Volunteer Experience
The following is a list of some of the community service opportunities for
UCLA students on and off campus. If you have additions or corrections for
this list, please e-mail them to
EEB Undergraduate Counselor
. Make sure you have enough time in your
schedule to commit to service. Some campus organizations may not be active
in a particular year; if you are interested in reviving a group that is not
currently active, contact the UCLA Community Services Commission. Please
note that this listing does not imply endorsement of any group or its
objectives.
Other web sites:
- the UCLA Community Services Commission at http://www.uclacsc.org/csc_php/index.php
- the Community Programs Office at http://www.communityprograms.ucla.edu/
- UCLA in the Community at http://www.advocacy.ucla.edu/communitydirectory/index.html
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
ACADEMIC PREPARATION FOLKLORICO
The goal of Academic Preparation Folklorico is to create positive Chicana/o role models, promote cultural awareness throughout our surrounding communities, and encourage the youth of Los Angeles to celebrate their cultural roots and to continue on by attending institutions of higher learning. For information: http://www.advocacy.ucla.edu/communitydirectory/student/comm_prog_office.html
">http://www.advocacy.ucla.edu/communitydirectory/student/comm_prog_office.html
ACADEMIC SUPPORTS PROGRAM
The African Student Union's Academic Supports Program is designed to help African students graduate from UCLA and become contributors to the development of the African community. It is intended to empower African students withe the mental attitude, social skills and organizational support to improve the retention rate and overall academic achievement of the African population. For information: 310-825-9342.
ADULT ORIENTATION PROGRAM
AOP was initiated by the Latin American Student Association as a way of meeting the needs of the increasing Latina/o population in Los Angeles. The program works with Latina/o immigrants attending classes at adult schools where it conducts workshops to inform and motivate students to take advantage of the educational opportunities available to them. For information: 102 Men's Gym, or 310-825-5969.
ADVANCING CAREERS IN ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE
Today, the descendants of highly advanced civilizations in math, physics, astronomy, and engineering rarely enter these fields. For this reason, the Society of Latino Engineers and Scientists created ACES. ACES works with Latina/o students in K-12 and introduces them to science and engineering fields. At the schools, cultural and community awareness are also promoted. Activities and tours are held at UCLA for the students. For information: 310-825-7843, aces@ucla.edu, http://www.advocacy.ucla.edu/communitydirectory/ (click on Student, Alumni and Special Programs).
AFRICAN EDUCATION PROJECT
AEP is a student-initiated motivational community empowerment program designed to assist inner-city youth in the basic academic principles of math, English, and science. African culture and history is the central axis around which AEP operates. AEP founded and operates Uhuru Saturday School. Other activities include field trips, visits to elementary through senior high schools, UCLA tours and Uhuru Shule Early Childhood Development school. For information: 310-825-0747, africankids@hotmail.com, http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/aep/.
AIDS PROJECT LOS ANGELES (APLA)
APLA is a non-profit, community-based organization which is a direct provider of, and resource for, HIV/AIDS services and information. APLA is committed to serving all people affected by and at risk for HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles County. APLA services include case management, mental health, home health, public benefits, legal, dental, and residential services, education on treatment and prevention, and a food supplemental program. APLA's 2000 volunteers provide critically needed services for people affected by HIV/AIDS; lobby elected officials; educate at-risk communities with life-saving information; and collaborate their efforts with other AIDS service organizations. If it is one hour a month or eight hours a day, your services are invaluable. Volunteers help pack groceries in the necessities of life program (food pantry), assist dentists in the dental clinic, become a friend to their clients through the Buddy Program, and stuff envelopes for the office services department. Volunteers listen, offer support, and give referrals to countless Southern California HIV/AIDS Hotline callers. They also come out in the thousands to participate in APLA's Annual AIDS WALK. For information: 1313 N. Vine St., Los Angeles, CA 90028, (213) 993-1376, http://www.apla.org/.
AIRPORT MARINA COUNSELING SERVICE
A nonprofit outpatient clinic in Westchester needs volunteers to perform secretarial tasks and answer telephones. Call 310-670-1410 for more information.
ALPHA PHI OMEGA
A-Phi-O is a national co-ed service fraternity founded upon the principles of leadership, friendship, and service. Through service to the community, to campus, and to the fraternity, the members enhance their leadership skills and develop lifelong friendships. Some of the service projects in which A-Phi-O has participated include: Children of the Night, Color Me Bright, Race to Erase Multiple Sclerosis, Revlon Run/Walk for Breast Cancer, and the L.A. Marathon. Members are mostly undergraduates, but all postgraduate members are welcome. There are projects and fellowships every week. Alpha Phi Omega is affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America. For information: John Chen (johnchen@ucla.edu) or Christine Chan (310-231-0677).
AMERICA COUNTS
UCLA BruinCorps America Counts is a program implemented by President Bill Clinton in the Fall of 2000. Our program utilizes eligible Federal Work Study students, and now volunteer tutors to provide tutorial services in math and science to students in grades 6-8. Tutors will learn techniques and methods to prepare these students to be proficient in math and science by the eight grade. America Counts tutor requirements/info.: work one-on-one, or in small group with students struggling in math/science; work-study or volunteer students; work a minimum of 8 hrs/wk. to 20 hrs/wk; participate in quarterly trainings to learn how to improve students math and science skill level; participate in service days to provide service for surrounding communities; starting pay .09/hr.; 300 or 450 hour year commitment; openings for volunteer, or work experience; looks great on your resume (medical/graduate school applications). Come in our office to fill out an application: Hershey Hall 2139.
AMERICAN INDIAN FREE CLINIC
Volunteers provide health information and give referrals in the lobby about diabetes, cholesterol/food choices, and other important topics. The clinic features a pregnancy prevention program for teens ages 13-18 which focuses on keeping families together. This program is eager for volunteer help, and is considering starting a mentoring program. Volunteers can also get involved in HIV prevention by becoming mentors or counseling youth in the community. There is also an alcohol recovery program and family shelter in Compton where volunteers are welcome. For information: 310-537-0103.
AMERICAN INDIAN RECRUITMENT
Work to increase American Indian involvement in higher education and at UCLA by actively encouraging potential students to apply to institutions of higher education in general and UCLA in particular. For information: contact the Community Programs Office, 120 Men's Gym, 310-825-2420, air@ucla.edu , http://www.advocacy.ucla.edu/communitydirectory/ (click on Student, Alumni and Special Programs) or http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/indian/StdComOrganiz.htm.
AMERICAN INDIAN TUTORIAL PROJECT
The AITP is dedicated to improving the standard of living of urban Native Americans. Working in conjunction with the Southern California Indian Center, volunteers develop tutoring/mentoring relationships with Native Americans attending Central High School. By increasing the self-esteem and cultural pride of the students, while also empowering them academically, AITP addresses a critical need in the American Indian community of Los Angeles. For information: 310-825-0747.
AMERICAN RED CROSS
Each year over one million Americans serve as Red Cross volunteers serving local community needs; helping people in emergencies, providing half the nation's blood supply, teaching first aid and CPR courses, delivering emergency messages to members of the military, organizing programs for the elderly, for the youth; Red Cross volunteers work directly with people, serve on boards of directors, serve as managers, advisors, and provide behind the scenes support. Your local Red Cross can work with you to provide rewarding experiences, opportunities to utilize your talents, or provide training to help you serve your community. If you are ready to volunteer; review current volunteer opportunities in over 100 communities listed on the American Red Cross VolunteerMatch.org Website http://redcross.volunteermatch.org. Or check out current volunteer opportunities at American Red Cross national headquarters and leadership volunteer opportunities around the country http://www.redcross.org/services/volunteer/opportunities/vol.html. Visit the local Red Cross unit Website for your community: 2700 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90057, 213-739-5246 (Jessie Thompson), http://www.crossnet.org/.
AMIGOS DE UCLA
Formerly Amigos del Barrio, the oldest tutorial project in the Community Service Commission, targets multicultural schools that are predominantly Chicano/Latino. Knowledge of Spanish, while helpful, is not necessary for the volunteers. Amigos seeks to enrich the lives of over 300 elementary school children each year. UCLA volunteers visit one of two elementary schools each week, Pio Pico in Central Los Angeles or Selma Avenue in Hollywood. For the first hour, UCLA students conduct in-class, small group tutoring in kindergarten through sixth grade classrooms. The other hour and a half is spent after school with a designated class each quarter. Approximately half the time is devoted to assisting the children with homework, while the remainder of the period is for an arts-and-crafts program with a multicultural emphasis. The children who participate after school have an opportunity to go on a field trip to UCLA and thus learn first-hand about the possibility of higher education. For information: http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Fprojects.html.">http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Fprojects.html. 408 Kerckhoff Hall, 310-825-2217, amigos@ucla.edu.
ANIMAL KEEPER VOLUNTEERS AT THE LOS ANGELES ZOO
Volunteers should have broad experience working with all kinds of domestic animals or extensive experience with exotic animals. Qualified volunteers must have a negative TB test and must be willing to volunteer a minimum of two eight-hour days per month. Volunteers will endure hard physical labor, cleaning animals and their exhibits, feeding and preparing food for the animals, and working outside, rain or shine. For more information, contact Bill Foster at 213/666-4650, ext. 235 or Russ Smith at 213/666-4650, ext. 218, or http://www.lazoo.org.
ARMENIAN TUTORIAL PROJECT
The UCLA Armenian Tutorial Project was created in response to the immigration of Armenians from countries such as Armenia, Lebanon and Iran, where living conditions are difficult. Glendale High School was one of the schools in Southern California to experience a tremendous influx of Armenian students, whose population is currently fifty percent of its student body. These youths face language barriers as well as unfamiliar educational and social environments. UCLA ATP tutors Glendale High School Armenian students in basic English as well as other areas in which the students need help. Since the students are at an age when they are making crucial decisions about work and college, tutors also serve as mentors by helping the students with decisions. Thus, ATP has field trips to UCLA, which are meant to install an interest in higher education in the students. Other field trips to the Huntington Library in Pasadena, Brand Library in Glendale and to the Museum of Tolerance are meant to increase appreciation of Los Angeles' multicultural society. Time commitment: one quarter. Site location: Glendale High. For information: 411 Kerckhoff Hall (310) 825-4724, http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Fprojects.html.
ASIAN AMERICAN TUTORIAL PROJECT
formerly known as the Asian Education Project, has gone to Castelar Elementary School in Chinatown since 1969 to tutor immigrant children in the hopes of providing them with the skills and guidance necessary to assimilate into mainstream society and to gain access to a higher education. As the largest and second oldest member of UCLA's Community Service Commission (CSC), AATP has been at the forefront of the movement to meet the pressing educational needs of the immigrant youth population of the Chinatown community. Annually, AATP has a pool of approximately 200 tutors from UCLA, USC, and Occidental College who provide tutorial and mentoring services every Saturday morning to the students of Castelar Elementary. Although the majority of the community we serve is of Chinese ancestry, our tutors hail from all corners of the world. AATP welcomes anyone to join who is dedicated and loves kids. We guarantee this to be a truly rewarding experience not only for your tutee, but for yourself as well. So check out the Asian American Tutorial Project today! For information: 408 Kerckhoff Hall, 310-825-2417, http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/aatp/, or e-mail aatp@ucla.edu.
ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN LEGAL SERVICES
APALS addresses the legal needs in the Asian Pacific communities by informing them of their rights regarding rental relations, employment discrimination, domestic violence, immigration procedures and government benefits For information: Community Programs Office, 120 Men's Gym, 310-825-2420, http://www.advocacy.ucla.edu/communitydirectory/ (click on Student, Alumni and Special Programs).
ASIAN PACIFIC COUNSELING AND TREATMENT CENTER
The center provides a variety of mental health services for children under age 18 and their families. Preference is given to people who have a Pacific/Asian ethnic background, and people from any area of the county who are monolingual in Asian/Pacific languages. Services include crisis intervention, individual and family therapy, socialization groups, and consultation with the family and schools. For information: 3550 West 6th St., Ste. 500, Los Angeles CA 90026. Contact: Noriko, (213) 252-1200.
ASIAN PACIFIC HEALTH CORPS
APHC aims to bring health awareness about cardiovascular diseases into the Asian Pacific Islander communities in Los Angeles. We volunteer at various venues around the Los Angeles area to provide free screenings for glucose, cholesterol, and hypertension. We also network with a variety of service providers and organize two comprehensive community health fairs a year, one in Van Nuys and the other in Chinatown. Our group of dedicated volunteers is driven by their desire to reach out to the communities to empower the API communities. Through direct connection with participants, we are able to effectively promote health awareness while forming relationships with the community. In addition, APHC acts as a support group and provides a lot of networking opportunities to our volunteers. For information, please visit our website: http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/aphc or vist us in Student Activity Center, 220 Westwood Plaza, Suite 106E.
ASIANS FOR MIRACLE MARROW MATCHES (A3M)
A3M registers potential donors for the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) and serves as a resource for the Asian and Pacific Islander communities. A3M also assists the Donor Centers and Transplant Centers of the NMDP. Our mission is to improve access to marrow donors for patients needing bone marrow transplants from unrelated donors. We are working to increase and diversify the national donor database by targeting Asian and Pacific Islander populations. Volunteers in six ethnic task forces do multicultural and multilingual outreach and recruitment in their respective communities throughout Southern California. A3M staff and volunteers speak many languages, including Chinese, Gujarati, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog and Vietnamese. Our diversity is bound by the common goal of saving lives. We have a wide range of volunteer opportunities involving community outreach in various Asian/Pacific Islander communities. For information: call toll free (888) A3M-HOPE or (213) 473-1660 in Los Angeles or (714) 775-1699 in Orange County, http://tofu.ltsc.org/a3m/about.html.
BARRIO YOUTH ALTERNATIVES
Barrio Youth Alternatives is a student propelled project designed to capture the interest of youths. Primarily from South Central Los Angeles, the youth are exposed to alternatives in life-styles and to educational opportunities. These youths are considered high risk individuals who, for various reasons, are or may be likely become involved in gang activities or drop out of school. BAYA works with Jefferson High School and Lincoln Middle School offering tutorials and mentorships, recreational events, field trips, and cultural enrichment forums. For information: 310-825-5969, baya@ucla.edu, http://www.advocacy.ucla.edu/communitydirectory/ (click on Student, Alumni and Special Programs).
BEST BUDDIES AT UCLA
Best Buddies aims to build friendships between people with developmental disabilities and college volunteers. This is done by pairing a UCLA volunteer with a young adult who is developmentally disabled. The UCLA volunteer is required to visit the Buddy at least twice a month for the entire academic year. Group outings where the entire Best Buddies chapter comes together are held twice a quarter. Through these friendships, Best Buddies strives to eliminate the common stereotype that individuals hold of people with developmental disabilities. Only through interaction can we learn that individuals with developmental disabilities are people like you and me. For information: http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/BestBuddies/, buddies@ucla.edu, 406 Kerckhoff Hall.
BIENESTAR YOUTH SERVICES COLLEGE CONNECTION
Interns are wanted to assist in reducing the rates of HIV infection among young Latinos and Latinas through education and empowerment. Locations are in East Los Angeles, Hollywood, Pomona, Long Beach, and Van Nuys. For information: (213) 727-7897.
BIG BROTHERS OF GREATER LOS ANGELES
One on one and group mentoring for boys between the ages of 6-14 years with no father figure. For information, (213) 258-3333, BBGLA@aol.com , 1486 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90041, http://clnet.ucr.edu/community/intercambios/bigbrother.html.
BIG SISTERS OF L.A.
We empower at-risk girls from diverse communities to develop self-confidence, independence and respect for others by fostering one to one relationships with female role models in order to guide them towards their full potential and help them become responsible self-confident adults. Population served: girls aged 6-16, and pregnant or parenting teens under 19. For information: 6022 Wilshire Blvd. #202, Los Angeles, CA 90036, (213) 933-5749, http://www.bigsistersla.org/.
BLACK HYPERTENSION PROJECT
The goal of this project is to inform the Black community about hypertension, its causes, and remedies. To carry out this goal, Black Hypertension recruits and trains students to provide screening and education about high blood pressure, its causes and effects. Through this project, students are given an opportunity to be involved in the health care issues of the Black community, which will serve to empower the community. For information: 310-825-0068, bhp@ucla.edu, http://www.advocacy.ucla.edu/communitydirectory/student/comm_prog_office.html.
BLACK-LATINO AIDS PROJECT
The aim of BLAIDS is to increase knowledge and understanding and to prevent the spread of AIDS in the community. Primary to this project is to breakdown the misconception of AIDS, as a "white, male, homosexual disease." BLAIDS disseminates vital information in the Black and Latino/a communities. Volunteers are trained and assigned to various sites in Pacoima, Downtown, East, and South Central L.A. Educational pamphlets and condoms (where allowed) are distributed, and counseling is provided. For information: 310-825-0068, blaids@ucla.edu, http://www.advocacy.ucla.edu/communitydirectory/ (click on Student, Alumni and Special Programs).
BLIND CHILDREN'S LEARNING CENTER
The mission of the Blind Children's Learning Center is to develop the full potential of children and youth with a visual impairment in the greater Orange County community, regardless of ability to pay. The Blind Children's Learning Center is there for the child and parents from diagnosis through every stage in the child's development all the way to young adulthood. For over 35 years the Center has been providing direct services to blind and visually impaired children from birth through the 12th grade. Each year over 150 children benefit from the programs offered. For information: Blind Children's Learning Center (714) 573-8888, 18542-B Vanderlip Avenue, Santa Ana, California 92705, http://www.blindkids.org/.
BLOOD DONOR CENTER AT UCLA
One of the best things you can do for someone else, and you even get juice and cookies! For an appointment, call 310-825-0888, extension 2, press 1.
BLOOD DRIVE/UCLA
Working in conjunction with the UCLA Medical Center, this project runs a quarterly blood drive to supply blood to our university's hospital. You can contact the UCLA Social Welfare Commission office for more information about donating blood or volunteering in this project. For information: 404A Kerckhoff Hall, 310-825-7586.
BRAILLE INSTITUTE
Services needed include patient recruitment, counseling, community education. For information: 741 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90029, 213-663-1111, contact: Laura Gonzales, http://www.brailleinstitute.org/.
BRUIN CORPS
Bruin Corps is an initiative to provide synergy between community-service and service-learning efforts, enabling those involved to build collaborations and partnerships to enhance their effectiveness in pursuing and performing community service. BruinCorps programs aim to foster an ethic of lifelong service. Currently, the programs coordinated by BruinCorps include UCLA America Reads, Jumpstart Los Angeles, the SPartnership Program, and Americorp. For information: (310 794-5661, fax: (310) 794-5702, ccuiama@saonet.ucla.edu, www.saonet.ucla.edu/sao/bruincorps/index.html.
BRUIN LEADERS PROJECT
is a seminar-based, participatory program in which UCLA undergraduates are challenged to develop their strengths and skills as collaborative leaders. The Social Change Model of Leadership, a collaborative, values-based understanding of the leadership, informs the theory and values on which the Project is based. The Bruin Leaders Project provides accessible, effective leadership training for students, and offers a student-friendly means to learn of and participate in leadership development opportunities throughout the University. The Project envisions a campus environment in which leadership is understood as a collaborative process based upon respect and the valuing of difference, and also envisions a seamless, cohesive framework within which campus-based leadership opportunities are organized and presented to students. The Project features a Core Curriculum of three required seminars, and an Elective Curriculum of dozens of additional seminars. Students who complete the Core Curriculum and at least four seminars from the Elective Curriculum will be awarded a Bruin Leaders Certificate. Those students who engage in regular community service may substitute this service for one of the four elective seminars. For more information, see http://www.bruinleaders.ucla.edu.
BRUIN PARTNERS
Bruin Partners is a mentoring program that works with students in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Approximately 100 students from Stoner Avenue Elementary, Braddock Elementary, and Marina del Rey Middle School form one-on-one relationships with 100 UCLA student volunteers. Volunteers travel weekly to the Mar Vista area to work with their student. Both students and volunteers are asked to begin their relationship at the beginning of the student's fifth grade year and continue it through the end of the student's sixth grade year. During the two-year relationship volunteers seek to educate, motivate, and empower the students of the community who are more susceptible to losing academic motivation and/or self esteem, affiliate with gangs, and eventually drop out of school. Mentors seek to form a bond with the student that will help him/her through the difficult transition from elementary school to middle school. For information: http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/BP/, 411 Kerckhoff Hall, partners@ucla.edu,310-825-4724.
CALIFORNIA LITERACY
Founded in 1956, California Literacy, Inc., is the nation's oldest and largest statewide adult volunteer literacy organization. Its purpose is to establish literacy programs and to support them through consulting, tutor training, trainer development, and ongoing education. A private non-profit organization, California Literacy supports programs in more than 300 literacy centers statewide. Staffed largely by volunteers, these programs focus on recruiting and training tutors and matching them with adult literacy and ESL (English as a Second Language) students. More than 9,000 volunteers reported over one million hours of volunteer time in 1996. With the lowest per-student cost factor in the state, California Literacy reached more than 46,000 adult literacy students in 1996. For information: aliteracy@literacynet.org, California Literacy Inc., 2028 East Villa Street, Pasadena, CA 91107-2379, 1(800) 894-7323 (READ), (626) 395-9989; http://www.caliteracy.org.
CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE CENTER
Volunteers are needed in the Malibu area by California Wildlife Center, which provides 24-hour assistance with wildlife emergencies. Workers help out around the clock to supply first aid and transport distressed wild animals. For information: 310-457-9453 or http://volunteersolutions.org/volunteer/agency/one_70019.html.
CARE EXTENDER INTERNS FOR SANTA MONICA-UCLA MEDICAL CENTER
The Care Extender Program provides opportunities for volunteers to experience health care from a clinical perspective through patient contact and volunteer involvement. Care Extenders are trained to assist Medical Center staff who, in turn, are able to share their personal experience with these volunteers. Time spent in the program proves invaluable because it provides Care Extenders with "in-the-trenches" experience in a real hospital setting. Care Extenders are respected as professional members of the patient care team. As a result, they gain an insider's understanding of the operations of the Hospital -- an experience which helps them determine their future course for study. The Program now includes over 300 volunteers who are committed to a four-hour shift once a week for a period of one-year. Applicants go through a competitive application review, an interview process and a three-day training program. You can work on a patient care team with hospital health professionals, attend specialized medical school admissions workshops, volunteer in a hospital department for a minimum of four hours per week over the course of a year, and see surgeries, deliveries, and angioplasties. Participating departments include: Cardiac Catheterization Lab, Critical Care Unit, Medical-Surgical, Telemetry, Surgery, Post-Partum, Labor and Delivery, Emergency Room, Case Management, Center for Extended Care, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Radiology, Laboratory/Pathology and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. To apply, you must attend a mandatory orientation session. Orientations may be attended by reservation only, and there will also be a .00 application fee. Recruitment is held every January, April, July, and October. For information, call the Care Extender Office at 310-319-4000 x3581. Their web page is at http://www.firsthospital.ucla.edu (click on "Volunteer Services").
CASA HEIWA ADVANCE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
The mission of CHAMPs is to provide mentoring and tutorial support for the children of Casa Heiwa while increasing involvement with the Little Tokyo community. Working with the parents to assess the needs of their children, the program strives to provide the necessary attention and support needed to make each child more successful in achieving his/her aspirations. For information: 408 Kerckhoff Hall, 310-794-9347, casah@ucla.edu.
CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
“Each day, our volunteers can be seen throughout the Medical Center campus touching the lives of both patients and professionals alike. They not only provide an added measure of personal care for patients, they also assume non-traditional volunteer roles by supplementing and complementing professional services. Starting from a small corps of only 50 volunteers in 1976, the Cedars-Sinai Volunteer Department has grown to an enthusiastic group of over 2000 today. Each year, our volunteers donate nearly a quarter-million hours of their lives. From serving the community, to working in our Helping Hand Gift Shop, to performing more than 400 different assignments throughout the medical center, each volunteer is an unsung hero who touches the lives of countless people every day.” For more information, call Volunteer Services at (310) 423-5231, or see http://www.csmc.edu/volunteers/volunteerops.asp.
CENTER FOR HEALTHY AGING
The Center for Healthy Aging needs volunteers to assist with a variety of programs at its two Santa Monica locations. Free training is provided. For information: 310-576-2550 or http://home.earthlink.net/~monikawhite/index.html.
CENTER FOR THE PARTIALLY SIGHTED
The Center for the Partially Sighted in Santa Monica is looking for volunteers to assist its staff with projects. For information: 310-458-3501 or http://www.low-vision.org.
CENTURY CITY HOSPITAL
needs volunteers to assist at the information desk, help the nursing staff in patient care areas and provide clerical assistance. For information, call 310-553-6211, ext. 5222.CHARLES
DREW CENTER FOR EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENT (SATURDAY SCIENCE PROGRAM)
Services needed: tutoring, counseling, hospital tours. For information: 1621 E. 120th St., MP 46A, Los Angeles, CA 90059, (213) 563-4926, contact: Dana Mitchell.
CHILDREN'S NATURE INSTITUTE
The Children’s Nature Institute needs volunteer nature walk leaders for educational and interactive walks for at-risk and special-needs children. Docents will learn about local plans and wildlife at a three-day workshop held on Saturdays at the institute's office, 1440 Harvard St., Santa Monica. For information: 310-998-1151 or http://www.childrensnatureinstitute.org.
CHILDREN'S WALK FOR LIFE
The mission of the Children's Walk for Life is to raise vital funds for the Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, an institution dedicated to the research and treatment of childhood diseases. For information: Kerckhoff 404A.
CLOTHES THE DEAL's
The Clothes the Deal’s mission is to assist low income individuals in obtaining employment by providing professional business clothing and related services. Clothes The Deal gives donated business clothing to 57 agencies which provide job training and/or counseling to low-income men and women throughout the Greater Los Angeles area. In 1997, Clothes The Deal provided over 17,000 business clothing items to more than 3,500 job seekers. For more information, check out our website below. Clothes The Deal's headquarters are located at 515 South Flower Street, Suite 3350, Los Angeles, CA 90071. http://www.clothesthedeal.net/.
COMMUNITY ACTION BY BLACKS INTERESTED IN LAW
The Black Pre-Law Society created CABBIL as a positive response to an era of highly publicized highly racialized legal proceedings in the Los Angeles area. CABBIL, focusing on youth in Los Angeles schools, conducts workshops on the rights and responsibilities of youth in reference to the juvenile court system. The idea is to empower high school students with knowledge about the civil and legal rights accorded to them by the U.S. Constitution, federal and state laws, and Supreme Court decisions. For information: 310-825-5969, http://www.advocacy.ucla.edu/communitydirectory/student/comm_prog_office.html.
COMMUNITY COUNSELING SERVICE
This clinic is a bilingual/bicultural mental health center serving primarily low and moderate income people over 18 years of age. The agency is primarily interested in serving Central American refugees and people who are chronically mentally ill, but anyone may apply. The services provided include individual, conjoint, family and group counseling which may focus on a variety of problems that are specific to immigrant and refugees. For information: Michelle, (213) 481-1347 or (213) 481-7464, 1145 Wilshire Blvd. #100, Los Angeles, CA 90017.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR PREVENTION AND EDUCATION,
This program provides health education, mentoring and self-sufficiency education to at-risk youths and their families, is looking for qualified health educators and volunteers to help in its office, 724-D Lincoln Blvd., Venice. For information: 310-314-1306 or http://www.copepartners.org.
COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMISSION
The Commission at UCLA represents over twenty different community service projects working in different areas of Los Angeles. These projects recruit between 2,000 and 3,000 students each year, making CSC the largest student-run, student-initiated community service organization in the nation. For information: 408 Kerckhoff Hall; 310-825-2333, http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Fhome.html.
COMMUNITY-UNIVERSITY ENRICHMENT IN THE SCHOOLS
This program matches UCLA tutors with junior high school tutees. Tutors also participate in seminars and workshops designed to enhance their knowledge of topics related to the educational environment. The UCLA Departments of Education and Psychology provide academic credit to participating students. For information: Community Service Commission, 408 Kerckhoff Hall, 310-825-2333.
DOG BEHAVIOR
Exciting opportunity to volunteer for hands-on practical experience working with dogs and observing dog behavior in a pack setting. The Loved Dog Co. is LA's largest dog day care and cage-free kennel, and has been featured on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, the Learning Channel, the LA Times, etc. For more information, call 310-914-3033.
EMC PATIENT LIAISON
is a program of the UCLA Emergency Medicine Center (EMC). These volunteers try to make a patient's visit to the Emergency Room a little friendlier. Emergency Medical Center Patient Liaison Volunteers act as a liaison between EMC staff, family, and visitors, and assist EMC Staff in non-medical duties as needed. They must commit to four four-hour shifts per month. Duties include acting as host/hostess for the EMC, making patients, families, and visitors feel welcome and comfortable, providing information and assisting with children and families. Training includes completion of a Heartsaver Adult CPR course, three four-hour orientation shifts and satisfactory performance of a probationary period. Shifts of four hours in length are available at 6 am, 10 am, 2 pm, 6 pm, 10 pm, and 2 am seven days a week. Priority in filling shifts is given to nights and weekends. If you or someone you know is interested in helping people and working in a medical environment, please contact Torill Harper at 310-825-6002 to request an application and interview.
EMT TRAINING
through the UCLA Center for Prehospital Care. "Emergency Medical Technician Education and Training (EMT-1/EMT-B). This course prepares students to function as basic life support providers on ambulances. EMTs respond to calls ranging from major emergencies to interfacility transports. EMTs also work in hospital emergency departments and clinics. In most healthcare settings, EMT-1 is the first step toward becoming a paramedic. This course includes lecture presentations by professionals in emergency medicine. Beginning with the study of anatomy and physiology, students gain an understanding of the causes, signs and symptoms, and treatment of all types of medical emergencies. Students supplement their medical knowledge through simulated patient care experience, observation time in an emergency department, and ride-alongs with local ambulances. Successful course completion qualifies the student for the State of California EMT-1 certification. Textbooks are available at the CPC Office in Westwood. Students who complete the program with a grade of C or better will receive 7 semester units of credit from West Los Angeles College. Students interested in obtaining certification will be assessed a fingerprinting fee and a application fee. (Do not include these additional fees.) No previous experience is required. Must be 18 years of age to qualify for certification as an EMT." For more information, call 310-794-8797.
FIRST (Fighting to Improve Retention and Student Transition)
There are great disparities in our educational system. This is clear when looking at inner city high schools, particularly Compton High School. Compton High School has a drop rate of over 40% -- tremendous compared to California's dropout rate of 15.3%. These students not only lack the support services to complete high school, but also lack information about higher educational opportunities. As a result, the dreams of these students are often not realized. Fighting to Improve Retention and Student Transition recognizes these needs. Thus, it serves the students of Compton High School by providing academic and higher educational services. Academic tutorials take place at Compton High School on Saturdays for three hours, tutoring in Math, English, Essay Writing, ESL, Physics, and Chemistry. Project FIRST also visits Compton once during the week to conduct SAT/PSAT and higher educational workshops. Furthermore, quarterly conferences to UCLA and other campuses expose these high school students to higher education first-hand, motivating them to consider college as an option. Volunteers of Project FIRST experience the joy of teaching and watching their learner grow, as well as getting exposure to the realities of the inner city. For information: http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Fprojects.html.">http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Fprojects.html. 409 Kerckhoff Hall, 310-206-5999.
FREE THE MIND
We work with the Latino community both inside and outside the prison system to inform them about their rights, the conditions of the laws that are being enacted, and their impact. For information: Community Programs Office, 120 Men's Gym, 310-825-2420, freemind@ucla.edu.
GLENDALE HEALTHY KIDS
This program is a nonprofit corporation serving low income/uninsured students in Glendale Unified School District with unmet health needs. It is a coalition of Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center, Verdugo Hills Hospital, and the Glendale Unified School District. Volunteer medical, dental and ancillary health care providers treat children in their offices at no cost to the families. Glendale Healthy Kids sponsors the USC Mobile Dental Clinic, teaches dental education to first grade students in Glendale Unified School District, and coordinates a student support program at Daily Continuation High School. Opportunities are available to teach health education to students; drive students and parents to medical/dental appointments; provide translation (Spanish, Armenian, Korean) at medical or dental appointments; volunteer in the dental clinic; provide clerical assistance. For information: Creynolds@glendale.K12.ca.us, 818-548-7931, 223 N. Jackson St., Glendale, CA 91206, http://www.glendalehealthykids.org.
GEORGE C. PAGE MUSEUM AT LA BREA TAR PITS, LOS ANGELES
Join The Page Museum’s dynamic Education Department and learn about Los Angeles during the last Ice Age. Gain valuable work experience by improving your public speaking skills, working with children and the public and developing exciting new programs.
Volunteers must work for a minimum of 6 hours a week for 8 weeks. Recruitment is ongoing and comprehensive training is provided.
Columbian Mammoths, Mastodons, Saber-tooth Cats, Lions, Bears, Wolves, Birds and hundreds of other species present a wonderful variety of opportunities for volunteering as well as the story of their discovery.
Opportunities include:
· Park and Museum Tours
· Hands on Activities
· Pleistocene Garden work
· Guest Assistance
If interested please call Mark at 323-857-6300 ext. 113 and visit our website at www.tarpits.org
to learn more.
GRASSROOTS SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL PROJECT
This program is a non-profit, volunteer group of UCLA students who are highly motivated to reach out to their community. Visiting local schools (grades 1-12) within the Los Angeles community, Grassroots strives to reach out to a diverse body of young minds. Demonstrations and in-class projects are used to create a fun and interactive learning environment. Often, science is taught in a manner that sometimes deters students from gaining any passion in the field. Grassroots structures its educational programs to transform the bleak knowledge of scientific facts into an exploration of the wonderland of our universe. Such demonstrations include silly putty, hot-cold packs, homemade fire extinguishers, and the making of ice cream using liquid nitrogen. These projects have been a great success in the past. Not only are they fun and easy to make, they also demonstrate the fundamental theories of chemistry, physics, biology, etc. The main goal of Grassroots is to educate students about the many fields and principles of science in a fun and safe learning environment. We encourage the students to approach science with an open, enthusiastic attitude and stress the importance of science, in hopes that students will leave with an increased appreciation for the sciences. For information: Tage Nielson, 310-825-0068; tage@ucla.edu, or grasroot@ucla.edu.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
One time per quarter, students volunteer to spend a half- or whole day working on a house building project. No building skills needed. For information: http://www.habitat.org/.
HANDS FOR EMPOWERMENT
provides labor-intensive services, including maintenance, clean-up, minor construction, and refurbishing, as well as providing emotional support to various communities in need. Formerly known as "Alternative Spring Break." The group is also starting an extension of the AIDS Project LA Buddy Program at the Downtown Women's Center. For information: UCLA Community Service Commission, 408 Kerckhoff Hall, 310-825-2600, hands4@ucla.edu.
HEAL THE BAY
Heal the Bay is an environmental organization devoted to keeping our beaches clean and safe. Volunteers are needed for beach clean-ups and to be on political action committees to help the Santa Monica Bay. Heal the Bay produces the weekly Beach Report Card and has been involved in studies of virus detection, contaminated fish, and health risks in the area. Heal the Bay hosts the annual "EarthFest" on Earth Day and sponsors a speaker's bureau. For information: 310-581-4188, http://www.healthebay.org/.
HEALTH CARE INTERNSHIPS
The EXPO Center on campus has information on many health care internships. For information, go to http://www.career.ucla.edu/gradschool/health/ and click on "Health Care Internships."
INCARCERATED YOUTH TUTORIAL PROJECT
This project provides wards of the Ventura School prison facility with tutors and material to prepare them for college or technical careers upon release. Most importantly, the youth are provided with the means to learn about their cultural and historical background so as to empower themselves for the future. For information: 310-825-0747, www.advocacy.ucla.edu/communitydirectory/, (click on Student, Alumni and Special Programs).
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE
The Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles is one of the city's largest social service agencies, dedicated to meeting the needs of individuals, families, seniors and children since 1854. As a volunteer for JFS/LA, you can become part of a force that expands and enhances the services offered by Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles. Most of our 42 programs have volunteers working in some capacity. These programs are located in 12 different sites throughout Los Angeles County. As a volunteer, you can provide direct or indirect services. You will be trained and supervised according to the demands of your job and your own background. For information: Sally Weber, (323) 761-8800, http://jfsla.org/. The JFS/HIV/AIDS Program serves people with HIV/AIDS, their families, loved ones and caregivers. We offer counseling, support groups and "buddies", outreach and community education. For information, please call (323) 761-8770, ext. 275.
JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER LOS ANGELES
Has volunteer opportunities listed at http://www.jewishla.org/html/volunteer.htm
KING DREW HIGH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND SCIENCE.
Services needed: tutoring in basic math, biological sciences, calculus, algebra I, trigonometry, geometry, computer science. For information: 1656 E. 118th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059, 213-566-0420: Dr. Ernie Roy, Principal.
KOREAN TUTORIAL PROJECT
This project focuses on helping the youth of Koreatown, especially those that have recently immigrated to the United States. KTP works with the Korean Youth and Community Center of Los Angeles in providing a tutorial guidance program at John Burroughs Middle School. It provides service three times a week in the afternoons. In addition to helping the students academically, the tutors become positive role models as they begin to develop trust and friendship with their students. KTP seeks to promote academic excellence and successful social adjustment for Korean-American youths. Time commitment: one quarter commitments, one day a week or more to tutor and establish relationships with tutees. For information: http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Fprojects.html.">http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Fprojects.html. or 411 Kerckhoff Hall, 310-825-2417, ktp@ucla.edu.
LA ESCUELA DE LA RAZA COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROJECT
Lacking English skills, many Latinos/as of all ages are unable to fully participate in or benefit from a predominantly English-speaking society. Interviewing for jobs, understanding housing ads, currency, the law, or hospital and school information becomes difficult. And yet, Latinos/as constitute almost 40% of the population in L.A. County. In light of this, La Escuela tailors its programs to meet the remedial language needs of lower-income Latinos/as in the Pico-Union area. Three levels of instruction are offered. For information: 310-825-5969, or 102 Men's Gym.
LA FAMILIA
La Familia is UCLA's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organization by and for people who identify as Chicanas, Chicanos, Latinas and Latinos. La Familia commits itself to self-determination, self-respect, and dignity. Our goals are to fight for self and group respect and to ensure cultural preservation, community empowerment, community service, and unabashed, unrestrained self-expression. In order to integrate ourselves into our community we are also committed to working with other Latino (a) groups in the community. For information: 310-825-8053, gala@ucla.edu.
LA SHANTI
La Shanti provides free support groups, counseling, weekend seminars and education programs for people affected by HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses. Volunteers are needed for office support and client services programs. For information: http://www.hplus.net/lashanti, bd015@laafn.org, 213-962-8197.
LATINAS GUIDING LATINAS
In 1987, the Raza Women Organization of UCLA began LGL because Latina women have the lowest educational attainment level of any group in the country. Moreover, Chicanas/Latinas have traditionally been underrepresented in institutions of higher learning and receive less income than Europeans for equal employment. Thus, LGL provides university tours, social and cultural events, student-parent conferences, school visits, workshops, professional role models, and ongoing mentorship. Driven by the philosophy that "education is the key and unity is our strength," LGL intends to make our little sisters' dreams of uplifting our community a reality. For information: 310-825-7843, lgl@ucla.edu, http://www.advocacy.ucla.edu/communitydirectory/ (click on Student, Alumni and Special Programs).
LATINO STUDENT HEALTH PROJECT
Since its creation in 1970, the goal of LSHP has been to increase health services and health awareness in the medically under-served Chicano/Latino communities. The project provides information and testing for hypertension, specifically, high blood pressure screening at La Placita Catholic Church, Dolores Mission, and Santa Isabel, as well as in a medical facility along the U.S.- Mexico border. LSHP also provides high school presentations in the Central and East Los Angeles area. For information: 310-825-0068, lshp@ucla.edu, http://www.advocacy.ucla.edu/communitydirectory/student/comm_prog_office.html.
LA WORKS
L.A. Works is a nonprofit organization that is committed to revitalizing Los Angeles by making it easy for people to get involved in their communities through volunteer service. You can visit their web page at www.la-volunteer.org, and subscribe to their list serve for bulletins on volunteer opportunities.
LINC PROGRAM
Are you pre-med or interested in another medicine-related field? Do you speak Farsi fluently? Did you ever want to use your multi-lingual skills to help others? Do you want to get really meaningful clinical experience and directly interact with doctors and patients in different departments of the UCLA Hospital? If you answered yes to the above questions, we would like to invite you to participate in the LINC Program which offers a unique opportunity to gain clinical and volunteer experience for students who are fluent in a foreign language and possess adequate medical terminology. If you are interested in the program, and would like more information about it, please email us at pclinc@ucla.edu.
LITTLE TOKYO SERVICE CENTER
Little Tokyo Service Center is an important resource for the residents of a diverse downtown community. Founded in 1979, LTSC is a nonprofit charitable organization serving people in need, especially those facing language or cultural gaps, financial need, or physical disabilities. Currently, LTSC sponsors over a dozen different community and social service programs, with over 40 paid staff persons and hundreds of volunteers to provide competent and compassionate services in seven different languages as well as Spanish and English. Services include individual and family counseling, support groups, transportation and translation services, an emergency caregiver program, student help lines, crisis hotlines, and consumer education. LTSC is also the sponsor of several major community development projects in the Los Angeles area. The scope of LTSC's community development arm includes the construction and management of Casa Heiwa, a 100-unit affordable housing project for individuals and families; the rehabilitation of one of our city's historical landmarks into the Union Center for the Arts; and the development of Pacific Bridge, a housing complex for adults with developmental challenges. For information: 213-473-1602, 231 E. 3rd St., Suite G104, Los Angeles, CA 90013, http://www.ltsc.org/.
LOS ANGELES FREE CLINIC
The LA Free Clinic provides dental services, domestic violence services, HIV/AIDS services, health services, legal services and mental health services primarily for children and young adults who live in the greater Los Angeles area. For information: (213) 462-4158, (213) 462-8632 (administration), 6043 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028 http://www.lafreeclinic.org/.
Call for Volunteers/Interns - Life Science Opportunities
If you are interested in volunteering your scientific knowledge, but don't know where, we can help. We currently have a few sites that are actively recruiting biology (or other life science) students to volunteer their services. Importantly, UCLA can give you academic credit for this service. Additionally, internships help you embellish your CV, as well as obtain letters of recommendation for grad/med/vet school. Possible internship sites: 1) Santa Monica Pier Aquarium They are recruiting students for the Aquarist, Education and Public Programs departments 2) California Science Center They are recruiting students to intern as Discovery Room volunteers or Program Presenters If interested, please contact me for more information regarding the internship positions, the internship site contact information and the enrollment procedures. Also keep in mind that there are many other potential internship sites. You can find many of these at: 1)HREF="http://www.eeb.ucla.edu/ugrad_ops_volunteer.php">http://www.eeb.ucla.edu/ugrad_ops_volunteer.php for other internship sites of biological interest 2) under the heading 'internships' in MyUcla (log on and check the left hand side column) 3) www.career.ucla.edu/BruinView where you can search opportunities offered exclusively for UCLA students 4) www.volunteermatch.org, where you can search for local health care and environmental assignments 5) The 'Rainbow Resource Directory' in the Career Center library, which lists hundreds of social service providers in LA county 6) The Care Extender internship program (at Santa Monica Hospital) and UCLA Hospital volunteer programs (both listed on the UCLA website) Rafael Romero Science coordinator Center for Community Learning, Murphy A333 (310) 825-7867 fax: (310) 267-2482 rromero@college.ucla.edu
HealthCare Volunteer
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRE-HEALTH STUDENTS
HealthCare Volunteer: The Global Non-Profit for Health Care Volunteers
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRE-HEALTH STUDENTS!
Need volunteer and community service experience but don't know where to look?
Join HealthCare Volunteer, an organization started by two students in professional school (dental school and medical school), who began HealthCare Volunteer to address the need for global health care volunteers.
Their services are 100% free and can connect you with the health care volunteer opportunities you are looking for.
Examples of local volunteer opportunities include:
*Venice Family Clinic (Los Angeles)
*AIDS Project Los Angeles (Los Angeles)
*Camp Laurel Foundation, Inc., serving children with HIV/AIDS (Pasadena)
HealthCare Volunteer also offers an e-mail subscription service that will send you via e-mail, opportunities with the criteria you are looking for.
CONTACT INFORMATION
ADDRESS
HealthCare Volunteer
11420 Santa Monica Blvd.
#251444
Los Angeles, CA 90025-1444
TELEPHONE
Within USA: (310) 928-3611
Outside USA: (00) 1-310-928-3611
E-MAIL
health@healthcarevolunteer.com
WEBSITE
www.healthcarevolunteer.com
(Retrieved July 28, 2006 from http://healthcarevolunteer.com/aboutus.php)
Other Volunteer Opportunities
LOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOODBANK
Solicits and receives donations of surplus food products from growers, manufacturers, retailers, etc., and distributes to charities which provide food to children, seniors, homeless, disabled, single parents and their families, underemployed, battered women, and working poor people. Volunteers sort, clean, and repackage food on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to noon. They also help in food drives and special events and assist the administrative staff with data entry, phones, and clerical work. For information: Arturo Pina,. 213-234-3030, extension 144, 1734 E. 41st St., Los Angeles, CA, 90058, http://www.lafightshunger.org/.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR./DREW MEDICAL CENTER
The purpose of the Volunteer Service Program is to assist the hospital in providing quality patient care by using the energy, talent and time of interested community residents who wish to serve the patients at Martin Luther King, Jr./Drew Medical Center. Some assignments provide direct contact with patients, others do not, but whatever the assignments, volunteers help to create, promote, and maintain an atmosphere of good will by assisting the professional staff to speed up and improve service to patients. Among the areas with frequent needs for volunteers are: Inpatient Services, Outpatient Clinics, Child Care Center, Newborn Nursery, Clerical, Patient Library, and of course, interpreters, who are always needed to assist our Spanish-speaking patients. For more information, call the Volunteer office at (310) 668-5240, or see http://www.ladhs.org/mlk/voluntnd.htm.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR./DREW MEDICAL CENTER
The purpose of the Volunteer Service Program is to assist the hospital in providing quality patient care by using the energy, talent and time of interested community residents who wish to serve the patients at Martin Luther King, Jr./Drew Medical Center. Some assignments provide direct contact with patients, others do not, but whatever the assignments, volunteers help to create, promote, and maintain an atmosphere of good will by assisting the professional staff to speed up and improve service to patients. Among the areas with frequent needs for volunteers are: Inpatient Services, Outpatient Clinics, Child Care Center, Newborn Nursery, Clerical, Patient Library, and of course, interpreters, who are always needed to assist our Spanish-speaking patients. For more information, call the Volunteer office at (310) 668-5240, or see http://www.ladhs.org/mlk/voluntnd.htm.
MEChA CALMECAC
is structured to provide Chicana/o and Latina/o students direct participation in the process of their own retention. The program is built on the philosophy that Raza giving and receiving from one another helps to create a sense of community that, in turn,gives meaning to education and will increase the number of graduating Raza. The program offers one-on-one counseling, academic workshops, social/cultural programming, a Chicana/Latina retention component, study hall and a number of other resources. For information: 310-206-5547.
MEDICINE 190 SERIES
Medicine 190A (Health Outreach and Education for At-Risk Populations) is a theoretical course preparing you for your internship in the Medicine 190B and 190C field courses. Gain academic credit and add practical experience to your resume or application. Apply theoretical knowledge from Medicine 190A in 190B/C by delivering health education and conducting youth activities for at-risk families in the Venice and Santa Monica area. Learn the basics of outcomes measurements for health education. Info sessions will be held each academic year. Look for flyers! For information, contact the School of Medicine at 310-825-6275.
MIDWAY HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER IN LA
needs volunteers to assist at the information desk, help the nursing staff in patient care areas and provide clerical assistance. Call 323-932-5409.
MULTISERVICE FAMILY CENTER
The Family Center is a community-oriented, multi-racial, multi-cultural counseling and health center in Inglewood which provides a wide range of services including psychiatric evaluations; individual, conjoint, family, and group therapy; psychological, educational and vocational testing; health screening for children and adults; CHDP exams and immunizations for children; and primary health care for children and adults. For information: 101 N. La Brea Ave., Ste. 301, Inglewood, CA 90302, 310-412-0202.
NIKKEI STUDENT UNION
The UCLA Nikkei Student Union (NSU) is a Japanese American cultural, social, and community service oriented organization. NSU has always had a strong presence in the Japanese American community. If you would like to become involved in service projects, there are plenty of opportunities. We participate in many one-day community service events as well as long term projects. All community service projects are completely voluntary. Members to the club are under no obligation to "fulfill" any quota of service. We believe that community service is only truly rewarding when it is freely given. Those interested only in participating in community service do not have to commit to other parts of our club. Some previous events include: Keiro Nursing Home visits, Little Tokyo Health Fair, Operation Sparkle, Conquer the Bridge Run, Family Expo, Volunteering at the Japanese American National Museum, Chibi-K Run, Bone Marrow Drive. For information: nikkei@ucla.edu, UCLA Nikkei Student Union, 3232 Campbell Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095, 310-284-4650, http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/nsuinfo/.
PILIPINO RECRUITMENT AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
This program provides high school students with the resources for getting into college, serving as mentors to encourage them to continue their education, and promoting community involvement and cultural awareness. We hope to encourage students to take leadership roles and be able to empower themselves. PREP collaborates with SIPA (Search to Involve Pilipino Americans), high schools in LA, Long Beach and Carson, UCLA SPEAR, and PCH to assist Pilipino youth. For information: http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/PREP, 408 Kerckhoff Hall, 310-206-5999, prep@ucla.edu.
PILIPINOS FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH
Pilipinos are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the greater Los Angeles area, yet due to inadequate health education and services targeted specifically toward Pilipinos, the community faces the risk of an unhealthy population plagued by AIDS, hypertension, and diabetes. Pilipinos for Community Health functions to serve the Pilipino community by improving the health education and care provided to the community and by increasing the number of health professionals available to serve their specific needs. Through collaboration with community agencies such as Search to Involve Pilipino Americans and To Help Everyone Clinic, PCH can have a positive impact on the community by routinely participating in health screening, health fairs, and health education and awareness programs. Volunteers consist of UCLA students who desire to serve the Pilipino community in health-related issues and those culturally sensitive students planning to pursue professional health careers. For information: http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/PCH/, , 406 Kerckhoff Hall, 310-825-2415, pch@ucla.edu.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD LOS ANGELES,
The largest private, non-profit provider of family planning and reproductive health services, has served the people of Los Angeles County for over 30 years. PPLA clients receive expert health care from a team of highly trained physicians, nurse practitioners, certified nurse mid-wives and physicians in both English and Spanish as well as other languages. For information: 310-787-2666 or 213-226-0800, http://www.plannedparenthood-la.org/.
PLAZA COMUNIDAD (COMMUNITY) CLINIC
Provides comprehensive primary care to families from the Greater Los Angeles Area and surrounding areas. The PCC method of operation is based on a simple principle: health care should be available locally on an appointment or walk-in basis in a manner sensitive to the individual's needs and special circumstances. Our medical services address the entire family. We provide well-baby examinations including free immunizations. Since a large percentage of our diverse population is of childbearing age, our services include pre-conception counseling/family planning and the total needs of the pre- and post-natal patient. Finally, PCC offers random drug screening and drug related education. A major goal of PCC's multi-disciplinary staff is to improve birth outcomes through medical treatment and health education, and to help families through personal interventions which will assist them in making appropriate, well-informed decisions about family planning, pregnancy, delivery and parenting. Additionally, we want to improve access to quality health care services for low-income families. Volunteer work is a very important part of PCC, and there are many opportunities for students interested in helping the community we serve and the staff at PCC. For information: Grigor Matentsian, gmatents@ucla.edu , PCC (213) 268-1699 or (213) 268-1107, 3700 Princeton St., Los Angeles, CA 90023.
PRISON OUTREACH PROJECT
Since its establishment in 1982, the Prison Outreach program of the UCLA Center for African American Studies has provided books and other reading materials to prisoners housed in the nation's penal institutions. CAAS fulfills requests from institutions ranging from the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco, California, to the Connecticut Correctional Institution in Somers, Connecticut. Early on, the donated materials consisted primarily of newsletters, books, magazines and newspapers from the CAAS Publications unit and the CAAS Library. The current outreach program has successfully solicited books and magazines from the UCLA community and off-campus communities. If you are interested in donating books or magazines, please bring
them to the Center or call our main office listed below for additional information. For information: 310-825-7403, dwilliam@caas.ucla.edu, UCLA Center for African American Studies, 2308 Murphy Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1545, 310-825-7403.
PROJECT ANGEL FOOD
Project Angel Food is a daily meal delivery program for men, women, and children who are homebound or disabled by HIV/AIDS. Our meals, prepared by professional chefs and volunteer assistants, are attractive, nutritious and always made with the freshest ingredients. Volunteers, who help in the kitchen and make the deliveries, are a crucial component of our program. While the immediate need we fulfill is the prevention of hunger, these caring individuals also deliver compassion and help reduce the terrible isolation that many people living with AIDS often experience. Since its inception, Project Angel Food has prepared and delivered more than 700,000 hot meals, all at no charge to our clients. Office volunteers are also needed from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and from 1:00 - 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Take the first step by attending one of Project Angel Food's New Volunteer Orientations. It takes only an hour and a half and afterwards you'll know the basics for working in our kitchen or delivering meals. The orientations are held every Wednesday from 6:00-7:30 PM & every Thursday from 10:00-11:30 AM. For information: Randy Hall at (323) 845-1816, http://www.angelfood.org/.
PROJECT B. R. I. T. E
(Bruins Reforming Incarceration through Education, formerly UCLA Prison Coalition) is one of the oldest and most popular community service programs on campus. It aims to reach youth offenders at an age where they still have a chance to turn their lives around. Prison Coalition visits Camp Miller, the Southern Reception Center and Clinic, the Dorothy Kirby Center, Camp Vernon Kilpatrick and Camp David Gonzales each quarter. For information: http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Fprojects.html,">http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Fprojects.html, or 408 Kerckhoff Hall, 310-825-2415.
PROJECT LITERACY
Project Literacy is a non-profit, student-run, community service organization which seeks to end illiteracy, especially among financially disadvantaged individuals, so as to enable them to attain greater educational, social, and economic advancement. Volunteers work one-on-one, tutoring a child, teen, or adult in reading, writing, and math, once a week at the Watts Public Library, the Mar Vista Gardens Housing Project, or the GAIN Job Services office in Downey. For students interested in joining Project Literacy, transportation to and from the tutoring sites is provided. The experience is one that you will never forget. Nothing can duplicate the feeling you'll get when you see how much you've helped someone to achieve things they never thought possible, just by offering your time, energy, and patience. Project Literacy has affiliations with both national and Los Angeles-based literacy programs as well. For information: http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Literacy/, 310-825-2417, 408 Kerckhoff Hall, prolit@ucla.edu.
PROJECT MAC
For more than a decade, the Project MAC volunteers have been visiting the children of MacLaren Children’s Center, a temporary shelter for abused, abandoned, or neglected kids. Children are placed at MacLaren when Child Protective Services has determined that the child’s life would be in danger if the child remained in the home. Project MAC works to alleviate the traumas of abuse and ease the transition of moving to a new and unfamiliar environment. Every Thursday night and Saturday morning, Project MAC interacts with the children through sports and arts-and-crafts activities, as well as through a tutoring component. The presence of Project MAC at the center goes beyond arts-and-crafts activities. Volunteers create an environment where self-esteem and self-empowerment are encouraged. They create friendships and help the kids learn to regain trust in adults again, and let them know that not all relationships are abusive. Project MAC reaches out to the UCLA community by informing others of child abuse issues and preventative measures that can be taken to end the abuse that brings children to MacLaren in the first place. Volunteers become an important link in this process of educating the community about child abuse and its effects. Time commitment: two quarters, 7 site visits/quarter, 4 hours/week. Site location: MacLaren Children's Center. For information: 406 Kerckhoff Hall, (310) 206-8025, http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/MAC/.
PROJECT S.E.T. (South-Central Evening Tutorial)
This project is a community service program designed to provide tutoring services to the children of immigrant parents in South Central LA. All children involved have parents taking evening ESL or citizenship classes. UCLA tutors provide these children with a variety of academic and fun activities that help increase their proficiency and self-efficacy. For information: 408 Kerckhoff Hall, 310-825-2727, projset@ucla.edu.
PROJECT SHARE
(Students Helping And Reaching Education) is an inner-city outreach program run by volunteer students of UCLA. Serving the Coliseum Street Elementary School in the Crenshaw district for over 17 years, Project: SHARE tries to provide tutoring and mentoring to underprivileged youth. Typically working with children in first through sixth grade, Project: SHARE is a great opportunity to have fun and help others at the same time. Through the project, you will gain many friends of all ages and work (or play, depending on how you look at it), in a great practical, learning environment. Project SHARE provides tutoring and mentoring for underprivileged youth, gives tutors validation to their education by giving back to the community, provides a great time helping others, helps forge friendships with people of all ages, tutors and tutees alike, and provides field trips to educational arenas such as the Science and Technology Museum and the L.A. Zoo. Even if you haven't done community service in the past, this is a great opportunity to start. If you really want to make a difference in the community and in a child's life, become a Project: SHARE tutor. You'll never forget the friends you meet or the experiences you have. Contact share@ucla.edu, 310-208-4033, and we'll be more than willing to get you started.
PROJECT WILD
Since 1987, UCLA's Working for Immigrant Literacy Development has endeavored to aid adolescents who have recently immigrated to the United States from Asia and the Americas. Coming into a country where English is the dominant language, these students have a need to acquire the new language for advancement. For seven Saturdays per quarter, WILD provides free tutoring to the immigrant students at Richard Garvey Intermediate School in the Monterey Park/San Gabriel/Rosemead areas. The primary goal of tutoring is to improve the English proficiency of the students without replacing their native language. Aside from tutoring, WILD also provides the students with positive role models and friends they can talk to about the burdens of living in a new country. To increase involvement in the Monterey Park/San Gabriel Rosemead areas, Project WILD is attempting to network with Mark Keppel High School to set up more tutorials for the Garvey students by incorporating new high school tutors into the program. This will hopefully expand WILD's target groups to involve both intermediate and secondary students. In the near future, WILD hopes to increase the number of tutoring sites to cover all areas of Monterey Park, San Gabriel and Rosemead. For information: http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/WILD, 408 Kerckhoff Hall, 310-825-4724, wild@ucla.edu.
PROYECTO DE INMIGRANTES Y REFUGIADOS LATINOAMERICANOS
PIRLA is involved in the legal, medical and social empowerment of Latin Americans. With the Central American Resource Center, La Clinica Oscar Romero and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, student volunteers conduct interviews for political asylum, assist medical staff, empower day laborers at street sites with knowledge of their rights and outreach to homeless immigrant youth. In addition, PIRLA provides educational forums for UCLA regarding Latin America and its people, both in and out of the United States. For information: 310-825-7843, jmadriga@ucla.edu, http://www.advocacy.ucla.edu/communitydirectory/ (click on Student, Alumni and Special Programs).
RAZA ARTISTAS DEL PUEBLO
Many talented students in inner-city schools cannot afford the high costs of a quality art education. Promising students are often discouraged, lose hope, and seek other ways to exert their creative energies. Sometimes artistic drive is expended in negative recreation and activities such as graffiti, gang-banging, and drug abuse. In addition, school budget cuts limit the opportunity for inner-city youth to receive a multi-cultural background in the arts. Raza Artistas takes initiative and provides art classes and workshops at La Plaza de la Raza and several schools throughout L.A. and sponsors an Art Scholarship Contest for high school seniors. For information: 102 Men's Gym, or 310-825-5969.
RAZA YOUTH EDUCATION
Provides workshops and presentations to deal with academics and cultural awareness of high school youth in the westside to foster social consciousness. For information: Community Programs Office, 120 Men's Gym, 310-825-2420, eespinoz@ucla.edu.
RETENTION OF AMERICAN INDIANS NOW!
A program designed to meet the needs of students of American Indian heritage, RAIN! operates under the philosophy that one does not have to compromise traditional values and beliefs to achieve academic success at UCLA. Attempting to make education culturally relevant by creating and maintaining ties to Indian nations, RAIN! cultivates a sense of identity and motivation to succeed. RAIN! approaches learning not in a competitive manner but as a collective process. Together we gather knowledge to foster personal growth and ensure academic success. For information: 310-206-8043.
ROSA PARKS SEXUAL ASSAULT CRISIS CENTER
Volunteers are needed to answer the hotlines, accompany rape survivors to hospitals, and assist at health fair. For information: 4182 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 90062, 213-295-1999, Dr. Rhonda Brinkley-Ke.
SAINT JOHN'S MEDICAL CENTER, SANTA MONICA
Saint John's offers a variety of different opportunities to its volunteers, including nursing unit aides, outpatient care, office aides, reception, assisting at the Child and Family Development Center, research lab aides (for college students interested in science or medicine). Saint John's welcomes any volunteer who is willing to make the commitment to the program. The basic guidelines are: must be 16 years of age or older, complete a health clearance check, make a commitment of four hours a week for at least 100 hours of total service. Each prospective volunteer must attend an orientation. For more information, go to http://www.stjohns.org/volunteer_opp/home.asp, or call 310-829-8438.
SAMAHANG PILIPINO EDUCATION AND RETENTION
The attrition rate of Pilipinos has been growing in recent years while Pilipinos are the fastest growing Asian group and are in jeopardy of being denied the access to the social, political, economic and cultural equality that higher education provides. Because the community's needs were not being met, students began to take charge of their own education. The SPEAR project, by initiating programs, workshops, counseling, and resources from a Pilipino student's perspective, strives to meet the community's needs and increase retention of Pilipino students at UCLA. For information: 310-206-6949.
SENIOR CITIZENS PROJECT
Students volunteer their time, effort, and companionship to work with seniors through visits and the creation of programs and activities. The Senior Citizens Project hopes to empower senior citizens and maintain the connection between seniors and the general society. For information: UCLA Community Service Commission, 408 Kerckhoff Hall, 310-825-2333, scp@ucla.edu.
SHRINERS HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN, LOS ANGELES
To be considered for the Volunteer Program, you must first complete a volunteer application. Applications are available from the Volunteer Office and at the Hospital Front Desk. One will be mailed to you if you call 213-368-3316 or request by e-mail to jlevy@shrinenet.org. All volunteer candidates must attend a two-hour, New Volunteer Orientation that includes a hospital tour, a description of hospital policies and procedures, disaster preparedness, and our volunteer rules.
SOJOURN SERVICES FOR BATTERED WOMEN
This is a full-service domestic violence agency in Santa Monica providing crisis shelter, support groups, emergency response teams, court accompaniment and a comprehensive children's program. Volunteers, especially bilingual and persons of color, are needed for all programs. Training is provided twice a year. For information: 310-399-9232, extension 151, http://www.safenetwork.net/rd/sn000163.htm.
SOUTH BAY LITERACY COUNCIL, INC.,
This is a non-profit group of volunteers who, for free, teach adults to read, write and speak English. Our students are either functionally illiterate or require English as a Second Language (ESL). Students come from 14 cities in the South Bay, but our reach extends much further as our goal is for "each one to teach one." We are run entirely by volunteers who devote at least two hours each week to prepare lessons and teach students. Many of these same volunteers take on additional tasks to keep our organization running. For information: Office/Learning Center, South Bay Literacy Council, Executive Office Building. II, Suite 11 24586 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, California, 90505, 310-373-7003, or see http://www.commpages.com/literacy/index.htm.
SOUTHEAST ASIAN LEGAL OUTREACH PROJECT
Created in 1993, SEALOP hopes to build awareness of and access to legal means in the Southeast Asian-American communities. The project also provides UCLA students with the opportunity to become involved in legal matters on behalf of this low-income community. SEALOP works primarily with the Public Law Center in Orange County where the country's largest Vietnamese and Laotian communities reside. Working with clients both in English and their native languages, SEALOP volunteers bridge the gap between legal service providers and this community. For information: Community Programs Office, 120 Men’s Gym, 310-825-2420, sealop@ucla.edu, http://www.advocacy.ucla.edu/communitydirectory/student/comm_prog_office.html.
STUDENT CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION
Resource Assistants and Conservation Associates serve as volunteer seasonal staff for public and private natural and cultural resource management agencies throughout the United States and Canada. Resource Assistants often work side by side with professional staff members and are expected to perform their assignments to the same standards as, and in cooperation with, paid seasonal employees. Positions are generally 12 weeks in length and the equivalent of 40 hours per week. Training is provided at the resource management agency. Resource Assistants and Conservation Associates are not paid, but serve as volunteers. They receive funds to cover their travel to the program site and return home; free housing; a subsistence allowance to help offset food expenses; and a uniform allowance when authorized by the cooperating agency. Positions are available in California, for example, with the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Joshua Tree National Park, the Carrizo Plain Nature Area, the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. For more information, write The Student Conservation Association, Inc., P.O. Box 550, Charlestown, NH 03603, or see http://www.sca-inc.org.
STUDENT INITIATED OUTREACH COMMITTEE
The Student Initiated Outreach Committee (SIOC) was created in the spring of 1998 as a means of funding student-run, student-initiated outreach programs. The impetus for its creation came in the wake of the dramatic drop of underrepresented communities in the UC system due to the passage of Proposition 209 and SP-1 and SP-2. The SIOC funds six projects: African Student Union's Students Heightening Academic Performance through Education (SHAPE), MEChA de UCLA's Xinachtli, Pacific Islander Students Association's Pacific Islander Education and Retention (PIER), American Indian Student Association's American Indian Recruitment (AIR), Vietnamese's Student Union's HOPE program, and Samahang Pilipino's SPACE program. The SIOC projects provide services such as one-on-one counseling, tutoring, mentoring, academic workshops, political and cultural workshops, high school conferences and parent meetings targeting K-14 students in the Los Angeles Area. For information: http://www.advocacy.ucla.edu/communitydirectory/student/comm_prog_office.html.
STUDENTS HELPING AND REACHING EDUCATION (SHARE)
is a tutorial project that primarily assists elementary school students at the Coliseum School in the Crenshaw District. Students in these areas need affordable educational supplement and positive role models to counter the negative influences that are found in their environment. The level of gang activity, crime and violence in this inner city district is one of the highest in the nation and creates pressure for youths in the area. Volunteers visit the school weekly to provide academic assistance, encourage the youths to purse higher education, and offer a supportive program to give these students a more promising future. Motivation to attain success in school and to go on to higher education are also primary goals for the program. For information: http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Fprojects.html,">http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Fprojects.html, or 411 Kerckhoff Hall, or phone 310-825-4724.
STUDENTS HONESTLY OPENING UP TOGETHER (SHOUT)
SHOUT seeks to have a positive impact on the lives of multicultural lesbian, gay, and bisexual referrals, and peer relationship and acceptance for students. SHOUT also attempts to provide information and increase awareness among heterosexual students. For information: 500 Kerckhoff Hall, 310-825-8053.
THE HUNGER PROJECT
The Hunger Project at UCLA is dedicated to fighting poverty through the combination of direct service, advocacy and education. It is the only student-run community service organization on campus that provides comprehensive services to the homeless and low-income people of Los Angeles, helping to meet both their immediate and long-term needs. Volunteers work almost every day of the week with nine different agencies throughout Los Angeles to deliver and serve meals, provide job search assistance, tutor and mentor formerly homeless children, and deliver donations of clothing and furniture. Through this variety of services and sites, the Hunger Project serves the diverse segments of the homeless and low-income community, including the transitionally housed, adults and children, the unemployed and the working poor. The Hunger Project runs five subprograms to achieve these goals. In the Food Salvage Program, volunteers retrieve surplus food from on-campus restaurants and deliver it to local homeless shelters and other agencies serving low-income individuals. Volunteers in the Job Development Program are trained to assist homeless individuals in locating job openings, preparing resumes and improving their interview skills. In this its third program, Harmony Place, volunteers tutor children in a transitional housing complex for formerly homeless families. They provide individual assistance to the children, teaching them various subjects while serving as friends and mentors as well. In the Donations Program, volunteers collect and sort donations of food, clothing, toys and furniture and deliver them to homeless assistance agencies. Finally, in the Advocacy and Education Program, volunteers work to educate the general campus community as well as fellow Hunger Project members about the issues of hunger, homelessness and poverty by publishing a weekly newsletter for volunteers and organizing quarterly campus-wide events such as Hunger Awareness Week. For information: http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Fprojects.html,">http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Fprojects.html, 408B Kerckhoff Hall, 310-825-2600, hunger@ucla.edu.
UCLA AMERICA READS
America Reads seeks to encourage family and community involvement in the education of America's children by creating collaboration between trained/qualified reading professionals and volunteer tutors to community and school-based literacy efforts. Students enroll in Education 197K and the America Reads discussion section. Coursework will also require the maintenance of a reflective journal and a case study. Students need to commit to working in the assigned school for at least two academic quarters. There are no course requirements after the completion of ED 197K. Continuing students have the opportunity to enroll in ED 197H for course credit. Students will spend a minimum of 6 hours and a maximum of 19 hours/week in the assigned school or community based organization. On the first day of class discussion, BruinCorps will discuss the site placements, scheduling, and other issues regarding UCLA America Reads. For information: BruinCorps Office, 105 Men's Gym, amigos@ucla.edu.
UCLA ANIMAL WELFARE ASSOCIATION
If you are preparing for veterinary school and you want a resume-building experience, UCLA can offer you volunteer work opportunities. The UCLA Animal Welfare Association was started in 1990 by a group of faculty, staff, and students interested in working towards humane solutions to the problems of animals living or abandoned at UCLA. AWA developed formal and informal affiliations with campus departments involved in these issues: the Department of Environment, Health and Safety, the Police Department, and Facilities Management. AWA has been recognized by all three departments for its assistance in the reduction of animal-related problems at UCLA. The UCLA Animal Welfare Association works closely with a veterinarian who provides advice on dealing with wild and domestic animals on campus. Through this relationship it has developed guidelines for dealing with animals in various contexts on campus. AWA also works closely with a nonprofit adoption service for the placement of abandoned or unclaimed cats and dogs found at UCLA. This side of their work involves a great deal of hands-on experience with animals. By working with the UCLA Animal Welfare Association, you will be able to document your commitment and your experience in working with animals while taking preparatory classes at UCLA. The problems of animals living in urban settings are widespread and affect small animal veterinary practices everywhere. For more information, please call the AWA faculty sponsor, Professor Taimie Bryant, UCLA Law School, at (310) 206-3763, awa@ucla.edu.
UCLA CENTER FOR THE HEALTH SCIENCES STUDENT VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers play a vital role in providing comfort, care and support to patients and their families; offer greatly appreciated assistance to professional staff; and have the opportunity to explore careers in the health field. Volunteers offer their skills in many areas, such as Anesthesiology, Brain Research, Clinics, Dentistry, Emergency Room, Family Support Programs, Gift Shop, and many more. You must be at least 16, and you must attend an orientation. For further information, contact Volunteer Services in 12-217 CHS, 310-825-6001.
UCLA HOSPITAL VOLUNTEER TRANSLATORS
Are given the opportunity to translate for people in need in all aspects of hospital care. It is a great way to help both patients and staff of the hospital. Translators have a unique opportunity to experience the patient-doctor relationship in a real-world setting, and are also exposed to other aspects of hospitalization like admitting, discharge, and financial planning. The greatest reward, however, is breaking the language barrier and giving people comfort and understanding to help them through difficult times. The time requirement is very flexible and no volunteer will be forced to work. If a need arises for a translator, be it an emergency, or for a future appointment, the hospital Interpreting/Translating Office will try to locate a volunteer to meet that need. It is preferred that volunteers have a pager, but it is not a requirement. The office may provide pagers to its volunteers for this purpose. The volunteer program is run through the Interpreting/Translating Office located adjacent to the main information desk at the front entrance of the hospital. The office is looking for people who speak any language from any corner of the world. For information: Grigor Matentsian, gmatents@ucla.edu, pager: (818) 589-1708, office: 310-825-7636.
UCLA SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY GENERAL CLINIC VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
is an 80-hour structured program for Undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in dentistry. The program is designed to provide students with a multi-faceted introduction to patient care as delivered in a dental school environment. Volunteers will gain experience in several areas including: Patient Intake and Screening Clinic, Oral Radiology, Oral Diagnosis and Oral Medicine Clinic, Chartroom and Billing Offices, Patient Reception and Appointments, Central Sterilization Services, Professional and Wet Laboratories, Direct Patient Care/Assisting, and special projects from the office of the General Clinic Director. At the successful completion of the 80-hour program, volunteers will receive special recognition certificates and a possible letter of recommendation from the UCLA General Clinic Director. (There is an option for a phase II program, in which volunteers work 80 hours in one of the eight areas listed for phase I.) Candidates for the program must first sign up with the UCLA Center for Health Sciences Volunteer Office, room 12-217. After successful completion of the Volunteer Office application and requirements, volunteers will be eligible for apply for the General Clinic Volunteer Program. Candidates will meet the General Clinic Director and interview for the position. For information, see http://www.dent.ucla.edu/sod/students/clinics.html.
UCLA SPECIAL OLYMPICS
In the South Central Los Angeles area, there are few public programs that focus on the development of social and athletic skills of underprivileged, developmentally disadvantaged youths. Parents of these youths come from a moderate to low socioeconomic status and are unable to afford the special education classes which are tailored to meet these needs. These participants are often isolated from interacting with other individuals and are therefore hindered from "mainstreaming" into the non-handicapped community. As defined by Special Olympics International (SOI), "mainstreaming" is the practice of providing persons with handicaps the best education possible in an integrated environment with their non-handicapped peers. As a chapter of SOI, UCLA Special Olympics implements the methods of mainstreaming in a learning environment, thus improving the physical, emotional, and educational needs of these youths. By combining positive encouragement with physical fitness training, Special Olympics attempts to bolster their self-confidence and improve their physical strength and stamina. Through coach/athlete interaction, volunteers encourage them to take pride in their abilities. For information: http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Fprojects.html,">http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Fprojects.html, 408 Kerckhoff Hall, 310-206-8025, specialo@ucla.edu.
UCLA TREE PROJECT
This is a student-based community service organization dedicated to environmental awareness and conservation. It forges links between UCLA and the greater Los Angeles community through joint projects with environmental agencies, such as Tree People, the Los Angeles Conservation Corps, and Heal the Bay. The ongoing conservation efforts are focused in the areas of East Los Angeles and South Central Los Angeles. Tree Project promotes community empowerment though street tree plantings, working alongside local residents. In addition, Tree Project sponsors its own planting excursion in Nickerson Gardens Housing Project, where neighborhood youths and the UCLA community have planted many trees together. Finally, Tree Project organizes quarterly tours of UCLA's Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Gardens for youths in order to educate them about issues such as environmental degradation, conservation and recycling in the effort to improve the environment for all posterity. For information: 406 Kerckhoff Hall, 310-825-2415, treeproj@ucla.edu.
UMMA FREE CLINIC VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
We are the support staff of the UMMA Free Clinic located in South Central Los Angeles. We provide secretarial assistance, data management, charting, and any other assistance the clinic may need. For information: Undergraduate Community Programs Office, 120Men's Gym, 310-825-2420, umma@ucla.edu.
UNDERGRADUATE ATHLETIC TRAINING INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
The Undergraduate Athletic Training Internship Program at UCLA will involve you in working and traveling with UCLA sports teams while learning about athletic injury prevention, evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation. This is a great program for those interested in athletic training and sports medicine but it requires a three year commitment. If you are interested, call or visit the Intercollegiate Athletics Department in the Morgan Center, 310-206-6104.
UNICAMP
UNICAMP is one of UCLA's oldest service programs, provides a recreational and educational summer wilderness camp experience in the mountains for underprivileged children. It also provides community service and leadership development for UCLA students. Students serve as camp counselors and are responsible for most aspects of the camp's administration. For information: (310) 206-4586, fax: (310) 206-3861, http://www.unicamp.org.
VENICE FAMILY CLINIC
This Clinic provides comprehensive primary health care that is affordable, accessible and compassionate, for people with no other access to such care. We are the largest free clinic in the nation, providing over 75,000 patient visits per year. Volunteer opportunities are open for medical providers, translators (primarily English/Spanish-Farsi-Russian), photocopiers, clerical, children's activity assistants, readers, fundraising support, etc. For information: http://www.vfc.net; or contact craigf@ucla.edu, 604 Rose Avenue, Venice, CA 90291, 310-664-7621.
VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY HEALTH DEVELOPMENT
This is part of the Vietnamese Student Union, and was established in 1995 in order to increase public awareness among low-income Chicano and Vietnamese families residing in the Orange County area. The program currently works with communities in Orange County, Venice, and Chinatown. Volunteer responsibilities range from participating in the AIDS Walk to co-ordinating various projects, including providing free blood pressure readings and health information at the Orange County Tet Festival in Little Saigon each year, helping provide free dental care to needy patients through the Asian Free Dental Clinic, and participating in the Asian Bone Marrow Drive. For information: Vietnamese Student Union, http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/vsu/.
VIETNAMESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE PROGRAM
In an effort to preserve the beautiful Vietnamese culture overseas, Vietnamese Language and Culture Program (VNLC) was founded in the Fall of 1994 by concerned students at UCLA. Also known as Sinh Hoat Que Huong, the program strives to promote and raise awareness about the wonderful Vietnamese culture, language and historical backgrounds. Since its founding, the program has provided a friendly environment enabling all participants to study the Vietnamese language as well as to engage in cultural activities and exchange ideas and experiences. VNLC has also expanded its service to the Vietnamese community in Southern California, teaching Vietnamese and serving as a mentor to our younger brothers and sisters at the Indochinese Youth Center. For information: 409 Kerckhoff Hall, 310-206-5999, or contact vnlc@ucla.edu, http://www.advocacy.ucla.edu/communitydirectory/student/csc.html.
VIETNAMESE REACHING OUT TO AID THE COMMUNITY
This is a student-run community service organization. Its purpose is to promote interest and concern for the needs of the Vietnamese community, as well as raising awareness of the ongoing struggle of the refugees in the camps. Direct counseling, assistance, and support are provided to Vietnamese youths in Southern California through the High School Counseling Project and Tutorial Project. For information: http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Fprojects.html,">http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Fprojects.html, 409 Kerckhoff Hall, 310-206-5999, vrac@ucla.edu.
VOLUNTEER CENTER OF GREATER ORANGE COUNTY
This was established in 1958 as a clearinghouse for individuals interested in volunteering. Today's Volunteer Center is the county's one-stop resource for charitable activities. The Center offers a variety of programs and services designed to address every aspect of nonprofit management and volunteerism. A partner of The Points of Light Foundation and United Way, the Center is one of the largest and most comprehensive of the 500 Volunteer Centers nationwide. Programs assisted include Meals On Wheels, Women's Transition Living Center, Casa Tersa, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Hugs For Health, and F.I.S.H. (Friends In Service to Humanity). For information: (714) 953-5757, http://www.VolunteerCenter.org, Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County, 1901 E. 4th Street, Suite 100, Santa Ana, CA 92705.
WEST LOS ANGELES VA MEDICAL CENTER
"The VA Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System is the largest VA complex in the country with 1,350 beds and 3,500 employees. It provides medical care to a large primary care population in Los Angeles in addition to serving as a tertiary-referral facility for the southwestern United States. The medical center draws patients from as far away as Santa Barbara, Ventura County, the San Joaquin Valley and portions of Southern Nevada. Our patient population encompasses the entire spectrum of Internal Medicine, with 5,000 patients admitted to the medical service yearly." For information on the Volunteer Programs, call 310-268-4350.
WATTS TUTORIAL PROGRAM
This is a UCLA community service project that provides tutoring and mentoring service to youths in the Watts community. It offers two opportunities for involvement, the High School Program and the Nickerson Gardens Program. The High School Program tutors and mentors youths at three Alternative Education Working Centers: Maxine Waters Employment Preparation Center, Harbor City Learning Center and Harbor Occupational Center. Volunteers visit these sites twice a week, providing academic assistance and support. For information: watts@ucla.edu, http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Fprojects.html,">http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Fprojects.html, 409 Kerckhoff Hall, 310-825-2217.
WILDLIFE WAYSTATION
Founded in 1976, the Wildlife Waystation is a national non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, relocation or permanent refuge for wild and exotic animals, and to public education. The Waystation provides a variety of specialized services to displaced, abandoned, abused and surplus animals from diverse backgrounds; standing firmly behind its decree: that "no wild or exotic animal in need shall be turned away." Through tours of the Wildlife Waystation and community programs, thousands of people each year are educated about why wild animals should not be kept as pets, how to co-exist with wildlife and broader environmental issues of animal endangerment and extinction. For information: 818-899-5201, info@waystation.org, 14831 Little Tujunga Canyon Rd., Angeles National Forest, 91342 5999.
WOMEN AND YOUTH IN SUPPORT OF EACH OTHER and GUYS IN SUPPORT OF EACH OTHER
Teenage pregnancy is the number one reason teenagers drop out of high school. Most children born into poverty are born to single mothers, many of whom gave birth before the age of fifteen. Women and Youth in Support of Each Other and Guys In Support of Each Other work to effectively address these issues at a preventative level. Volunteers visit the San Fernando Middle School and Berendo Junior High School in Central Los Angeles weekly, meeting with students in an effort to provide education, support and act as role models. For information: wyse@ucla.edu, http://students.asucla.ucla.edu/csc/Fprojects.html 408B Kerckhoff Hall, 310-206-4144.
XINACHTLI OUTREACH PROJECT
MEChA de UCLA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlan) created Xinachtli (formerly known as College Bound) not only to increase the number of educationally disadvantaged students attending the University of California system, but also to develop a comprehensive program that encourages student academic growth and holistic student development. For information: 102 Men's Gym, or 310-825-5969.
YWCA OF SAN GABRIEL VALLEY
Recreation programs, Youth Leadership Institute, Battered Women's Shelter and Outreach Program, senior meals program, child care, summer day camp. For information: 961 S. Glendora Ave., West Covina, CA 91790, (626) 960-2995, sgvywca@otam.dni.us. Some other local YWCA's: YWCA of Greater Los Angeles, 3345 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300, Los Angeles, 90010-0814, (213) 365-2991; YWCA of Glendale, 735 East Lexington Drive, Glendale, 91206-3797, (818) 242-4155; YWCA of Santa Monica, 2019 14th Street, Santa Monica, 90405-1600, 310-452-3881.
Stone Canyon Creek Restoration
I am excited to announce a new project to restore Stone Canyon Creek, one of the last naturally banked creeks in the Ballona watershed, which runs through UCLA campus. With funding from the Wetlands Recovery Project, generous donations from Heal the Bay and the IoE, and great support from UCLA Facilities and the Environmental Bruins club, our restoration will start this month on Sunday, October 30, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm with removal of invasive vegetation and replanting with native plants. I see huge long-term potential for this mostly forgotten creek to play a larger role in returning natural features to our campus. To realize this potential we will need faculty, staff and students with a wide range of expertise and the vision to see a more beautiful and ecologically appropriate campus.
In the immediate future we really could use your help with the following:
Expertise in helping me plan "quick and dirty" biological assessments that some of the undergraduates are eager to conduct for before, during and after our restoration
YOUR HANDS on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, which will be our first clearing day on the creek! We will work with Heal the Bay's Stream Team to hand remove nasty invasive weeds and vines from the Creek.
Expertise in conducting hydrological and water quality assessments in the creek.
As we progress, we'll have more expansive long-term needs:
Ties to the University Elementary School to work with on the restoration of their stretch of creek (wonderful early education opportunities here!)
Designers, engineers, and visionaries to develop and implement viable plans to daylight or divert some of the creek flow into its natural course (currently the square grass quads at the base of Janns Steps). Imagine a water feature on campus such as our colleagues in Berkeley and Santa Cruz enjoy.
Finally, there are excellent teaching opportunities associated with this creek restoration. Last Spring, the creek and surrounding environs were the focus of three of my Ecology 122 Lab sections. Many of my Seniors and Juniors (in Biology!) did not even know there was a creek on campus. Heal the Bay will also be creating sub-meter accuracy GPS-based maps of the creeks that could be the basis for GIS exercises or landscape planning labs.
To this end, I am forming a Stone Canyon Creek Working Group, which will be a pool of experts and interested people who want to be a part of the restoration project. The Working Group will be maintained primarily through an email listserve, which recent graduate and avid birder Jason Finley has kindly agreed to maintain for us. We promise not to inundate you with junk, but to give periodic updates and calls for your assistance. To become a part of the Working Group simply:
1) Go to http://mail.birdsofwestwood.com/mailman/listinfo/stonecanyoncreek_birdsofwestwood.com
Then simply enter your email address and a password. You'll immediately get a return email requesting confirmation. You can either just reply to that or click the link it contains.
OR
2) Send an email to: StoneCanyonCreek-subscribe@birdsofwestwood.com
The subject heading and message body don't matter. You'll immediately get a return email requesting confirmation. You can either just reply to that or click the link it contains.
I look forward to your assistance as we work to bring some nature back to UCLA.
Dr. Raphael Sagarin, Institute of the Environment, sagarin@ucla.edu
Dr. Raphael D. Sagarin
SEA-LABB (Scientific Environmental Assessment for Los Angeles Basin & Bay)
Institute of the Environment
La Kretz Hall, Suite 300
University of California
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1496
310-794-4904 office
310-739-6136 cell
310-838-0269 home
310-825-9663 FAX
www.bol.ucla.edu/~sagarin
Tutoring Opportunities
Want to gain teaching experience? Want to show off your biological knowledge? You can tutor elementary, middle or high school kids. Many schools require your help. Importantly, UCLA can give you academic credit for this service. Additionally, internships help you embellish your CV, as well as obtain letters of recommendation for grad/med/vet school.
If interested, contact me for more information.
REMEMBER, YOU HAVE UNTIL THE END OF THE 1st WEEK TO ENROLL, SO DON'T DELAY!!
Rafael Romero
Science coordinator
Center for Community Learning, Murphy A333
(310) 825-7867
fax: (310) 267-2482
rromero@college.ucla.edu