2011 Service Learning Symposium

Friday, March 25th, 2011, the tenth annual Service Learning Symposium was held at the former Eisner Museum and we welcomed our first international guests from East Africa. The speakers were Divinity Barkley Matovu and Abraham Matovu, co-founders and directors of Amagezi Gemaanyi Youth Association, a non-profit organization in Uganda that emphasizes youth empowerment and leadership.

A native Ugandan with more than five years of non-profit management experience, Abraham oversees the development of AGYA and provides guidance to staff, youth leaders, and volunteers.

Divinity is a Racine native and honors graduate from USC. Last year she was an honoree at Glamour Magazine’s “Women of the Year Event” in New York where she was featured as one of 20 Amazing Women in their 20s Who Are Already Changing The World. She has also been honored with the Clinton Global Initiative University’s Outstanding Commitment Award and was a grand recipient of a “DoSomthing Growth Grant” in 2010, an award for social entrepreneurs under the age of 25.

Northwestern Mutual Life Service Learning Award

At the symposium, MIAD senior, Crystal Miller, received the Northwestern Mutual Life Service Learning Award for her outstanding commitment to Artists Working in Education.

About her service hours and her placement she wrote:

“My service experience has only confirmed for me that our community is extremely important to our children. The way we bring them up is what they are going to know, and what they are going to teach their children. It also confirmed for me that there are individuals within the community who work very hard to change things and make things better for individuals who have been offered less than some of us.”

During her time with A.W.E. Crystal enthusiastically supported young people in the creation of artwork.

Joan Kessler Community Partner Award

Through the generosity of the honorable Judge Kessler, we introduced a new award for a community partner that is providing particularly outstanding service to the community. At this years symposium we honored Artists Working in Education. Mary Osmundsen, Program Director of A.W.E, spoke on their behalf. Mary spoke to the audience about the work that Crystal Miller completed and the importance of service in the community