JPC Spring 2021 Highlights
For Spring 2021, the John Perkins Center is providing ways to stay connected to community development and reflect on reconciliation at work. As a center that helps students with community engagement through growth and discipleship in areas of reconciliation and community development, we hope students will develop connection with local area organizations, as well as our community partners abroad.
Support to Community Partners
Students can learn from student leader voices and experiences, as well as about our work with community partners. Follow Latreia and Urban Involvement for opportunities this quarter for teach-ins and virtual support opportunities with our community partners. As we start fall quarter, while we will not have in-person service opportunities with our community partners at this time, yet there may be virtual support opportunities. If you are interested in possibilities to serve in this way, please contact Ashlee' Thomas, coordinator for local community engagement: aethomas@spu.edu.
- Urban Involvement: UI does have in person and virtual opportunities for students to engage with the greater Seattle area. Check out Urban Involvement for more information and email questions to Ashlee' Thomas.
- Latreia: This quarter join us for a Latreia Engagement Day. Please check Latreia for details and more information. Contact Meg Rouse with questions.
- Last quarter Latreia held two engagement days. Off campus students were able to participate in World Reliefs garden party, where they helped create garden space for refugees and Asylum seekers. On campus students were able to create Welcome Kitchen Kits for newly arriving families. We were able to make 30 kits.
Follow us on Instagram: @spulatreia @urban_involvement
SPRINT: Global Engagement
If you are interested in global engagement, connect with SPRINT on Instagram, Engage, and Facebook. For more information email SPRINT.
- Global Engagement Talks: SPRINT will host professors and community partners to answer questions about organizations and how students can engage in a global topic (immigration, philanthropy, justice, environment, etc.).
- Summer Immersive Engagement in a Global City. SPRINT will host a 5 day Immersive Engagement with SPRINT core facilitating conversations around Immersive learning themes, such as Place & History, Creation Care, Refugees and Asylum, Social and Restorative Justice, and Culture & Art. June 14-18, 2021. More Details to Follow. If you are interested or for more details, please contact Michael Chew, Immersive Community Engagement Coordinator: MChew@spu.edu
Follow us on Intagram: @spu_sprint
Urban Plunge
Urban Plunge, The John Perkins Center's Immersive learning exploring homelessness in Seattle will be held April 10th-11th. Students will spend the weekend in groups learning from different service agencies and how they address this complicated topic, especially given the realities of COVID. Students will not stay off campus this year and they will adhere to the guidelines set by the University's COVID Decision Group.
For more information, contact Michael Chew: mchew@spu.edu.
Community Groups
In Context hosts groups welcoming students, faculty and staff to come together for 5 weeks to discuss race, ethnicity, and justice. Coming together to learn about the ever-present reality of systemic racism. If you are interested in learning more about a workshop with In Context, contact Patti Fong, fongp@spu.edu.
- SPRING In Context: Tuesdays, April 20th-May 18th 5:00-6:30pm
Follow us on Intstagram: @spucatalyst
Academic Partnerships
The Perkins Center is partnering with faculty in the classroom to integrate intentional experiences and exploration around community engagement and conversations on race.
- In fall quarter, JPC staff supported faculty with conversations on race in a few University Colloquium sections, as well as integrating exploration on community engagement in University Foundations.
- In winter and spring quarters, JPC staff will continue to integrate exploration on community engagement and the 3 R's in University Foundations.
JPC Newsletter
The Perkins Center sends out a weekly newsletter during the academic quarter sharing opportunities and highlights from the campus and the Seattle community engaging reconciliation and community development. Request to sign-up for the newsletter by emailing: perkinscenter@spu.edu.
JPC Drop-In
We recognize that in this season, students you are unable to drop into the JPC office, to sit, grab a snack and hang out. So we want to create a time of connection to gather in JPC space through a weekly JPC Drop-In time on Zoom, on Tuesdays, 12:00 - 1:30 pm.
Other Ministry Opportunities with UMin
While continuing to practice distancing, the UMin staff and student leaders are creating spaces and opportunities for connection and spiritual growth. Explore the UMin Online page for more information.
Follow us on Instagram: @spu_umin
Community Events & Partnerships
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2021 Perkins Lecture Series
Join the 2021 Perkins Lecture Series, Living into the Legacy: Women in Reconciliation. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil will begin the week with the annual Perkins Lecture. The week will include spaces for connecting with campus through a Black Women Leading Panel and a conversation on student leadership, as well as a conversation with the CCDA Regional Network with Dr. Perkins. Learn more about all of the virtual offering of events April 27-29.
See University Ministries for other spaces and opportunities for connection and spiritual growth for Spring 2021.
In this season we are still practicing safety and health with virtual and alternative social distant opportunities. The Perkins Center is excited to explore this creative season of community engagement.
#JPCHopeinAction
Watch for the Perkins Center each spring.
- Spring 2020: Developing a lens to see hope in action within our communities during the onset of the COVID season, we invited campus to create a presence on social media using the tag #JPCHopeinAction, highlighting where they see "hope in action" from their communities.
- Spring 2021: Held the Annual Perkins Lecture Series as a virtual offering as featured "Living into the Legacy: Women in Reconciliation" with Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil and a SPU Black Women Leading Panel.