Citizen Scholar Partners

Citizen Scholars are strongly encouraged to perform their service with one of the community organizations listed below. These organizations and the Citizen Scholars Program work together to help address community needs while providing important educational opportunities for all involved in the service learning relationship.

Amherst Survival Center provides a variety of services to people of the Amherst area.  Their services include a soup kitchen, a furniture and clothing exchange, an emergency food pantry, and a variety of referral services.  One goal of the center is to create a supportive community among the people who use the center's services.  Seventy percent of the people who use the Center also volunteer there.  They need volunteers who want to help create and sustain this community. Contact Diana Souza at (413) 549-3968.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County sponsors a variety of mentoring programs for youth at risk.  The primary program requires a full year commitment and access to a car or other reliable transportation; it also has flexible hours.  If you are interested in working with BBBS, it is imperative that you contact them over the summer in order to begin the application and interview process, which includes a CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) and driving record check.  Contact BBBS at (413) 253-2591.

Everywoman's Center (EWC) is a multicultural, campus-based women’s center.  It provides leadership in promoting educational access and equity for women to empower them to take full control of their lives.  EWC works to stop all forms of oppression, particularly those based on gender, age, class, ethnicity, race, mental and physical ability, sexual orientation and spiritual belief.  Placements at EWC include: the Educator/Advocate Program that trains individuals to be educators and advocates around issues of rape awareness, sexual harassment, and teen dating violence etc.; the Counselor/Advocate program that trains individuals to be crisis counselors on the C/A hotline; and the Resource and Referral Program that trains individuals to be resources for people seeking assistance or guidance from EWC.  Placements at EWC require intensive training and a year-long commitment.  Contact EWC at (413) 545-0883.

Food Bank of Western Massachusetts collects and redistributes tons of surplus food for over 400 organizations that feed the hungry in four counties.  The Food Bank operates a farm, conducts the Second Harvest (which salvages food left behind in fields after the main harvest), develops food curricula for schools, and conducts research in food policy.  Volunteers are needed to help conduct development (fundraising) activities, research food policy, and mobilize campus volunteers to do Second Harvest.  The Food Bank is located in Hatfield and is not on a bus route.  Contact The Food Bank at (413) 247-9738.

The Literacy Project, a non-profit, community-based adult basic education program, provides basic skills education and training to adults at five community learning centers in Western Massachusetts, including the Amherst Adult Learning Center.  The organization believes that literacy and basic education are the building blocks of democracy and community development.  Small classes, a varied schedule, and plenty of individual attention help students meet their goals.  Instruction in reading, writing, math, GED preparation, computer literacy, creative writing, science, social studies, humanities and the arts, leadership development and job training is offered.  They seek volunteers to serve as classroom assistants and provide training for new volunteers.  The Amherst Center is within walking distance of campus and accessible by bus.  Contact Margaret Anderson at (413) 774-3934 x15 or margaret@literacyproject.org.

Nuestras Raíces is a grassroots organization that promotes economic, human and community development in Holyoke through projects relating to food, agriculture and the environment.  Urban agriculture has proven to be an effective way to promote community development because it is a way for the residents of downtown Holyoke to maintain a connection to their culture while putting down roots in their new home.  Most of its members grew up on the farms of rural Puerto Rico and many first came to the Northeast as migrant farm workers.  They have lifetimes of experience in agriculture and it is part of their heritage.  Projects based on agriculture, such as markets and community gardens, build on the skills and knowledge that participants already have and are proud to use to improve their community and to teach to a younger generation.  Nuestras Raíces works with volunteers to try to match projects with skills, talents, experiences and goals.  Nuestras Raíces is not located on a bus route.  Contact Nuestras Raíces at (413) 535-1789.

Nueva Esperanza runs numerous health, economic, and social programs designed to serve the community of Holyoke, Massachusetts.  Housing and neighborhood development, health and human services, and economic development are initiatives implemented by Nueva and include K-12 after school programs, as well as youth and community activities (such as tutoring, workshops, and arts and crafts classes).  The Economic Development unit provides technical assistance for small business start-ups.  The ability to speak Spanish is not a necessity for service at this organization.  Nueva Esperanza is not located on a bus route. Contact John Linehan at (413) 533-9442.

Citizen Scholars, if none of these sites fit your interests, please talk with a member of the CSP staff and then submit a proposal for a different site (guidelines are available in the Handbook).  If you wish to propose an alternative placement, remember that we are seeking both to honor and build our relationships with specific community-based organizations and to honor and build your passion for working to make a difference.