It’s been a while since my last blog post, and I think that’s reflective of how busy I’ve been in the past couple of months. In working to build a Civic Engagement Center at Salem State, I spent much of my fall semester hearing the needs of local community-based organizations, and am now starting to help make the connections between those organizations and the people at Salem State who might best be able to work with those identified collaboration opportunities. The hope is not one-time opportunities, but rather long term relationships between the institution and the community.

The other half of my role is to support student civic engagement efforts, which has been anything from planning a volunteer fair, to helping plan a Habitat for Humanity Alternative Spring Break to southern Georgia, to encouraging students to give urgently needed blood to Red Cross. Obviously Haitian relief efforts have been a focus of service efforts across the country over the past month, and Salem State is no exception. With over 150 students who identify as Haitian or Haitian American, the crisis has significantly impacted many on campus. Several student organizations have sponsored fund raisers which have raised over $5,000 for the Red Cross and other relief agencies. It has been incredible to see the outpouring of support on campus during this time of need.

- Jay Helmer