During the month of September, people across the country are called to volunteer in their local communities with a common purpose to commemorate the tragedy of 9/11 and honor the memory of those who died that day. Each year we call on SPC students, faculty and staff to remember 9/11 by volunteering service, both virtually and in-person where it can be done safely.

As we start a new academic year, Titans are encouraged to represent the best of America by participating in this nationwide celebration. We encourage you to invite your students and colleagues to join in remembering this important day.  

There are two ways you are encouraged to get involved in SPC’s 9/11 Virtual Day of Services:

1.      Virtual Day of Service- September 14 at 6 p.m.

Join us for a robust discussion about the myths about voting, how to vote by mail and real time voter registration. Participants will also contribute to SPC’s first ever text bank effort to help get out the vote in 2020!

This event will include:

·       The League of Women Voters
·       The Tri-Partisan Canvas
·       The Public Interest Research Group

Register here for the event.

2.      Looking for other service opportunities?

If you are familiar with an organization in your community with virtual or other safe volunteer opportunities available, commit to a day of service with the organization of your choice. Or, go to https://www.volunteermatch.org/covid19 find a volunteer opportunity near you.

You can report your volunteer hours by using the Center for Civic Learning and Community Engagement survey link for student and faculty reporting:  https://web.spcollege.edu/survey/28979.

For more information, contact Tara Newsom at newsom.tara@spcollege.edu. 

Your voices are important to a healthy democracy! St. Petersburg College has been selected by National Public Radio to be a participant in NPR’s America Amplified National Listening Session about Voting, which will take place this Thursday, August 27 at 12:30 p.m.

Florida is a swing state and is on the I-4 corridor, a sweet spot for voting impact. Only five states were chosen to participate. SPC and Valencia are the only Florida schools curating students.

Your comments will help direct NPR to look at issues that may not be what the elections focus on-allowing your voices to influence issues that need to be amplified.

Please email me at newsom.tara@spcollege.edu and I will share the registration link!

SPC is partnering with a number of organizations determined to increase student participation in democracy. Read below for two opportunities to get involved in the 2020 Election!

Campus Election Engagement Project (CEEP) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing nonpartisan support to colleges and universities to assist their students in becoming politically engaged through voter registration, education, and action.

We are currently recruiting students for the Fellows program for the 2020 fall semester. This fellowship, which pays a student a stipend of $1,000 to work 5-10 hours each week during the semester to assist with our work on campus.

More information can be found here: https://campuselect.org/about-ceep/2020-ceep-fellows-application/.

Fellows work virtually on campuses where students are not physically present due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

FALL 2020 INTERNSHIPS FOR THE 2020 ELECTION

In the months leading up to the 2020 election, hundreds of student volunteers with Florida PIRG Students will reach out to their peers on college campuses across the state to register them to vote and turn them out on Election Day. 

We are the largest and most diverse generation and we have the power to elect leaders that will work for our generation and the future we want. 

Interns will:

Gain firsthand experience into the political and campaigning process

Sharpen your communication skills by working with the media

Learn to develop and run an effective campaign to influence decision-makers

Gain experience recruiting and working with volunteers 

Learn to build a coalition and work with coalition partners

Work remotely while making an impact

We are working hard on college campuses across the state to defend our democracy and make voting easier and more accessible, especially in the wake of ongoing changes and barriers due to COVID-19. Want to join?Fill out an applicationand an organizer will be in touch with you shortly!

Volunteering: Not interested in interning or taking on leadership but would like to still help out? Fill out this volunteer interest form!  

Don’t forget to make it to the Polls this Tuesday, August 18 for Florida’s Primary!

For more information on where your voting precinct is and to see the sample ballot, click here:.

Also, The League of Women Voters shares non-partisan voter education to help you understand what’s on the ballot. Check it out here.

The Gadgets for Good initiative isn’t new but the idea for a contactless supply drive is a first for the team organizing it. This year’s supply drive will be curbside/no contact drop-off.

The drive will accept all electronics such as computers, keyboards, cell phones, tablets, laptops, servers, batteries and audio/video equipment — anything electronic, except televisions.

The Gadgets for Good supply drive is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg at 2333 34th Street S.

“Old tablets and laptops are high on our list, we see a huge need for those items,” Barlow said.

To learn more about Gadgets for Good and how to get involved check out Gadgets for Good on Facebook.

SIGN UP TO BE A POLL WORKER
Elections can’t happen without poll workers. And most poll workers are older and at a higher risk of complications from Covid.

Now is the time for young people across America to step up, serve our country, and make sure the 2020 election is a success!

Become a Poll Hero!
https://www.pollhero.org/

Local Poll Worker Information!
https://www.votepinellas.com/Become-an-Election-Worker/Poll-Worker-Information

Trevor Noah talked about it:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1284986122872016903

Volunteer Opportunities in our community!

COVID TESTING
Volunteers from the community are welcome to join the effort to help people get free testing at the Duke Energy for the Arts Mahaffey Theater, 400 First Street South, St. Petersburg.  Assistance is needed to help support activities, including registration and traffic control.  Shifts of 3-4 hours are available from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. (10:30 a.m. check-in). More info here: http://www.pinellascounty.org/volserv/pdf/opportunities/covid-mahaffey.pdf.

To volunteer, contact maryburrell@pinellascounty.org or call 727-464-3815.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Volunteers needs to design/create a variety of community and inspirational material that can then be posted by Florida Dream Center to social media. Students experienced in designing and creating this kind of social media material encouraged to contact Florida Dream Center.

To volunteer, contact Zelda O’Connell at Zelda@floridadreamcenter.org or call 727-851-9074

SPCVOTES is an expression of St. Petersburg College’s (SPC) institutional commitment to community engagement. Cultivating a campus and community culture invested in democratic and global citizenship is a priority for SPC.

In that spirit, the Center for Civic Learning & Community Engagement (CCLCE) is collaborating with college and community partners to increase voter engagement and voter turnout.

Looking to get involved in the 2020 election?

Check out these non-partisan opportunities including paid internships and fellowships!

NextGen America
https://nextgenamerica.org/jobs/?job=2250448

Campus Election Engagement Project
https://campuselect.org/about-ceep/2020-ceep-fellows-application/

Organize Florida
https://orgfl.org/

Voter Resources
https://www.vote.org/state/florida/

Don’t forget: Monday July 20 is the deadline to register to vote in Aug. 18 primary. You can do that at RegisterToVoteFlorida.gov. 

And even if you think you’re registered, don’t forget to double-check at BeReadyToVote.org to make sure your voter registration status is still active.

Nelson Mandela International Day, which has enjoyed 10 years of global support and solidarity since it was launched in 2009, is celebrated on July 18, 2020.

In 2019, the Nelson Mandela Foundation launched a new Mandela Day strategy, titled Mandela Day: The Next Chapter, to mark the tenth anniversary of the initiative. The next 10 years are focused on mobilizing people, governments, civil society and corporations to focus on five areas:

education and literacy
food and nutrition
shelter
sanitation
active citizenship

Online Student Life & Leadership, the Center for International Programs and the Center for Civic Learning & Community Engagement have put together an International Community Engagement experience using Padlet technology to connect our SPC family with resources that help them engage with the priorities of Nelson Mandela.

Learn more about Nelson Mandela Day here:

https://padlet.com/ebertbrandie/SPCNelsonMandelaDay

Please feel free to reach out with questions to newsom.tara@spcollege.edu