What is Arts CARES?

Arts CARES is an intensive community service-learning program held during the February break for University of Regina students.

Arts CARES 2012 will take place February 21-24, 2012.

Students provide 15 hours of service to a number of community-based organizations in Regina during the week (each morning and all day Wednesday). They are hosted at the same organization all week and can help with the organization's regular programs and services, or work on a special project.

After the morning work, all students gather for lunch (provided free of charge) and participate in interactive workshops in the afternoons. These workshops will be an opportunity to learn from other students, to reflect upon your experiences and explore how they could be applied to other areas of their lives.

Each day (except for Wednesday's full day of volunteering) is structured in a similar fashion:

9:00-12:00 pm

Students work with local community organizations.

12:00-12:45 pm

Lunch is provided.

12:45-2:30 pm

The afternoons will include presentations and interactive reflective activities to share students' experiences and to learn more about the issues facing the community.

Who can participate?

Any Faculty of Arts undergraduate students and any University of Regina students registered in a participating Arts class are eligible to participate. All students must be able to commit to participating in the entire program. Space is limited to 75 students.

In 2012, the following Arts courses will be incorporating Arts CARES into their curriculum; registered students will earn class credit for participating by completing an assignment related to Arts CARES.

• Geography 120 (Human Geography) - Emily Eaton
• Geography 226 (Environmental Issues) - Sean Connelly
• Geography 324 (Urban Geography) - Sean Connelly
• Geography 338 (Geography & Gender) - Emily Eaton
• Interdisciplinary Studies 101 (Global Citizenship) - Noel Chevalier
• International Studies 420 (Advanced Topics in International Development) - Annette Desmarais
• Justice Studies 480 (Social Justice Movements in Developing Countries) - Michelle Stewart
• Religious Studies 360 (Religion & Popular Culture) - Leona Anderson
• Sociology 208 (Inequality & Social Justice) - Margot Hurlbert
• Sociology 355 (Global Food Systems) - Andre Magnan
• Women's & Gender Studies 100 (Introduction to Women's Studies) - Tina Beaudry-Mellor

Where will students go?

Participants will be able to choose a placement with one of these partnering organizations:

• AIDS Program South Saskatchewan
• All Nations Hope AIDS Network
• Carmichael Outreach
• Fruit for Thought
• GreenRoots Sustainable Living
• Habitat for Humanity
• Nature Saskatchewan
• North Central Community Association
  
• Planned Parenthood Regina
• Project People
• REACH (Regina Education & Action on Child Hunger)
• Regina Food Bank
• Regina Open Door Society - English as an Additional Language Class OR Youth Program
• RPIRG (Regina Public Interest Research Group)
• Regina Transition House
• SARM (Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities)
• Saskatchewan Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
• Saskatchewan Organic Directorate
• Saskatchewan Organization of Heritage Languages (SOHL)
• SCIC (Saskatchewan Council of International Cooperation)
• Sofia House
• Street Culture Kidz
• U of R's LifeLong Learning Centre
• UR Pride Centre

Where are these organizations? Check out our google map!

Is there a cost to participate?

This program is offered free to students and includes lunch Tuesday, Thursday & Friday.

Why should students participate?

There are numerous benefits for students participating in Arts CARES.

• This is a chance to apply your experiences in the community to the classroom: to connect theory and practice.
• You'll get to met other students from different disciplines and make good connections with people in the community.
• You'll have a chance to learn more about community organizations, the issues faced by the community and some innovative ways the university and community are working to address them.
• You'll have a chance to provide important volunteer work, which could lead to future volunteering or career opportunities in the community. These hours can also count toward your UR Guarantee service requirements.
• All students will receive a certificate of participation from the Dean of Arts.

Registration

Students may register for Arts CARES between Jan 5 - end of the day January 25, 2012.

To register: fill out a registration form (doc) and either email it to arts.cares@uregina.ca or drop it off at the CRU's office at CL 432 by January 25, 2012.

You will receive a confirmation of receipt within 3 business days; if you don't hear from us by then, please let us know! 

Questions? Contact arts.cares@uregina.ca or 585-4084.

Find Arts CARES on Facebook here.

Arts CARES  articles and videos

Regina Leader-Post: 70 U of R students to take part in volunteer program during reading week (Feb. 16, 2011)

YOURblog: Students learn how local organizations provide food to those in need (Feb. 25, 2011)

YOURblog: Students learn to turn hopelessness into action (Feb. 16, 2011)

Arts & Minds: As One Who Serves: Arts CARES Participant Stephanie Bustamante Learns Through Volunteering (March/April 2011)