Mary Baldwin University students are interning for New Directions Center Inc. through the College for Women.
The internships coincide with a seven-week class with professor of history and College for Women Dean Dr. Amy Tillerson-Brown.
Approximately 17 students in three groups created their own service projects to help New Directions clients. Tillerson-Brown provided input on projects, but ideas were entirely pursued by the students.
“I just love volunteering,” said senior and peer mentor Jordan Carroll from Yorktown. The psychology and biology major, who hopes to pursue pre-med next year, set up a clothing drive with boxes in MBU’s dining hall. “So individuals can drop off clothes that they either don’t want, for example, if they receive a Christmas gift that does not fit them.”
According to Carroll, news of the clothing drive was shared with students through MBU’s newsletter. Donations of gently worn jackets, pants, shirts, sweaters, formal gowns and business wear are requested.
After viewing the documentary, “The Hunting Ground,” Nicky Black created a website of resources and news articles for students, such as where to get tested for STDs, obtain a rape kit and file police reports. The 2015 documentary highlights the prevalence of sexual assault on college campuses in the United States and failure of colleges to address incidents.
“We hope to make it not only just raise awareness of the issues in general but also make it a lot easier that if someone is unfortunately a victim [of assault] for them to actually get justice and get the help that they need,” Black said.
Ashlyn Smiley placed donation bins in the dining hall, library and at the physical activity center to collect hygiene items for New Directions clients. Anyone who donates will be able to enter a raffle to receive a $10 gift card to Smiley’s Ice Cream, which her father owns and operates.
“We want to make sure the children, anybody else who is also reaching out for help, also has those materials needed,” Smiley, who is from Harrisonburg, said.
Items requested do not have to be gender specific, and may include body wash, hair conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrushes. Clients at New Directions sometimes have children who need hygiene products.
“I want to be a mental health therapist for teens,” said La’Shay Cooper, a freshman intern from Hampton who trained after Thanksgiving break to answer phone calls to New Directions’ domestic violence and sexual assault hotline. “So, I feel like this would be a good way to see how I’d react to those types of things, and how I can handle them.”
Tillerson-Brown said that she did not want to discourage any student ideas, even when a big idea was presented.
“I think that most of this is to document the call and provide support to them, with the understanding that with a 10-minute phone call you’re not going to solve all their problems, but a 10-minute phone call, if you have the right person on the other end, you can change their lives,” Tillerson-Brown said.
New Directions is a nonprofit in Staunton that works to reduce the impact of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. Community Engagement Program Coordinator Joy Ingram said that the nonprofit is always excited to work with MBU.
“Working with interns from MBU provides a great collaboration that produces a stronger bond between MBU students and the SAW community. This connection also gives students hands-on education and experience that will help them make more informed decisions about their pending career choices,” Ingram said.
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Rebecca Barnabi
