The Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s work builds from the idea that all of us, and the ways we pull together to address challenges and create our shared future, truly matter. Today we are releasing the November November 2021 edition of Community Matters, a monthly newsletter that offers a window into this work. Read on to discover ways you can get involved and connect with each other.

For an alt text version of the November 2021 edition, click here.

Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is a six-day immersive learning experience in which participants explore the systemic and human dimensions of complex social issues in Baltimore. Participants build connections with local leaders, organizations, and policy makers and develop a sophisticated understanding of available resources and challenges. The program helps participants identify pathways to long-term community engagement. 

ASB 2022 groups will focus on:

• Immigrant Health Equity (led by Dominique Henriques Melo and Mokeira Nyakoe)
• K-12 Educational Equity (led by Diane Stonestreet and Polina Kassir)
• Transformative Justice (led by Mulan Bell and Wendy Zhang)

ASB 2022 will take place from March 20-25, 2022. You can find more information, including in-depth topic descriptions, on the application form: here. The application is due November 22, 2022 by 11:59 p.m.

Contact the Center for Democracy and Civic Life at civiclife@umbc.edu with any questions.

Hello GSOs,

Please read the below information in regards to reminders, updates and new changes that will affect event planning and the submission of funding requests.

The Graduate School and GSA want to make it clear that event planning for the entire year still requires significant pre-planning due to the space and safety requirements of COVID. 

• Reserving space on campus has become extremely limited and there is currently a 14 day hold for reserving space. Please make sure that you are planning ahead of time for both Fall and Spring events

• Please refer to the university guidelines on hosting events linkedhere. Specifically, if you are planning on having more than 50 people for an in-person event, you must discuss it with your Vice President or Dean.  

• The Grants Review Panel is requesting that GSOs submit allocation requests forms at least 2 weeks in advance. The committee needs sufficient time to look over and discuss the request prior to approving it 

• Effective Spring Semester 2022: All allocation requests must be submitted at least one month in advance in order to be considered for funding. The Executive Council made this decision based on this semester’s requests and the new update can be found here. 

• If you are requesting food from on campus providers, please make sure you are giving them ample time to prepare an order. Many of the caterers are requesting at least a week notice, but it is always better to request earlier

• These are the approved methods currently for on campus food services:

• Individually wrapped, pre-packaged snack items

• Individually prepared, boxed meal options provided by one of the approved caterers

• Sit down catered meal prepared by and served by an approved caterer

• Pizza is allowed as long as there are designated servers that are masked and gloved.

If you have any questions or concerns about any of these updates, please reach out to gsa@umbc.edu 

Best,

Zane Poffenberger 

Community Liaison 

During veterans week, our mission is to enlist the entire UMBC community in the act of expressing heartfelt thanks to our veteran community. Although certain events will be focused solely on student veterans here at UMBC, thanks to our co-sponsors at UMBC’s Human Resources, on Veterans Day, Thursday, November 11th, an event at True Grits will honor all UMBC veterans; including students, faculty and Staff. Lunch will be provided! For student veterans, we will be crediting your student ID cards with funds for lunch. That also means that if, for some reason, you are unable to join us at True Grits on Thursday, you can use that credit at any time, at any location on campus that accepts your campus card as payment  

We are also partnering with MCVETS to support a “coat drive” for veterans that will begin on Monday and continue throughout the week. The clothing you donate will be sent directly to veterans currently living in a transitional housing facility in Baltimore City. According to our partners at MCVETS, the following items are what they need most: new or gently used coats and winter clothing, and there is also a big demand for new undergarments (medium through double XL).  No children's clothing needed! Your help with this will be greatly appreciated.

Whether or not you can help with the clothing drive, please stop by our table on Monday, November 8th, to fill out a small note of appreciation for our UMBC veterans. You are also welcome to drop by the OCSS help desk to fill one out on other days during veterans week. Thank you.

Schedule of Events for Veterans Week

Monday9am - 4pm

Kick off the week by stopping at our table in the Commons where we will have:

• “Free Stuff” for UMBC veterans, including UMBC themed t-shirts, water bottles, keychains, and other goodies.  

• Notes of Appreciation: Non-veterans will be able to write notes of appreciation for UMBC veterans that will be displayed in the commons and at other key events throughout the week.

• Clothing and Coat Drive: Drop off donations to support an MCVETS transitional housing facility in Baltimore City.  The facility supports veterans and could use donations of new or gently used coats, winter clothing, and new undergarments (medium through double XL).  No children's clothing is needed.

* Additional notes of appreciation and coat drive donations may be left with the OCSS front desk all week long.

Tuesday8:30am -10:15am

Good Morning Commuters: Veteran Edition

Join us in the Game Room (3rd floor -Commons Building), where we have adjusted our Weekly “Good Morning Commuters” breakfast to fit the theme of honoring our UMBC veterans.

Wednesday10am - 2pm

Social Hours - OCA Mocha

Come to OCA Mocha to socialize with other veterans and OCSS staff, and play some board games.  OCSS will cover the tab of UMBC veterans, up to $15.  

Thursday12pm - 2pm

Veterans Luncheon at True Grits

• Co-Sponsored by UMBC’s Human Resources, a complimentary luncheon will be held for all UMBC veteran students, faculty and staff in wing 3 of True Grits (enter through front, head to very back to find wing 3). 

Friday

Coat Drive to support MCVETS

The Coat Drive to support MCVETS is ongoing.  Stop by OCSS’s front desk to drop off  donations.