LEAD Team Reflection 2018-2019

This past year I had the opportunity to serve on the LAS service trip LEAD team where I was able to spend the weekend facilitating meaningful conversation with the freshman LAS students. We discussed the history and injustices that Detroit has faced over the years and learned how gentrification is impacting the city as a result of new corporate entities that have settled there.

Saturday morning was spent volunteering with Class Community Social Services; I worked in their kitchen where I helped with food preparation. This was not my first experience with Cass Community Social Services as I’ve volunteered with them in the past. My past experience was making rubber mats to be sold for money that goes towards funding the organization, but working in the kitchen was a very different and new experience that allowed me to see the other side of things. I learned that they have a  staff of only 4 members, but they serve thousands of people each year. I also learned that all of the meals prepared are provided strictly through donations. Operating the kitchen seems like a very difficult task, especially since it was hard when there were over a dozen volunteers assisting during the service trip, but the staff stays dedicated and uses innovative techniques to serve the population. This entire service trip allowed me to reflect on why I chose to go into social work in the first place; to help make the world a better place. I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to be apart of the service trip this year as it has come a long way. I look forward to seeing the impact it has not only on the city but the freshman LAS class on next year.

Hermanos Para Unidad (Brother For Unity) Executive Board

This past school year I had the privilege of holding the title of Executive Treasurer for HPU (see blog). This position gave me the opportunity to grow in my skills as a student leader as I took on more responsibility with this organization than I previously had as a general members. I was in charge of opening and maintaining the HPU bank account in which we kept our fundraising rewards, and coordinating our fundraising events. HPU’s goal shifted quite a bit from the beginning of the year to the end and fundraising was put on hold as we tried to figure out what our destination as an organization was.

The members of HPU were considering turning the organization into the multicultural greek organization known as Sigma Lambda Beta (SLB) Fraternity Co. so a lot of my responsibilities as an executive member consisted of working towards that goal while also assisting with creating change on campus through various student programs and activities. I took on the role of coordinating meetings with CMU alumni who were also a part of the SLB organization, as well as communicating and coordinating with other current SLB brothers at other universities to attend their events.

Although I did not have a typical treasurer experience, I certainly felt the wight of my executive title and learned a great deal from this experience. I was met with many challenges like sending last minute meeting requests and not effective communication with other universities, however, I learned that adaptability and proactiveness are key to creating the best possible outcome.

Being a part of HPU has given me a deeper sense of community at CMU as its members have grown incredibly close and created a safe inclusive environment in which all are welcome. Next year I will be not he executive board for HPU again and continuing to work towards the transition from HPU to SLB. I am honored to be a part of such a dedicated and passionate group of individuals and I know that I will continue to grow as a student leader and create change on CMU’s campus.

Hermanos Para Unidad (Brothers For Unity) 2018-2019

This year I continued my involvement with the Hermanos Para Unidad (HPU) student organization as the executive treasurer. HPU accomplished many great things this year from putting on educational programs to trying out new restaurants in the Mount Pleasant area. Some of our greatest accomplishments from this year are participating in Siblings Weekend, the International Culture Expo, and collaborating with different organizations like Men about Change, Empowered Latino Union, and the Student Union for Racial Solidarity. The members of HPU worked hard to educate themselves and others and to bring quality programs that have important messages for the student body. The members of HPU also volunteered together throughout the year to give back to the Mount Pleasant community and to raise awareness for diversity and inclusion. Being a founding member of HPU, I am very happy to see how far we have come as an organization and to know that it is an organization that develops leaders. This is an organization I want to be involved with until I graduate, as I believe that it is a catalyst for greatness. Being involved with HPU is one of my greatest accomplishments at CMU and has enabled me to grow in ways I didn’t think I could.