DEEP Service Newsletter

A Bi-Monthly Newsletter of the Siena College FCSA Office of Academic Community Engagement| November 2010: Vol I, No 2

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In This Issue
• Siena Bonner Service Leaders and AmeriCorps*VISTA Fellows Reflections
• Halloween Extravaganza 6 a Success
• Siena College ASL Faculty Member, Paul Thurston
• Community Partner Campus Panel
• Partner Profile, FOCUS and Deb Jameson
 D EService
DEEP E P S ENewsletter
RVICE

AmeriCorps*VISTA Halloween Bonner Service Community Community ASL Faculty

Reflections Extravaganza 6 Leaders Partner Panel Partner Profile Member Profile
Read personal One of the biggest Bonners talk about Representatives Ex. Siena Faculty
reflections of Siena events of the year, their service from five different Director, Member Paul
AmeriCorps Halloween experiences and organizations join Deb Thurston shares
*VISTA Fellows Extravaganza is a how they us for a Campus Jameson, his own reflection
great success have been Panel talks about on Academic
Page Page 7 impacted by Page 10 FOCUS Churches Service Learning
3-6 others. of Albany Page 12
Page 8-9 Page 11

Room at Siena. This will be a great

New Opportunities to
Make a Difference in the
Community
Welcome to the November 2010
edition of the Franciscan Center for
Service and Advocacy Office of
Academic Community Engagement
DEEP Service Newsletter. This issue
will highlight a range of programs,
events and activities we have going
on within the Office of ACE.
Just to give you a sneak peek, our
program just celebrated a successful
event with our 6th Annual Halloween
Extravaganza, an arts and crafts event
managed by the students of Siena
which raised funds for one of our
community partners, Interfaith
Partnership for the Homeless, an
Janine Robitaille, Executive Director of
Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless and
her son pose with key Siena College staff
and volunteers who made contributed to the
success of Halloween Extravaganza.
organization dedicated to helping
alleviate hunger and homelessness in
the Capital Region.
As we move into the holiday season
we get busier. We will be hosting our
first ACE Coffeehouse on Nov. 17th in
the Fr. Ben Kuhn House, Boland
opportunity for VISTAs, Bonners,
community partners, administrators,
staff and new or potential
stakeholders to meet, greet, network
and connect with our staff and with
our program.
Keeping up with the holiday spirit
our program will be celebrating our
annual Thanksgiving Dinner and
Holiday Party. Since a large
percentage of our staff are not Albany
natives, opportunities to celebrate the
holidays with each other is a great
way to build community.
Enjoy reading our newsletter and for
more information visit our website
www.siena.edu/ace.
Nefisah Sallim
VISTA Leader
Coordinator of A.C.E. Training and Enrichment

FCSA Office of Academic Community Engagement 2

 DEEP SERVICE NEWSLETTER

AmeriCorps*VISTA Fellows
Taking Root a student and the impacts I could advising program are students with a
make. vast array of skills they can harness
Ariel Palter, AmeriCorps*VISTA for social change. They have a chance
Now, as a college graduate and
College is to act as role models for these young
AmeriCorps*VISTA with the Sr. Thea
all about girls and help
Bowman Center for Women at Siena
learning, Through the them see
College, I recognize the impact a
changing Women’s Center beyond their
student can make on their local
and situation. By
community and I also recognize what and the Women of
meeting Wisdom Advising participating in
a student can gain from this
new Program, Siena the program,
involvement. My role as a VISTA for
people. It is the Women Center is to act as their students are Siena students
also about immersing yourself in new coordinator for community working towards gain a firsthand
experiences, disciplines and cultures. engagement. In this role I am charged fostering long understanding
And for some, this involves planting lasting of the effects of
with assessing current partnerships
yourself as a and creating new community relationships with poverty in
seed in the local connections for the Center. I am local non-profit Albany and
My role as a
community, organizations. have a chance
VISTA for the beginning to achieve this goal
putting to use to experience
Women Center is through the creation and
your own the inner
to act at their implementation of the Women of
developing workings of a non-profit organization
[students] Wisdom Advising Program. This
skills as a while also providing alternative, safe,
coordinator for program partners with three local
student to and educational after-school
community organizations - Girls Inc., Grow Girls,
improve a programs for young girls in our
engagement. and a local Girl Scout Troop - to
struggling community. Through the Women’s
engage female Siena students with
population or Center and the Women of Wisdom
girls in the local community. The
organization. Like many first year Advising Program, Siena students are
Siena students act as assistants for the
students, I spent my freshman year of organizations and as mentors for the working towards fostering long
college far more interested in lasting relationships with local non-
young girls. Many girls in the Albany
developing my social life and passing area are living in poverty, face high profit organizations. I like to think
classes than in creating partnerships that these students are planting
drop-out rates, and do not realize that
with the local community. I did not themselves as seeds in the community
college after high school is an option
recognize the tremendous need in the that can help them break out of the that, with the right nurture and
community surrounding my school support, will take root and one day
cycle of poverty. The Siena students
and had not yet embraced my role as involved in the Women of Wisdom grow into sustainable partnerships
with the potential for vast change.

FCSA Office of Academic Community Engagement 3


Reach Out for Youth
By Meghan Dunn ’07,
AmeriCorps*VISTA
Each year,
YMCAs
across the
country
come
together
and raise
money to
ensure that they are available to those
who need it most. This program,
known as Reach Out for Youth,
enables children and families in need
to have access to a wide range of
valuable programs and services they
might not otherwise be able to afford.
This helps to guarantee that no one is
denied access to the YMCA.
The kickoff for the 2011 Albany
campaign was held on October 6th
and this year our branch has a
daunting goal ahead of us. Our
branch is attempting to raise $295,000
in order to meet the needs of the local
community over the course of the
upcoming year. This money will only
be used for financial assistance and
each and every penny will benefit
people in Albany.
During my short time at the Albany
Branch (I started working at the site
in August), I have seen how much
this program helps the community.
Every day, people come in and want
to join programs, become members,
and send their children to camp or
enroll them in daycare. Many of the
people utilizing these services would
not be able to afford the full price and
rely on the Reach Out For Youth
program. While it may sound cliche,
every little bit really does help.
“I slept and dreamt that life was all joy. I woke and realized that life was but service. I served and
understood that service was joy.” - Tagore
4
DEEP SERVICE NEWSLETTER
Last year, almost 10,000 people in
Albany received help from Reach out
for Youth, and the number of people
in need of financial assistance is only
expected to rise over the next several
years.
While $295,000 may be a bit
intimidating, think of this program in
another way. For just $11 every
month, you can give a child the
chance to make friends and engage in
creative play in a safe environment
with a yearlong YMCA membership.
For $500, 10 children will have the
chance to become part of the Youth
Basketball League that promotes
teamwork and the four core values of
the YMCA: caring, honesty, respect
and responsibility.
To make a tax-deductible donation to
Reach Out for Youth, please contact me:
(518) 463-9622 or mdunn@cdymca.org.
Society is Not Falling Apart
By Michael Parsons, AmeriCorps*VISTA answers to ending poverty. I think it
During my
first few
months at
Trinity
Alliance, I
have heard
staff and
clients
from three different generations
declare that society is falling apart. In
their day, whether they are now in
their 30s, 50s, or 70s, things were
better. Children behaved, families
were more loving, and society
worked. I wasn’t born until 1988 or
maybe people were dramatically
different, but I don’t think so. Many
of the challenges we have today
remind me of challenges from the
past. Throughout its history, this
country has faced issues like
widespread drug abuse (which lead
to the temperance movement) and
dramatic social upheaval (the
abolition of slavery). Technology,
science, and philosophy have
changed but people seem about the
same as they were.
I keep things in perspective. Our
mission to end poverty is part of a
generational progressive movement.
In the past century alone, we see
examples of morality and reason
winning out over cruelty and
senselessness. Social security, which
elevated many of our nation’s elders
out of poverty was a success, even
though it needs fixing. The civil and
women’s rights movements were
largely successful. The elimination of
child labor and the creation of
mandatory public schooling were
steps in the right direction.
The process is slow, uneven, and
messy and there are few clear
is likely that there are no absolute or
final solutions to societal issues like
poverty, good governance and
economics. Instead, there will remain
a continual struggle to improve the
quality of life of all people in ways
that are practical, moral, and
sustainable. We should not strive to
recreate an idealistic past, but should
work instead on building a better
future.
Trinity Alliance works through many
programs (after school, criminal re-
entry, counseling, family support) to
build a better future for the residents
of Albany. Trinity is working hard to
sustain and further progress made by
those progressive individuals and
institutions that came before it.
FCSA Office of Academic Community Engagement

Working at Trinity has strengthened
my faith in human potential and my
belief that our society can continue to
improve itself. I am using this year
with AmeriCorps VISTA to try and
better understand the forces that
create and sustain poverty so that I
may be in a stronger position to create
the next generation of solutions.
Working 2 Sites: Catholic Charities for developing and implementing a
and The Roarke Center
By Victoria Malaney,
AmeriCorps*VISTA
It’s been Roarke Connection
three
months
already
since I
have
started my with with women in to
journey as the community.
a Siena College AmeriCorps*VISTA
Fellow. If you are interested in
becoming a VISTA here is a glimpse
into my placement at Catholic
Charities of the Diocese of Albany
and The Roarke Center in Troy.
Usually, I start and end my week at
the Pastoral Center in Albany where I
work closely with my Site Supervisor,
Jack Simeone, Associate Executive
Director of Grant Development and
Research. Together, we search grant
databases to locate grants or
foundations. Once we narrow in on a
grant to apply for we will start
compiling the research, data,
statistics, and create a budget. After
multiple drafts we will submit the
grant and wait for a response.
Currently, I have been researching
grants for kinship care. For example,
kinship care happens when a
grandparent(s) has to care for their
grandchildren when their own child
is unable to care for them. Although
FCSA Office of Academic Community Engagement
DEEP SERVICE NEWSLETTER
we have a Catholic Charities Kinship
program in place in Schohaire,
Columbia and Green Counties, we are
looking into some additional help
from grant foundations to maintain
the program’s on-going expenses.
During the middle of the week, at The
Roarke Center I work with my Site
Supervisor Agnes Zink, Program
Coordinator of The Roarke
Connection. Here, I am responsible
Life Coach
By becoming a Life Program for
Coach, you can help women in Re-
the clients of the entry from jail
and prison. At
develop a RC, we
supportive facilitate their
relationship in transition
which they can from
grow and engage incarceration
employment,
housing and
provide basic needs. We are looking
for women ages 25 and up to help
serve their community. By becoming
a Life Coach, you can help the clients
of the Roarke Connection develop a
supportive relationship in which they
can grow and engage with women in
the community. To apply you will be
asked to fill out a questionnaire to
match and assess your similarities in
hobbies, careers, and general interests
with the clients. A formal training will
be provided. Supportive on-going
trainings will be available for all
volunteers as well as continual aid
from the Roarke Connection staff
members throughout the relationship.
If you’re a college student interested
in the Re-entry program, we could
use your help in facilitating volunteer
trainings too.
Please call Victoria for more information
at (518) 273-8351 ext. 15 or email
vmalaney@siena.edu.
5
Red, White and... Chocolate!?
By Carly Smith, AmeriCorps*VISTA
What: Red, White & Chocolate
When: Nov. 10, 2010 @ 7 p.m.
Where: The Egg (concourse level)
How: Purchase your tickets at
www.bgcalbany.com/about/rwc
The Boys & Girls Clubs of
Albany is proud to announce our
3rd Annual Red, White &
Chocolate celebration. Red, White
& Chocolate is an amazing event
featuring a night of wine and
chocolate tasting accompanied by
a silent auction and live music
entertainment.
During the evening we will be
presenting our annual Community
Impact Awards which recognize
specific individuals for their
outstanding efforts in youth
advocacy, arts & humanities and
community involvement. This
year’s award-winners are: David
Soares, Janet Stutzmen & Charles
Muller. All of the money raised
will go to benefit the Programs
and After School Scholarship Fund
of the Boys and Girls Clubs of
Albany.
For more information about Red,
White & Chocolate or the Boys and
Girls Clubs of Albany, contact Carly
Smith at (518) 462-5528 or e-mail
csmith@siena.edu.

Stomp Out Homelessness
By Samantha Tymchyn ’09,
AmeriCorps*VISTA
In light of walks of life and spend my day
November
being
homelessness community. While I am confident that
awareness
month, I
thought it
would only be appropriate to write a
little bit about my observations of
homelessness in Albany. Although the they are in life
statistic changes daily, there are an
estimated 200 homeless individuals
currently living on the streets in
Albany County. I have spent three
years working in Albany and I have
seen maybe a handful of homeless
people in my time on the city streets.
Although I take into account that my
observations may be based on
stereotypes and that I never really
know if someone is truly homeless, I
would still argue that Albany does a
great job at hiding homelessness in
the city. I have currently worked at
Interfaith Partnership for the
Homeless (IPH) for three months
now. Although I work as the
Marketing Coordinator, I share my
6
DEEP SERVICE NEWSLETTER
office with 30 individuals who call
my office “home.” I interact on a daily
basis with our guests at the
Emergency Shelter who come from all
working to make homelessness a
more pertinent issue in our
Interfaith Partnership for the
Homeless is a leader in fighting
homelessness, it’s
IPH meets getting the
people where message out to the
general public that
and works has been a task, as
with them to I am up against
build the skills the age old “seeing
to achieve is believing”
sustainability. methodology.
IPH’s Emergency
Shelter has a 98%
occupancy rate and an average of 70
people using the services of our Drop-
In Center on a daily basis. The Drop-
In Center is designed to serve those
individuals who are living on the
streets or bouncing from couch to
couch as we provide a shower, meal,
laundry machines, clothing pantry,
locker, mailbox, and case
management services. IPH meets
people where they are in life and
November is Homelessness Awareness Month
Be on the lookout for special events associated with helping the homeless!
Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless will be selling t-shirts on the Siena
College campus for $5 to raise money for the homeless.
Homeless and Travelers Aid Society and FOCUS Churches of Albany bring
the community “Restaurant Nights.”
works with them to build the skills to
achieve sustainability. Our third
component is a housing program that
places homeless individuals and
families into safe, permanent housing
with continuing case management.
The need is shown in the numbers of
people using our services, but the
support is dwindling from all sources.
IPH creates change with every penny
donated to its organization; however
in recent years, due to budget cuts,
the organization has become more
reliant on the community to help
them continue to provide services. So
maybe seeing isn’t believing, maybe
you will decide to help the homeless
in the spirit of goodwill or building
community by helping us or
attending one of our upcoming events
(see the calendar in this newsletter).
However for those who need to see to
believe, I encourage you to visit
Interfaith Partnership for the
Homeless to first see the need and
then see how our organization works
to provide permanent solutions for
the homeless population.
To learn more information about IPH,
visit www.interfaithpartnership.com.
FCSA Office of Academic Community Engagement
 DEEP SERVICE NEWSLETTER

Bonner Service Leaders

The Bonner Service Leaders The Halloween Extravaganza
successfully executed the 6th event took place the afternoon of
Annual Saints and Ghouls: October 30 and it was a big
Halloween Extravaganza Event, success. Bonner Service Leaders,
bringing in over 250 members of AmeriCorps*VISTA Fellows,
the community. Siena Clubs, and student
volunteers led a 27 different arts
On October 29th, the Bonner
and crafts activities including
Service Leaders led
apple pie eating contest, pumpkin
AmeriCorps*VISTA Fellows,
carving and painting, trick-or- Halloween Extravaganza set up night
Siena clubs, and student
treat bag decorating, face
volunteers in the set up of the 6th
painting, and mummy wrapping.
Annual Halloween Extravaganza,
Always a big hit of the year, the
an arts and craft festival for
Siena theater club, Stage III, set
community kids and families.
up their annual haunted house,
The event was first created six
complete with costumes and
years ago by now Assistant
scary masks.
Director of Academic Community
Engagement, Yalitza Negron ’08, Halloween Extravaganza had 30
who values bringing community sponsors including the Siena
together for a good cause. Not Athletics Department, the
only is Halloween Extravaganza Franciscan Center for Service &
an event for families but it is also Advocacy, and the Office of Preparing the pumpkins for painting and carving
a fundraiser each year for a local Academic Community
community- based organization Engagement.
in the Capital Region. This year,
All proceeds raised from the
the proceeds of Halloween
event will benefit Interfaith
Extravaganza went to Interfaith
Partnership for the Homeless
Partnership for the Homeless
programs and services. Interfaith
(IPH) which is located in Albany,
Partnership for the Homeless
NY and has served the homeless
expressed great gratitude for the
since 1984. IPH provides
hard work of all those who
important programs and services
helped to plan, organize, and
such as a 30-bed emergency
make this event a huge success. Janine Robitaille, Ex. Director of Interfaith
shelter, Drop-In center, housing Partnership for the Homeless, and her son
and summer youth programs.
FCSA Office of Academic Community Engagement 7
 DEEP SERVICE NEWSLETTER

Working with Children of the Boys coming into help them out. So I (both urban, suburban, and rural) in
and Girl Club would have to say the most Albany, New York, and Maine, but
transforming moment for me as a also in severely underdeveloped areas
By Jacqueline Lennon ’13, Bonner Service
Bonner was coming back to Albany like Cusco, Peru and Kolkata, India
Leader
this fall. I noticed that even though where entire families are without
I am currently serving at the Albany the Boys and Girls Club is a national homes and support. I do believe
Boys and Girls Club After School non-profit, not all clubs are the same. myself to be an instrument of God
Program. To say that I am in love with Having been closed down for a who is still trying to figure out the
my site would be an understatement. majority of the summer, the Albany message. My interest in the healthcare
I look forward to going to the Club, it club is in a rebuilding stage. In all field has led me to my current service
is almost like my escape from the honesty, I cannot wait to work with position with Bonner at Compassion
bubble we have here at Siena. The the new team of directors on making in Action/Koinonia Primary Health
children there have such innocent the club the best safe haven for the Care in Albany. I believe medicine is
minds in a troubled world. I spent the Club Members. I cannot wait to be the most fruitful pursuit, just as
school year there and watched each of part of the change. Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus concluded.
them grow. On my last day for the Founded by Dr. Robert J. Paeglow,
school year in the spring semester, the Compassion in Action/Koinonia
children were so sad to see me leave Pursuing Your Passion provides primary care and mental
and nearly cut off my air supply as health care to the poor in the West
they hugged me goodbye. That is By Jensen Daniel ’13, Bonner Service Hill Neighborhood of Albany and
when it hit me, I am making a Leader beyond. I greatly admire Dr. Bob, the
difference; I am having an impact on I think some of the biggest challenges entire Paeglow family and all at
each child I interact with. Leaving of college is establishing an identity, Koinonia who dedicate their lives to
them for the summer was a lot harder pursuing your passions, and service and healthcare and who have
than I ever imaged. maintaining that identity. Through a deep compassion and commitment
service and through the Siena Bonner to help human kind. My identity is
For the summer as a Bonner I selected
Service Leaders Program, I have the still being nourished and developed,
the Wayne Boys and Girls Club as my
opportunity to grow. My experiences but I hope to someday grow from a
service site in my home town of
volunteering, serving and leading in tourist college student who is
Wayne, New Jersey. I figured if I
my Long Island Franciscan High accumulating perspective and life
enjoyed the Albany Club so much
School planted seeds of great faith experience into a compassionate and
why not continue my work in a
and spirituality in me. Now as a humane physician.
similar site? Similar was probably the
worst adjective I could have used to college sophomore serving in the city
relate these two sites. The childhood of Albany, those seeds have sprouted We have all known the long
experiences and environments alone and given rise to a garden of loneliness and have learned the
for the children in Wayne compared understanding, perspective and only solution is love and that
to those in Albany are so different. I wisdom that exist in harmonious love comes with community.”
found the children in Albany were synergy with my faith in God. I have
not only been exposed to poverty - Dorothy Day
much more appreciative of someone

8 FCSA Office of Academic of Community Engagement

 DEEP SERVICE NEWSLETTER

Connecting Siena to the this a possibility. I am confident that few months serving, I was appointed
Community we can make this happen, as I am to be the leader of Club Keystone,
also confident that we will be able to targeted at inspiring middle school
By John De Circe ’11, Bonner Service
find the volunteers who share a students to get involved within the
Leader
passion in aiding those in need with a community. During this time, the
The most memorable service very vital service of providing them earthquake in Haiti had previously
experience has been my work with a with a meal when they would occurred which would be a perfect
program that we are actually still in normally have to go without one. opportunity to get the teenagers
the process of starting on campus. This program gives the Siena involved. With this, Club Keystone
The purpose of the program is to Community the ability to have a organized the Boys and Girls Club
create a space on campus where we continuous direct service right on Clothing Drive to support families in
can create meals to be delivered to a campus as well as an opportunity to Haiti. About seven teens and I
local soup kitchen run by FOCUS at least partially mitigate hunger in gathered and organized over forty
Churches. the City of Albany. We are a part of bags of clothing to be shipped to
this community, even if we spend a Haiti. The clothing and shoes could
The FOCUS Churches soup kitchen
lot of our time on campus we are accommodate people of all ages
serves around 70 people a day for
directly connected to the outside ranging from adult to infant clothing
both breakfast as well as a take away
community of the Capital Region and along with several bags of shoes. This
lunch. We hope to be able to make the
as a community here on campus with showed the teens involved in Club
take away lunches for them at no cost
a relatively good life we should with Keystone that a helping hand goes a
so that they can recover more of their
all of our gathered resource aid the long way. The clothing drive helped
budget that goes to the purchasing of
community around us. many struggling families in Haiti and
the food. Currently they make a
I believe that it made many of the
bologna sandwich and add a granola
teens realize the importance of
bar to make their take away lunch.
“Great Futures Start Here” helping others and what each of them
We hope to give more variations of
can gain from doing a good deed
sandwiches as well as a bag of chips By Meghan Timmins ’12, Bonner Service within the community. This
or more importunely a fruit such as Leader experience is my most memorable
an apple or orange.
As a second year Bonner Service one because it was my first completed
This was all made feasible as both Leader, I have had the privilege to project at the Boys and Girls Club and
Bonner Service Leader Timothy serve at the Boys and Girls Club of it allowed to me to not only help
Golden and myself worked with Albany over the past year. The Boys those in Haiti but to also show the
FOCUS Churches and Norm Kvam and Girls Club has allowed me to youth of the club why I chose to serve
the director of Food Services to make experience the struggles many others. By opening up the teenager’s
sure that we would be able to run this disadvantaged families suffer in the eyes to a significant issue in a
program in a sustainable manner. It surrounding community. The Boys different country, I believe that they
was through the close work with and Girls Club is a safe environment were inspired to do the right thing
Norm that we were able to find an for children and teenagers to interact and that it would have a significant
area where we could create the meals with one another and for each person impact on their lives.
that being in the kitchen of the New to have a sense of belonging to a
Dorm on campus. This would be after special place. The Boys and Girls
hours on Monday, Tuesday, and Club of Albany’s motto is “Great
Wednesday and the deliveries would Futures Start Here.” I believe this is a
be the following mornings. perfect description of the Club’s
mission because it is related to my
It has been a challenge to organize
personal experiences serving at the
this and to make sure that it can be
Club. My first experience at the Club
run efficiently, however it has been
is most memorable because I was able
very rewarding. It has shown me that
to learn much more about the
I have the capacity to network with
community and myself. After my first
various resources on campus to make

FSCA Office of Academic Community Engagement 9

 DEEP SERVICE NEWSLETTER

Community Partner Panel

Community partners were invited to speak for the Freshman Bonner Foundation Course about
the poor and disadvantaged and how their programs and services help the community.

Music Mobile Capital District YMCA Unity House of Troy Interfaith Partnership Homeless and Travelers
for the Homeless Aid Society

Ruth Pelham, AmeriCorps*VISTA Jamie Christensen AmeriCorps*VISTA Liz Hitt represented

Executive Director of Meghan Dunn represented Unity Samantha Tymchyn the Homeless and
the Music Mobile, represented the House of Troy, a represented Interfaith Travelers Aid Society, a
brought out Capital District YMCA community-based Partnership for the point of entry human
inspirational signs where she builds and organization that Homeless located in services agency that
and passed around support programs offers a wide range of Albany, NY. Interfaith helps the poor, the
homemade musical like Reach Out for programs and has been serving the homeless, and others
instruments as she Youth that help services for those in community since in need lead
informed the Bonner enable children and need in Rensselaer 1984 by providing independent, self-
Service Leaders about families in need to County. First emergency shelter sufficient, and safe
the programs at the have access to established in 1971, services, Drop-In lives in the
Music Mobile. The valuable programs the Unity House has Center, and housing community. HATAS
Music Mobile was and services. The been pivotal in and summer youth has been serving the
established in 1977 YMCA strives to helping those who are programs. Samantha New York Capital
and has since offered build and foster hurting and shared that over 200 Region since 1924 and
innovative inclusive struggling, whether it people are homeless serves as a central
educational programs communities that is because they are in the Capital Region. intake, assessment,
centered around welcome everyone, living in poverty, At Interfaith those and access point for
building peaceful regardless of with mental illness, or people can find a safe the Albany County
communities through background, are victims of place to address emergency shelter
music. circumstances, or domestic violence. individual factors of system for over 25
abilities. homelessness. years.

To learn more about each organization, please visit their website and find out ways you can get involved!

10 FCSA Office of Academic Community Engagement


Executive Director of FOCUS
Churches of Albany, Deb
Jameson, shares how she got
involved in her line of work.
By Jennifer Simek,
AmeriCorps*VISTA Leader
Deb Jameson is
the Executive
Director of
FOCUS
Churches of
Albany (aka
FOCUS), an
organization
located in
downtown
Albany. It is
comprised of six churches united
in a common calling to help the
poor and marginalized in the
Capital Region. After serving for
15 years as minister of Word and
Sacrament, Deb worked for a
year with the Hunger Action
Network and discovered a new
vocation. Deb learned the
importance of using her voice to
address unjust public policy. For
the last 11 years she has been
working at FOCUS where she
has “had the great privilege to
be engaged in work at the street
level with the FOCUS Churches
of Albany.” She later states, “It is
there that I have found my true
vocation.”
FOCUS became a non-profit
organization in 2004. Today,
FOCUS employs 3 full time and
up to 6 part time staff and over
150 volunteers. The largest
program of FOCUS engages
over 300 families each morning
with a 7 day supply of groceries,
produce and personal care items.
In the winter, FOCUS organizes
a winter soup kitchen program
that serves breakfast for an
FCSA Office of Academic Community Engagement
DEEP SERVICE NEWSLETTER
average of 140 people per FOCUS also faces great
Partner Profile
morning. challenges. Deb remembers as a
child she saw images of
FOCUS began a relationship
breadlines and soup kitchens
with Siena College over 10 years
which were realities that - she
ago by becoming a site for
was assured - belonged in the
students pursuing a degree in
long-past great depression.
Social Work. In 2009, FOCUS
Today, she is disappointed that
partnered with Siena College
those children have now grown
through the AmeriCorps*VISTA
into adulthood thinking soup
Fellows Program within the
kitchens and homeless shelters
FCSA Office of Academic
are a normal part of American
Community Engagement. Deb
life. Deb believes, “Even in the
values working with Siena as
midst of our current economic
she believes “we work from
crisis, it should not be this way.
comparable core values, letting
There is a growing segment of
faith direct our actions.” FOCUS
our population to whom the
started their VISTA partnership
benefits of prosperity never
last service year with VISTA
trickled down.” She asks us not
Fellow Alison Roblin and now
to look away and question why
are happy to have VISTA Fellow
people are poor. She relates that
Kaitlyn Calaluca serving as
“as honorable and essential as
Development and Volunteer
our soup kitchens and shelters
Coordinator. Deb shares, “This
are, we must always keep this
Featured Community Partner
program is a win-win adventure,
work balances with our work to
allowing us to implement a
enact public policies that protect
strong capacity building plan as
and empower the most
well as provide an environment
vulnerable in our community.
to our VISTA that helps them
Charity and Justice go hand-in-
look at poverty issues, address
hand.”
needs, and articulate critical
questions.” As someone working in the field
social justice, Deb shares that
FOCUS fills a great need in our
skills are important for her
community. In measuring its
success in her position, but they
accomplishments, Deb explains
are not the primary goal. She
that accomplishments must be
quotes Thomas Merton who
measured in various ways. She
remind us, “It is a paradox: to be
says, “On one hand, you have to
successful you must finally give
justify results to funders, you
up the demand for success and
must look at program viability
do what you do from the deeper
through statistical analysis of the
motivations of what you believe
number of people served. On the
is right. And as you get use to
other hand, as a faith-based
this idea, you start more and
group of people we measure
more to concentrate not on the
accomplishments by hands held,
results but on the value, the
stories listened to, breaking and
rightness, the truth of the work
sharing of bread, love expressed,
itself.”
prayers prayed, reconciliation
reached, justice sought and right To learn more about FOCUS visit
relationships built.” www.focuschurches.net
11
 DEEP SERVICE NEWSLETTER
Assistant Professor of
Marketing and Management at
Siena shares his passion for
Featured Siena Faculty Member
teaching Academic Service
Learning courses.
By Paul Thurston
I am an Assistant awareness and raised money for
Professor in the the organization. The students
Marketing and
Management
Department at
Siena College.
This is my fifth
year at Siena and the second
Academics and Service
year I’ve asked my classes to
engage in a semester long
service learning experience. I
learned about service learning at community, while earning over
the first Capital Region
Academic Service Learning
(ASL) Conference in July 2009. I
was immediately hooked. I
attended the Problem Based
Service Learning Training in
August and offered two courses
based on the ASL model that
September - two sections of our
introductory Organizations and
Management course and one
section of our senior capstone
course Organizational
Development and Change. I also
chose a service learning project
for the culminating experience
in the honors section of our
Business Policy and Strategy
course.
My Organizations and
Management course partnered
with Whitney M. Young Jr.
Health Services, an innovative
community organization that
provides affordable, accessible, programs, and recommending
high quality medical, dental and methods to increase enrollment
addictions services to all people in children’s programs. All of
who need it. The directors of
Whitney Young mentored my
students throughout the
12
semester providing them with sustainable by Grand Street
an up-close look at their Community Arts in the future.
challenges managing a non-
The culminating experience in
profit health services
the Business Policy and Strategy
organization. In exchange the
course is a case analysis and
students planned and executed
presentation of a strategic plan
projects that increased
to a board of executives from
the Capital Region. Although
typically challenging, last spring
projects ranged from posting
the students in the honors
fliers at food shelters that
section kicked it up a notch by
informed those in need of
working with the Saint Ambrose
Whitney Young’s services to
School in Latham. Students met
managing projects supporting
with various stakeholders from
World Aids Day on campus and
the school, analyzed
downtown. The students
demographic, economic and
learned invaluable lessons about
competitive trends in the region,
management and their
and developed strategic plan
proposals. The student
$2,000 for the organization.
presentations were well
My senior management class received by the pastor, principal,
partnered with Grand Street financial board, and concerned
Community Arts, a community parents and parishioners. Many
based non-profit organization of the recommendations were
that provides a variety of adopted immediately and
creative and innovative implemented over the summer.
programs offering youth the
I have no regrets about diving
opportunity to build character
head first into service learning.
by growing and expanding their
These class have offered the
knowledge in the arts. Students
most rewarding experiences I’ve
worked in teams on semester
had at Siena. The students rise
long change projects that
to the challenge, enjoy the
provided an opportunity to
applied experience, and feel
strengthen their management
good about themselves for
skills while making a substantial
giving back to the community.
contribution to their community.
I’m currently offering three
The projects included
more sections of service learning
developing strategies and
courses this fall. I’ve continued
increasing stakeholder
the relationships with Grand
involvement in youth organics
Street Community Arts and the
program and community
Saint Ambrose School, and have
gardens, developing internal
added the Interfaith Partnership
and external communication
for the Homeless. Things are
delightfully hectic at the mid-
point of the semester. I look
forward to letting you know
the efforts focused on creating
about the successes of these
change that would be
classes in the future.
FCSA Office of Academic Community Engagement

Upcoming Events
Office of Academic Community Engagement and Community Partner Events
Colin Hay “The Help for
Homeless Concert”
11/5/10, 7:30pm, Troy Savings
Bank Music Hall
Please join the Boys and Girls
Clubs of Albany for a night of
cocktails and lite fare while you
mingle and socialize with the
individuals and organizations
that are making a positive
difference in our community.
Contact Victoria Malaney,
273-8351 ext. 16 for more
information.
3rd Annual Red, White &
Chocolate Celebration
11/10/10, 7-11pm, The Egg,
Concourse Level
Please join the Boys and Girls
Clubs of Albany for a night of
cocktails and lite fare while you
mingle and socialize with the
A.C.E. Social Media
Follow us online and get the latest info!
twitter.com/sienacollegeace
facebook.com/sienacollegeace
youtube.com/sienacollegeace
flickr.com/sienacollegeace
scribd.com/sienacollegeace
acereflections.wordpress.com
FCSA Office of Academic Community Engagement 13
DEEP SERVICE NEWSLETTER
individuals and organizations
that are making a positive
difference in our community.
Restaurant Nights
11/16/10-11/17/10, Local Area
Restaurants
Homeless and Travelers Aid
Society (HATAS) and FOCUS
Churches of Albany partner with
Angelo’s 677 Prime. Franklin’s
Tower, Dale Miller and more.
Participating Restaurants will
donate 10% of the proceeds to
HATAS and FOCUS on 11/16
and 11/17. Find HATAS and
FOCUS on Facebook for more
info.
ACE Coffeehouse
11/17/10, 4:30pm-6pm, Fr. Ben
Kuhn House, Boland Room,
Siena College
Are you a faculty member at
Siena College or Office of
Academic Community
Engagement community
partner? Come to the ACE
Coffeehouse and network with
Bonner Service Leaders and
AmeriCorps*VISTA Fellows and
find out what connections and
partnerships can be made! For
more information contact Yalitza
Negron, (518) 782-6942.
A Day of Simple Giving: A
Community Service Day
for Families
11/20/10, 10am-2pm, St. Sofia
Church, 440 Whitehall Road,
Albany, NY, FREE
Join Interfaith Partnership for the
Homeless in a family oriented
service project. Make gifts to
distribute to local charities.
Stations include a quarter
collection for bus tokens, making
soup in a jar, dishcloths, trivet,
bouncy balls and Thanksgiving
centerpieces, and baking fresh
cookies. For more information
contact Samantha Tymchyn,
(518) 434-8021 x 114 for
voicemail.
Roarke Center Christmas
Fair
12/5, 11-5pm, Downtown Troy,
NY, Victorian Stroll
Visit Troy for the Troy Victorian
Stroll and stop by the Roarke
Center in Troy, NY for your
Holiday shopping needs! The
Roarke Center has a variety of
art on display and for sale. All
proceeds from the Christmas
Fair will benefit the Roarke
Center, an organization serving
the needs of the Troy community.
For more information contact
Victoria Malaney, 273-8351, ext.
16.
 DEEP SERVICE NEWSLETTER

Our Mission
The Franciscan Center for Service and
Advocacy AmeriCorps*VISTA Fellows
Program provides help to build, sustain, and
promote civic engagement by fostering
reciprocal DEEP relationships between
students, faculty, administration and our
local community in need.

Our program focuses on assisting faculty,

students, and community partners to work
with all walks of life. Our actions commit to
our core values of St. Francis and allow our
students, faculty and administration to seek
direct actions towards academic excellence
through their civic engagement and
participation in programs that help to
increase capacity in areas of our community
that need it most through DEEP
Partnerships.

Our Partners
Peter Young Housing, Industries, and
Treatment
Homeless and Travelers Aid Society
FOCUS Churches
Boys and Girls Club of Albany
Unity House of Troy, Inc.
Catholic Charities/Roarke Center
Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless
U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants
NAA/SNAP
Grand Street Community Arts, Inc.
Trinity Alliance
Music Mobile
YMCA
Green Tech Charter High School
Siena Office of Enrollment Management
Sr. Thea Bowman Center for Women
Get Involved!
Interested in learning more about our programs and projects? Becoming an Siena Research Institute
AmeriCorps*VISTA, Bonner Service Leader? Interested in Academic Service Learning? Compassion in Action/Koinonia
Contact us to learn more about how you can get involved! Capital District Habitat for Humanity

Have a story about DEEP Service? Submit one! Siena College

Office of Academic Community Engagement
We want to hear from you! Send your stories (350 words max.) to Jennifer Simek, 515 Loudon Road
Coordinator of A.C.E. Public Relations. Your story may be featured in our next DEEP Loudonville, NY 12211
P: (518) 783-6886 |F: (518) 786-5080
Service Newsletter. www.siena.edu/ace

14 FCSA Office of Academic Community Engagement