Emory students, faculty, staff and alumni are invited to celebrate National Volunteer Week by finding ways to serve others April 15-26.
A variety of in-person and virtual opportunities are being offered to students on both the Atlanta and Oxford campuses and in partnership with the Emory Alumni Association’s Emory Cares initiatives and the Office of Government and Community Affairs (OGCA).
“This is a chance to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. after not being able to gather on MLK Day for our customary ‘Emory’s Day On,’ due to the delayed semester start,” says Johannes Kleiner, associate director of civic and community engagement in Campus Life. “We’re hoping to end this academic year with a reminder of how crucial civic and community engagement is in creating a sense of belonging and shared purpose to pursue a more welcoming, compassionate and justice-oriented society.”
One highlight of the week is a virtual dinner conversation on “Belonging,” hosted by Volunteer Emory and Volunteer Oxford. The event will be Saturday, April 17, at 2 p.m.; Emory students, staff, faculty and alumni can register here.
“Humans crave a sense of belonging and connection,” the event announcement highlights, “but, unfortunately, many people feel like they don’t belong. This is a conversation exploring our own sense of belonging, and how we can create a more welcoming community for all.”
The week also includes hands-on opportunities whether participants can set aside a full day or only spare a few minutes.
Projects for students
Students on the Atlanta campus can register at this page to learn about virtual service opportunities. They also will receive information about how to participate in writing letters to support the Center for Pan Asian Community Services (CPACS), one of Emory’s community partners.
Oxford campus projects will focus on the environment and supporting a local after-school program. Students will meet the afternoon of April 17 and either help with a project at the Oxford Organic Farm or pack snacks for school children at the Oxford Student Center.
“We want to offer students meaningful service projects that aren’t busywork,” says Ricardo Horne, assistant director of community engagement in the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership at Oxford. “It's important for us to collaborate with our partners and ensure that we're doing work that matters. We're happy that our Emory Cares projects are meeting a need and engaging students. Emory Cares, this year, is a rare opportunity to safely gather on-campus and contribute to our community.”
Oxford College students can visit this page to register.
Projects for all members of the Emory community
“Emory Cares offers an opportunity to come together and uplift members of our community both here at Emory and in our individual homes,” says Heather Mann, assistant director of alumni and constituent programs in Advancement & Alumni Engagement. “Join the Emory Alumni Association in supporting and uplifting others through conversation, encouragement and action this April.”
Examples of volunteer opportunities the Emory Alumni Association has organized include:
- Take a few minutes to write a note to an incoming Emory student or to our very own Emory public health heroes
- Volunteer at Emory’s Northlake Vaccine Clinic for COVID-19 vaccinations; clinical and non-clinical volunteers are needed.
- For those in Atlanta, Emory’s year-round partnership with Hands on Atlanta provides access to their full calendar of projects. Use your Emory-affiliated email and sign up to help with opportunities ranging from meal preparation to tutoring, gardening to data entry.
- Join meaningful conversations through Emory Civic Dinners, a time of coming together virtually to hear from experts and engage in small group conversations. This month you can register for “Climate Change and Business” on April 22 at 4 p.m. or “Home Is Where the Health Is: Conversations on Housing Equity” on April 28 at 4 p.m.
“Emory Cares is an excellent opportunity for our Emory community to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to engaging the broader Atlanta region, the state and the world,” says Alan Anderson, assistant vice president for university partnerships with OGCA. “Our goal is to work in partnership with the community and leverage its existing strengths to address concerns together. One of the greatest ways to demonstrate this commitment is through Emory Cares.”
Share the excitement with others by posting to social media with #emorycares or by downloading Emory Cares images that can be personalized for different platforms.