Read the volunteer call below by Real Media for this coming school year. CiC has helped Real Media over the past two semesters, and we plan to help out again this coming year. If you have any questions about the program, email me or the coordinator, Nicole (her email is at the bottom of the page).

Volunteer to Help Detroit Youth!

The University of Michigan School of Education seeks part-time undergraduate and graduate students to serve as volunteer facilitators, workshop assistants and tutors with the Real Media Leadership Literacy Training, a weekly after-school program for youth at Western International High School in southwest Detroit. The purpose of Real Media is to engage young people in identifying resources in their community, using multimedia technology (photography, video, and digital media) to map these resources, and organizing youth-led service projects to build community connections.

University of Michigan graduate and undergraduate student volunteers will be recruited to assist with weekly after-school sessions in a variety of capacities such as:

Literacy Tutors: assist Real Media participants as they draft assets-based community surveys. Volunteer tutors will focus on building student strategies around writing and vocabulary, using Internet resources to empower students to become better writers.

Artist Assistants: help Real Media participants create professional displays of their video, photography and poetry work in preparation for a public event. Teach students the fundamentals of artistic digital photography and videography, and support students on fieldtrips around their neighborhood.

Survey Assistants: accompany Real Media participants in conducting community surveys, including in-person interviews of neighborhood organizations and individuals.

Students in education, social work, anthropology, psychology, fine arts, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, public health and others are encouraged to apply. The program will meet every Thursday (3:30-5:30pm) from October 2007 through May 2008. Volunteer opportunities include one semester or year-long placements, as well as project-specific assignments. Transportation to/from University of Michigan will be provided (leave Ann Arbor Thursdays at 2:30pm, return 7pm).
All new and returning volunteers must attend the Real Media volunteer orientation and training session on Thursday, September 27(5:30-8:30pm) at the University of Michigan School of Education. Please contact Nicole Tysvaer for more details (ntysvaer@umich.edu).

NEW VOLUNTEERS -- To apply, please complete the Real Media Volunteer Application electronically (download the MS Word doc at www.umich.edu/~rmllt/volunteer.html).

RETURNING VOLUNTEERS -- Please email Nicole with your availability.

For more information, contact Nicole Tysvaer, Graduate Student Research
Assistant and Real Media Coordinator, University of Michigan School of
Education, ntysvaer@umich.edu, phone 734-615-1392.