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The Office of Community Service (OCS) at Morgan State University was created in November 1993 to design, develop and implement dynamic community service programs to boldly address the educational, social, cultural, and recreational needs of the under-educated, under-represented, educationally “at risk” and homeless residents of the Baltimore metropolitan area.
Because Morgan is the public urban University for the State of Maryland, the Office of Community Service is responsible for establishing community programs which will provide students with the opportunity to understand urban life and phenomena. With this in mind, the Office of Community Service provides Morgan State University students with the training, supervision, support, recognition, and evaluation needed to participate in structured community volunteer programs.
Additionally, the Office of Community Service provides the students at Morgan State University with effective and challenging community service programs which address the social, cultural, educational and recreational needs of the residents in the Baltimore Metropolitan Area. As a result of participating in a community service learning program, Morgan State University students not only relate their classroom learning to the fealities of life, but they also realize that by helping to improve the lives of others, they improve the lives of residents in the Baltimore community, the State of Maryland, the nation and the world.
By organizing multi-dimensional, holistic programs that involve university students, faculty, staff, community organizations, government agencies, businesses, Baltimore City school children and their families, the Office of Community Service positively impacts some of the problems that hinder the inner city population. Operating consistent with the University’s mission statement, the Office of Community Service has created the following programs:
Office of Community Service Programs
BROTHER-TO-BROTHER is dedicated to working with male high school students throughout Baltimore City. Morgan male volunteers work with students engaging them in activities that are designed to teach self-awareness, leadership and responsibility. Morgan student mentors will work with students to help them increase their knowledge in different areas of education. In addition, Brother to Brother provides information on conflict resolution, sex education and avoiding drug abuse.
CAMPUS PALS gives elementary and middle school students throughout the nation an opportunity to visit and learn about a prominent HBCU (Historically Black College/University). The tour guides that assist with the program are Morgan student volunteers. On the tour, the visitors get a glimpse of our dormitories, sports facilities and academic buildings. By the end of the tour, all of the information the visitors receive will give them an incentive to maintain good grades, work diligently and apply for college.
JAHOD is a unique program for adolescent females who attend Baltimore City Schools. The goal of Jahod is not only to expose the females to everyday societal problems but also to strengthen their minds through mentoring and academic tutoring. The coordinators and tutors are all Morgan students striving to reach scholastic excellence as well as trying to create a positive environment for young females. Through the program, the mentors try to instill in each female the fact that personal success is tangible.
KUUMBA was created in an effort to address the needs of many young people who are ill-prepared for life’s challenges. The primary goal is to reduce juvenile violence, delinquency and truancy by improving the educational performance and developing the life survival skills of juveniles. The program’s mission is to raise the educational aspiration levels of juveniles by affording them continuing exposure to the University’s environment. The program participants’ ages range from 11-15.
KWANZAA is an African American holiday celebrated by Morgan State University on the first Saturday in December. Children throughout the City of Baltimore are invited to the campus to learn about the fundamental values and traditions upon which African people have built a civilization, culture and character. Music, games, exhibits, food, dance and storytelling and a number of other activities are used to explain the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa.
MSU TUTORING CORPS provides in-school and after-school educational, social and cultural learning opportunities to students in the Baltimore area. The goal of the program is to help other programs reduce the dropout rate of African American youth in public schools. Creative tutoring, stress management, methods of problem solving and positive communication skills are emphasized to improve reading, writing and math skills.
MUSIQUE is a music program that works with middle school females in the creation of an innovative learning environment. In this environment, the middle school youth receive basic vocal and instrumental instruction that will empower and instill in them a sense of achievement and confidence. Throughout the course of the music program, the Morgan musicians and students will attend and present a number of concerts and recitals.
MORGAN VOLUNTEERS PROVIDING SUPPORT (M.V.P.S.) recruits and trains Morgan students for community service projects. It also promotes team building, civic involvement and increases the interaction between faculty, staff and students. The students that are recruited work with several community service programs as well as programs inside the Office of Community Service to help promote positive community involvement and strong University-to-Community relationships
NIANI is an after school program designed to provide educational, social, cultural and leadership learning opportunities for elementary children in order to help them excel on national and statewide standardized tests. The program utilizes creative tutoring, anger management, methods of problem solving, positive communicative skills, African American enrichment activities and provides leadership opportunities.
COLOUR’s mission is to use the arts to cultivate positive personal development and high self-esteem. The students from Baltimore City Public Schools are exposed to various forms of cultural and performing arts, which promote self-confidence, character building and creative growth. The staff of Morgan students offers enrichment classes in visual arts, music, dance and drama while providing examples of positive role models to the program participants.
SASY is a big sister/little sister program for high school females. Topics that focus on health, beauty, sex education, male-female relationships and postsecondary education are used to promote self-pride and sisterhood. A group of young Morgan women mentor high school females to help better their social skills. The ultimate goal of SASY is to bring young ladies together in an environment that promotes sisterhood. Incorporated are activities that center around the four program components.
YAATENGA is a tutoring and mentoring program for elementary school students designed to help them in the areas of academic enrichment, social behavior, character building and mental and physical health. The program works to provide “at risk” children with a positive academic and social atmosphere, as well as instill in them the importance of positive social behaviors and the consequences of negative behaviors.
AYA’s purpose is to enhance the feeling of self worth of young women between the ages of 14 and 18. This is a program of female students who are randomly selected through the advisement of guidance counselors in the high schools of Baltimore City. The ultimate goal of this program is to empower the participants so that they can achieve academic excellence.
DYNAMIC DIVA is an innovative social program designed to help students in the areas of self esteem, character building, confidence and self worth. The program annually hosts a fashion extravaganza that allows high school students to model with college students through fashion shows. Students learn about the fashion and design industry as well as modeling techniques. For additional information about the Office of Community Service and/or any of its programs contact:
Deanna V. Ikhinmwin
Director
Office of Community Service
209C Montebello Building
(443) 885-4528 phone (443) 885-8267 fax
Deanna.Ikhinmwin@morgan.edu
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