New class takes nonprofit approach
Rachel Goff
Issue date: 4/15/09 Section: Features
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Students in Morrione's class, "Engaging in Nonprofit Organizations: Theory and Practice," will present projects that they have been working on with nonprofit organizations in Waterville at the Maine Association of Nonprofits that will be held at the College this Friday and Saturday, April 16 and 17, in the Diamond Building.
Alice Elliot, assistant director of community outreach for the Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement, said that the number of nonprofit organizations the conference brings to the College is "really exciting." She added that though the event has been held on campus in the past, this year they have focused on making it more helpful to students. "Whether or not you're looking for a nonprofit career," Elliot said, "networking is a useful tool." She cited the conference as a great opportunity for students, faculty and administrators to see what types of things students at the College have done for the community.
This is not only the first year that this civic engagement course has been offered at the College, but, according to Morrione, "the first time that this type of course has been offered."
Nonprofit organizations have previously received a limited focus in sociology courses, but the idea for a class devoted entirely to these organizations developed as "students became increasingly interested in the role of nonprofits in society," Morrione said.
Students in the class spent the first part of the semester deciding which nonprofit organizations they wanted to work with. They contacted forty-five nonprofits in total and received responses from all of them. In choosing which five nonprofits they wanted to work with, Carley Millian '09, a student in the class, explained, "we wanted to make sure we could help them with what they needed help with." They made a "very realistic agreement with the nonprofits," Morrione said.
Students were also encouraged to choose organizations in fields that they were interested in. Morrione said that the projects have "been able to capitalize on each person's own interest and keep them enthused." One group of students is helping to write grants for the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter, while another is raising awareness about Barrel's Community Market, a non-profit retail market in downtown Waterville that offers fresh local produce and handmade crafts. A third group is working with the Maine Film Center to promote "Lumina," a three-day film festival that will be held later this month at Railroad Square Cinema, and another group is generating interest for a new program to benefit the Alfond Youth Center and its ability to offer high quality services to the community's youth.
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