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Build It 2005 plans emphasize impacting a local community
Making an impact has had a big impact on the University of Richmond. For the past three years, the University has sponsored Community Service Day, in which students, faculty and staff worked together one day a year to renovate local public schools. Two years ago, students sponsored “Merriewood Miracle,” in which they raised more than $50,000 and blitz-built a Habitat for Humanity house in one week. The University’s latest project, Build It 2005, will combine and expand those efforts, adding alumni, high school students and community partners to undertake the largest community service project in the institution’s 175-year history. “Our expanded vision for 2005 is to make a lasting impact on a community, build a Habitat for Humanity house in one week, enhance three public schools, and initiate and incorporate academic studies outside of class,” said Jill Fasching, co-chair of Build It 2005. Most work will be done April 4–10, but tutoring, book drives for school libraries, college advising and analyzing research data collected by the schools will continue throughout the spring semester, she said. Students have been raising money toward the Habitat house for two years. Their $100,000 goal would give them enough to build the house and have seed money remaining for a future project. A partnership with Ryan Homes led to a $10,000 donation to the project from the Richmond-area homebuilder. An annual 5K run also raises thousands of dollars for the project. Richmond Habitat for Humanity and Henrico County Public Schools will partner with the University. The Edgelawn neighborhood of eastern Henrico County is the site of the blitz-build project, and three schools in the same area—Baker Elementary, John Rolfe Middle and Varina High School—will receive renovation, landscaping and other services. Projects at Baker Elementary will include creating an interactive and educational nature trail, tutoring second and third graders and painting a world map on the playground pavement and school spirit murals in the cafeteria and gym. At the middle school, University students will tutor and mentor students, revamp the front office display, repaint hallways and lockers, landscape the grounds, increase the number of library books through donations, and analyze research data collected by the administration. High school projects include creating an outdoor classroom and seating, planting educational gardens, tutoring, preparing students for college, collecting books for the library, improving the football stadium and creating school signage in different languages. All three schools will participate in a kick-off essay contest (younger students may draw pictures) and students will visit the Richmond campus for athletic events and campus tours. Edgelawn is a Habitat for Humanity community, explained Brandon Boxler, co-chair of Build It 2005. Volunteers will ride buses to the site from campus and work four shifts a day, with a total of 1,400 “people shifts” available during the week, he said. Another 1,500–2,000 volunteers will be needed for work at the schools. Students and parents from the three schools may help build the Habitat house, and Richmond staff members may take time off from work with pay to volunteer for a shift. An integral part of Build It 2005 is the academic component, Fasching said. The committee is encouraging faculty to develop writing assignments, research, lectures, and roundtable and brown-bag discussions around the initiative. Law and continuing studies students also are being encouraged to participate. To help sustain community service week, students from all classes have assumed leadership roles. A future Web site will offer online registration. |
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