Sheryl Zukowski - Real World 101 - Mna Vista Blogpdf

7/21/2016
SherylZukowski"RealWorld101"MNAVISTA
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SHERYL ZUKOWSKI - "REAL WORLD 101"

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We 40-somethings are a small (though powerful) sector of

AmericorpsVISTA, and Im thrilled to be part of it. After all, so many
of us in VISTA, no matter what our ages, are doing it for the same
reasons: to learn and to be inspired. For the past three months I
have served in the Civic Engagement division of Michigan Nonpro t
Association in Lansing, MI. My wise colleagues here are guiding me
in a powerful learning experience.
As a professor of music history, I was looking for exactly this sort of instruction in joining VISTA. After
several years as a visiting professor, I wanted to move ahead into higher education policy and advocacy. I
wanted to have a broader impact on higher education than I could have by teaching music, to make the
system more accessible, protective, and just. But how to fund the training that I would need without
adding to my sizeable student debt? Americorps is about learning by doing, and it sounded like a great way
to gain this experience. It has been amazing to learn from people here at MNA who work every day to give
the students of my home state a better education.
A big part of my tutelage here comes from service with Michigan Campus Compact, an af liate
organization managed by MNA. Our program director Robin Lynn Grinnell, along with colleagues Shelley
Long and Mel Steward, has built inspiring programs designed to encourage volunteerism on Michigan
campuses, and to help kids gain access to higher education. My assignment at MiCC is to help design a
program to support rst-generation college students of the state who have tested into review
coursework. We want to help them stay in school and thrive. MiCCs program is based upon
Connect2Complete, an initiative of Campus Compacts national of ce.
A college success program requires a lot of research and thinking, because success programs are relatively
new within higher education. Were still learning with every new program. For me, this project has meant
an immersive study of student support practices. I spent November and December absorbing a formidable
array of concepts in educational research: structured pathways, intrusive support, behavioral economics,
equity literacy. . . the list goes on. Now, we are preparing a survey that we will send to every college in
Michigan, so we can learn even more about what students need from us. Developing a program like this is
not a quick process, but our students deserve the diligence. It de nitely is worthwhile to see the process
through to the end.
No experience in education advocacy is complete without some real-world, peanut-buttery, K-12 projects
with the kids, and Im excited to be coordinating MNAs signature project for Global Youth Service Day.
We just had an inspiring meeting with a prospective partner organization, the Refugee Development
Center here in Lansing. The refugees of the RDC exemplify resilience and strength, and at such a young
age. The program there, run by the fabulous Erika Brown and Bruce Winters, helps kids to manage their
stress with balance. It offers them language arts to help them express themselves, and soccer to keep
them strong. Now we are trying to arrange for MNA to support Erika and Bruce in their effort to develop a
service learning program for the kids, to help the students become leaders in their new hometown. (As a
humanities professor, I have to note that their program is a beautiful example of how useful humanities can
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7/21/2016

SHERYL ZUKOWSKI - "REAL WORLD 101"

We 40-somethings are a small (though powerful) sector of

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