By Daniel Perez
UTEP News Service
Alvin Garcia learned about giving back to his community from his grandmother, a longtime educator and administrator who tutored low-income students for free in her Juárez neighborhood. She taught him that one person can change many lives.
Garcia, a self-described “super shy” freshman, thought of his grandmother as he registered for UTEP’s Project MOVE in 2011, a campuswide day of community service that stands for Miner Opportunities for Volunteer Experiences. He separated dog food donations and cared for pets at the Humane Society of El Paso, and also came out of his shell.
“It was a great experience,” said Garcia, a senior media advertising major who is involved in several University organizations, including UTEP’s Center for Civic Engagement. “It helped me build my communication skills; it changed my life.”
This year’s Project MOVE is March 1, and organizers expect to set new records for projects and participation. The goals are 2,014 volunteers and 100 community projects to recognize UTEP’s Centennial Celebration in 2014.
Since the program launched in 2010, Project MOVE volunteers – comprised of UTEP students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends – have logged approximately 17,000 hours to fulfill its slogan of “Working Together, Serving El Paso.” It is part of nearly 500,000 annual community service hours UTEP students contribute to the community.
Debbie Sikes, a clinical nursing instructor, is one of the many faithful staff participants. She has been a project liaison for the past three years. Liaisons contact the community partner to coordinate the details of the project, contact the project volunteers to make sure everyone is clear about the day’s timetable, location and responsibilities, and takes charge of the volunteers at the project site.
Sikes said she enjoys seeing the students take pride in their work and leave with a sense of accomplishment.
“We teach students that it will be part of their professional responsibility to give back to their community,” said Sikes, who will lead a group of nursing students to Vinton this year to repair the home of an elderly couple for Project MOVE.
UTEP’s history of community service is among the factors that helped it earn a #7 ranking among national universities by Washington Monthly magazine in 2013.
“The message conveyed through Project MOVE is that your community needs you,” said Ryan Holmes, UTEP’s associate dean of students and lead event organizer. “We have the power to make a difference.”
The event will begin with a short morning rally at UTEP’s Glory Field. Then, volunteers will disperse to their projects and work from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Some of this year’s projects include painting, landscaping, repairing dog kennels, assisting with youth sports programs, highway and community cleanups, and enhancements to neighborhood skating areas.
Some volunteers will help celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday and National Read Across America Day at Project Vida’s center with a Seussville Block Party for its after school student population. The UTEP students will operate science, art and reading stations for approximately 60 Vida students.
Last year Miner MOVErs helped Project Vida paint its pre-school playground. It turned into a service project where neighborhood children worked alongside the UTEP volunteers.
“It was great to see their interaction and the looks on their faces,” said Lizzie Rodriguez, the group’s after school supervisor. She recalled the UTEP students talking with their younger peers about future careers and how a college education was necessary to achieve their goals. “They made some nice connections.”
One difference from past years is that Project MOVE will extend into a second official day of service to help Komen Race for the Cure organizers. More than 100 students have agreed to be part of the overnight crew that helps set up the March 2 event at Fort Bliss.
Student, faculty and staff volunteers may register to participate at projectmove.utep.edu. Community partner projects are still being accepted, and those that cannot be accommodated will be forwarded to UTEP’s Center for Civic Engagement for future volunteer recruitment.
Event sponsors are Costco, Kinley’s House Coffee & Teas, Crisostomo Burritos, and L & F Distributors.
For more information, visit projectmove.utep.edu.