We hope you all get to enjoy your
Winter Break!

Here is a special edition of CCEL's electronic newsletter that includes some great opportunities below that you can check out over break!

 NEW!! 
CCEL’s Civic Leadership Launchpad
 Apply by January 10! 

Build campus and community connections while exploring your civic passions and social change pathways through the Center for Civic Engagement & Learning’s (CCEL) new Spring 2021 semester Civic Leadership Launchpad, open to first and second-year undergraduate CWRU students. The program will be completed 100% virtually, and students studying on-site or remotely are both welcome to participate.

Read more about the program and apply online. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with the first priority deadline for review on January 10, 2021. Contact Betsy Banks (ewb@case.edu) with questions.

CWRU Winter Programming and Information

Although much of the Case Western Reserve University student community will be finishing the semester remotely, the university will still be providing events, activities, support resources, dining options and some facility access to students who are staying on/nearby campus for all or part of the winter break. Click here for more details.

CWRUinCLE Challenge:

Explore Cleveland virtually & earn a gift card!

Do you have more downtime over winter break to explore (virtually!) Cleveland’s many assets? Check out CCEL’s CWRUinCLE Challenge!

Complete this CampusGroups form by 11:59 p.m. EST on January 31, 2021 after you have finished at least one unique activity in each of the categories.

Students who complete at least one activity within each category between August 10, 2020 to January 31, 2021 will earn a virtual CWRUinCLE Challenge badge AND receive a Dunkin’ Donuts or Mitchell’s gift card (while supplies last). 

Contact Adrian Griffin with questions.

Check Out Virtual Volunteering Over Break!

Volunteer as a Tutor with Seeds of Literacy 

Seeds of Literacy is a non-profit organization that provides free basic education and GED and  preparation to adults in the Cleveland area. Volunteer tutors provide one-to-one attention, instruction, and encouragement to adult students as they work toward the GED credential and a life of possibilities. All tutoring is currently conducted remotely, through a Virtual Classroom, using Zoom for video and telephone tutoring. The curriculum has been digitized, so tutors and students both have access to the same materials. Tutor training has been condensed and is conducted remotely each week for new tutors. More information about becoming a virtual volunteer tutor is available here as well as additional details about the current remote tutoring structure.

Cleveland Leadership Center's
Winter Break College Series

Winter is here and there are three remaining sessions in the Winter Break College Series that focus on career readiness and connections. These sessions are free, but require registration. See below for more details:

1. Make the most of the networks around you – Learn to maximize the time you are spending with family and friends this winter break to get ahead in your internship and job search. Register Here for this session taking place today, December 16 from 4 to 5 p.m. via Zoom.
2. Sector Connect: Finance; Marketing; Engineering – Students have the opportunity to meet with representatives from the Finance, Marketing, and Engineering industry sectors to discuss the local job markets, internship opportunities, and career paths. The session is designed for small group connection to kickstart growing your network! Register Here for this session on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 from 4 to 5 p.m. via Zoom. 
3. Sector Connect: Nonprofit; Accounting; Healthcare - Students have the opportunity to meet with representatives from the Nonprofit, Accounting, and Healthcare industry sectors to discuss the local job markets, internship opportunities, and career paths. The session is designed for small group connection to kickstart growing your network! Register Here for this session on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 from 4 to 5 p.m. via Zoom.

BONUS! Students who register and attend all three sessions will be entered into a drawing to win one of three $100 Amazon gift cards!

Mentor Youth Receiving Pediatric Care

Connecting Champions asks kids & young adults with cancer, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” and connects them with a mentor for the cancer journey. The nonprofit is currently looking for mentors, including students who are at least sophomores and above in college, to serve as a virtual friend to a youth receiving treatment at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital or at another pediatric hospital in the country while the program is expanding. Volunteers should be able to commit to a minimum of six months, with at least monthly virtual visits (volunteering schedule is typically flexible and is projected to be all virtual for the immediate future). Those interested in being considered are asked to complete an inquiry form and will then be sent an online application to be entered into the mentor pool. Placements are not guaranteed and dependent on the youths’ interest areas and matching criteria, so the experience is not designed for students looking to satisfy a specific volunteer hour requirement in an allotted timeframe.

Check out this video for more information!

The Cleveland Foundation
Launching Future Leaders

Applications are currently open for both the 2021 Cleveland Foundation Summer Internship (Deadline:  February 1, 2021), as well as the 2021-2022 Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellowship (Deadline:  February 15, 2021)! Learn more about both opportunities by clicking on the links to learn more & apply!

Cleveland Area Holiday Assistance 

Find holiday help in the greater Cleveland area. Items are offered across the counties of Cuyahoga, Ashland, Holmes, Geauga, Lawrence, Allen, Medina, Portage, and Wayne County. 
Click here to view a comprehensive list of different community organizations that have programs for food, toys, and gifts during this holiday season. 

Emergency Food Assistance

Emergency food assistance will be available for students in a pick-up and go format. Food boxes for current undergraduate and graduate students will be provided by Church of the Covenant thanks in partnership with the UDC student organization UPCaM and the Office of Thwing Center Engagement and Operations. To arrange for a box of nonperishable food items or refer a student in need please contact Shelley Nelson-Bridger (san57@case.edu).  

Food Pantry Resources 

Go here for a comprehensive list of food pantry and food assistance programs in the Greater Cleveland area. It includes food closets, food banks, soup kitchens, congregate meal locations, food boxes, vouchers, etc.

Do you qualify for utility assistance?

It is important to note that utility service providers are planning to begin normal disconnection for non-payment soon. Go here for more information if you live in Cuyahoga county, as well as to view other Ohio county information.