Over the past several months, I have had the pleasure of being an intern at NYC Smoke Free at Public Health Solutions in Queens. I got this position through the CUNY Service Corps program in Queens College. NYC Smoke Free is an organization that works to combat tobacco companies, educate the public about the dangers of smoking, and advocate the benefits of living in smoke free spaces. Being an intern, I assist with many of the projects that Smoke Free is working on in Queens. I visited legislators to educate about smoke free housing, assisted with letters to smoke free housing and smoke free media, and I visited high schools…
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CUNY Service Corps upholds service in its third year
Full-time college students may view time not devoted to friends or studies as wasteful. Although, the CUNY Service Corps provides a unique combination of experience, service and pay. The CUNY Service Corps, which began fall of 2013, enjoys a steady growth throughout the CUNY campuses. It is located at nine CUNY schools across the five boroughs with more than 801 students working at 111 community partner organizations and 15 faculty-led projects. “The main purpose of the CUNY Service Corps is to help students give back to their community while learning valuable skills applicable toward their major,” Cesar Oyervides-Cisneros, head of the Queens College section of the Service Corps, said. “We…
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CUNY Service Corps looks forward after one year
The CUNY Service Corps celebrated its second year with more students than it had in its inaugural year. After a successful start, they aim to create more activities and opportunities for participating students across different colleges. Former Chancellor Matthew Goldstein wanted to create a program that could show the city that the CUNY community is an active network of citizens who care for their communities. That is when the idea of the CUNY Service Corps was born, so students, staff and faculty could perform services for New York City by supporting non-profit and civic programs. Valerie Chow, associate director of the Service Corps, said that the biggest challenge was to…
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Superstorm prompts new service program
At a Board of Trustees meeting earlier this year, former Chancellor Matthew Goldstein proposed a collaboration between the University network and organizations around New York in light of Hurricane Sandy and its devastating impact on the city. The result: CUNY Service Corps. With 800 spots available and fifteen hundred applicants, the program began selecting students earlier this year. One hundred and fifty of those initial spots now belong to Queens College students. The Service Corps is a program that offers students the chance to get involved in activities that aim to better the urban, financial and ecological conditions of New York. The program also allows students to gain real world experience by offering…
