into the lives of abused, neglected, and at-risk children and their families, while offering children an opportunity to develop healthy relationships with adults, increase their sense of self-worth and help them learn new ways to communicate through participation in the arts. Free Arts needs several mentors for their Weekly Mentorship Program and have particular need for male mentors. If you’d like to help but can’t commit to a weekly schedule, contact Courtney ([log in to unmask]) for more information on how you can help.

New Seward bookstore needs your help!
A new bookstore that opened on Franklin Avenue across from Pizza Luce is looking for volunteers to work in the store each week. It’s a collectively own, progressive bookstore, with lots of great titles! Stop by for more info: http://www.boneshakerbooks.com/

Volunteer to co-host a block event!
Winter is a time when most people retreat to the warmth of their homes. How can we create a sense of community during the cold? The Student Neighborhood Liaison program, in partnership with the Good Neighbor Fund are providing micro-grants and staff support to students and neighbors who are interested in hosting a block event. All interested individuals should contact [log in to unmask] for further information.

Looking for other non-volunteer ways to get involved in your n’hood?
Most neighborhoods have active monthly e-newsletters with MORE chances to hear about events, safety, and other cool stuff going on in your community.  Join them by going to the websites below. Want to see more opportunities that align with your interest or are closer to your home? Fill out this short 4 question survey http://bit.ly/fCIqoK or email [log in to unmask] with your interests or project idea, and we can help garner the resources and find other interested people to lift your idea off the ground!
           SE Como: http://www.secomo.org
           Prospect Park/Stadium Village: http://www.pperr.org/about/our-neighborhood.html
           Marcy Holmes/Dinkytown: http://www.marcy-holmes.org/
           Seward: http://www.sng.org/
           Cedar/Riverside: http://www.westbankcc.org/ 
           St. Paul/St. Anthony Park: http://sapcc.org/