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SCitizen Projects
Volunteering in the Neighborhood: A Day at All Peoples Christian Center
Facilitators: Dr. Beatrice Mousli Bennett, Reverend Diane Kenney, and Tammara Anderson
Abstract:
All Peoples Christian Center is a social-service and advocacy center that USC has developed strong ties, particularly through work-study positions and volunteer service-learning opportunities. Participants will discover the ethnic and social diversity of the neighborhood, as well as the many opportunities in volunteer and community work that are open to them. Participants will hear from different perspectives on the history and mission of the center and the surrounding neighborhood that it serves.
- To gain awareness of the ethnic and economic changes that have occurred over the years in a particular neighborhood.
- To understand and respond to social change.
- To develop skills in service learning, to learn to interact in a diverse group and work with others to achieve a goal.
- To gain a better understanding of their direct environment, and give them the idea that through positive interaction with their neighborhood they can make a difference, enhance their own quality of life and make their college experience an unique experience of academic and human learning.
Community Organization Summary:
The mission of All Peoples Christian Center is to continue to provide a broad spectrum of social services to all, regardless of faith or race and to empower the community to meet its needs by promoting equality, unity, respect and self-determination among all who participate in its programs. All Peoples is a family resource center, established in 1942 to provide programs to meet the needs of the residents in the surrounding community. The center’s philosophy has emphasized education as the tool of successful community building, and all programs offer an educational component. Programs are integrated to include the entire family, from infants to seniors. http://www.allpeoplescc.org/
Facilitator Biographies:
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Béatrice Mousli Bennett earned her PhD in French Literature from the University of Paris-IV Sorbonne in 1993 and has been teaching at USC since 1999. As the director of the USC Francophone Resource Center, she implemented service-learning opportunities in 2004 for students majoring or minoring in French. As a writer and editor she has published several books such as biographies of modern French authors and monographs in the history of publishing. Intrigued and moved by the city of Angels, B. Mousli Bennett has organized with her husband Guy Bennett, a conference on Los Angeles to take place during the summer of 2006 in Paris and is currently working on a book dedicated to the city. |
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Tammara Anderson is the Executive Director of the University of Southern California’s Joint Educational Project (JEP). JEP is one of the oldest and largest service-learning programs in the country. As director, she oversees the day to day operations of the Project, develops service-learning programs, implements the short and long-term strategic planning for the Project, and develops and maintains relationships with community partners, foundations, and private donors. |
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Reverend Diane Kenney is the Director of United Ministry at USC. One of United Ministry's commitments is to involve USC students in the life of the neighborhoods surrounding USC. United Ministry is sponsored by the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and its programs welcome all USC students. She serves as a Board member for All Peoples Christian Center and has been an important collaborator between USC and the All People’s community. |
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