UNO Student Service and Leadership Collaborative (The collaborative)
annual scott report
2023-24
a note from leadership
The Student Service and Leadership Collaborative is dedicated to developing students into servant leaders who are self and culturally aware through nonprofit internships, experiential learning and local and national professional student leadership and development symposiums. UNO believes service and engagement are vital components for the educational development of all students in becoming global influencers of change. The program has been recognized nationally, including receiving the Silver Award for Civic Learning, Democratic Engagement, Service-Learning, Community Service, and related category from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Excellence Awards in 2018.
Jeffrey P. L. Southall II Associate Director, UNO Student Service and Leadership Collaborative
As we reflect on the past academic year, I am proud to report a period of significant achievement and growth for the Student Service and Leadership Collaborative. This year has been marked by a series of milestones that have enriched our students' academic and professional experiences while reinforcing the core values of service and leadership that are central to our mission. The strength and health of our partnerships with exceptional nonprofit organizations remains our priority. These partnerships have been instrumental in providing our students with meaningful internship opportunities that not only enhanced their practical skills but also deepened their understanding of community engagement and social responsibility. The hands-on experiences gained through these internships have allowed our students to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, fostering both personal and professional growth. Our Collaborative students have used their internship experiences as pivotal tools to advance the framing of their educational and career goals. By engaging directly with the missions and operations of our nonprofit partners, students have been able to clarify their professional aspirations, identify areas of interest, and gain valuable insights into their future careers. These internships have empowered them to refine their academic focus and build the skills necessary to achieve their long-term objectives. coupled with comprehensive educational experiences, has significantly contributed to our students' social development and leadership engagement on campus. This holistic approach ensures that our students are well-rounded individuals who are prepared to lead with integrity and vision in their future careers. In this new academic school year, we are thinking forward and excited to build on this foundation of success, taking the Student Service and Leadership Collaborative to the next dimension. A personal thank you to John and Dianne Scott, whose belief in my leadership and in the transformative impact of this program has been instrumental to our success. Your support has not only empowered our students to reach new heights but has also modeled the very principles of leadership, service, and generosity that we strive to instill in them. I am deeply grateful for your trust and commitment and inspired by the lasting impact your contributions have made on our students and our community. Together, we have created an environment where students can thrive, learn, and lead with confidence. .
{{page}} | STUDENT SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP COLLABORATIVE
About the student service & leadership collaborative
Antoine Curtis, Collaborative Student Intern Major: Business Administration Minor: Entrepreneurship Nonprofit: One Way Ministry National Community Outreach Project: Continued the upkeep and maintenance of organization’s website and helped with the expansion of community outreach efforts in the connection of services and awareness specifically in North Omaha. Catherine Arias Barrios,Collaborative Student Intern Major: Communication Studies Nonprofit: Youth Care & Beyond, Inc. Project: Provided under-served communities with food. Being a point of contact in regards to any information about the food pantry and how it functions. Prepping meals and organizing people into teams for Pantry days. Creating and actively maintaining social media pages. Fayokemi Olawade, Collaborative Student Intern Major: Management Information Systems Nonprofit: Emerging Ladies Project: Assisted the Executive Director in supporting the organization’s access to resources and various other areas of operation. Johnnah Bailey, Collaborative Student Intern Major: Business Administration Minor: Cross Sector Collaborative Leadership Nonprofit: WellBeing Partners Project: Served as themarketing and communications intern in leading the local Giving Tuesday Street Teams and generate contentto ignite metro-wide support of local causes. Timother Troxel, Collaborative Student Intern Major: Criminology & Psychology Nonprofit: Munroe Meyer Institute Project: Project investigated the root causes for childhood hunger in the Omaha metropolitan area in order to create a sustainable and attractive plan/program in conjunction with the Kiwanis Club of Greater Omaha with the intent to conquer this issue. Jessie Smith, Collaborative Student Intern Major: Kinesiology Nonprofit: Nebraska Writer's Collective Project: Project investigated the root causes for childhood hunger in the Omaha metropolitan area in order to create a sustainable and attractive plan/program in conjunction with the Kiwanis Club of Greater Omaha with the intent to conquer this issue. Fatima Parra, Collaborative Student Intern Major: Studio Art Nonprofit: Central Plains of Nebraska Project: Project investigated the root causes for childhood hunger in the Omaha metropolitan area in order to create a sustainable and attractive plan/program in conjunction with the Kiwanis Club of Greater Omaha with the intent to conquer this issue.
Dylan Clute, Collaborative Student Intern Major: Studio Art Nonprofit: Graphic Design Project: Accompanied Program Directors of WhyArts in artists relationships and coordinating workshops for students. Han McClelland - Wagoner, Collaborative Student Intern Major: Nonprofit Management Minor: Cross-Sector Collaborative Leadership Nonprofit: CoalitionRx Project: Assisted the Director of the Lehmin Center in building curriculum and activities that stimulate the faculties of patients who struggle with on-set of early Dementia and Alzheimer’s. LaMondre Perkins, Collaborative Student Intern Major: Kinesiology Nonprofit: Seventy-Five North Project: Continued the work from the previous year while advancing to building and implementing curriculum for organization’s educational classes. Sreean Reddy Rikkala, Collaborative Student Intern Major: Cybersecurity Nonprofit: Education Rights Council Project: Assisted with day-to-day social media creation and posting, assisting with designing our annual report, creating various marketing materials. Da’Von George, Collaborative Student Intern Major: Studio Art Nonprofit: 100 Black Men of Omaha Project: Assisted the Executive Director with the building of organization’s social media platform and the redesign of their website. Huja Sange, Collaborative Student Intern Major: Business Administration Minor: Marketing Nonprofit: Midlands African Chamber Project: Assisted the Chamber in building out a plan in advancing their network and community event planning. Tevin Conley, Collaborative Student Intern Major: Business Administration Minor: Kinesiology Nonprofit: Balloon Elite Basketball Project: Served as coach’s assistant and co-creator of curriculum and programming for the youth basketball team. Tre Gould, Collaborative Student Intern Major: Kinesiology Nonprofit: 100 Black Men of Omaha Project: Assisted with the preparation of the organization’s summer camp and after school programming curriculum. Jenna Abbott, Collaborative Student Intern Major: Sociology, Social Work & Spanish Nonprofit: Project Extra Mile Project: Actively assisted with the organization’s youth engagement and recruitment efforts. Ruby Bugarin-Arce,Collaborative Student Intern Major: Computer Science & Cybersecurity Nonprofit: Legal Aid of Nebraska Project: Assisted with the Housing Justice Project as well as maintaining the organization’s social media content.
STUDENT SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP COLLABORATIVE | {{page}}
student intern profiles (continued)
student intern profiles
Collaborative student reflection
During my internship, I had the privilege of working with Well-Being Partners, assisting them with their marketing needs, creating graphic content, and more. Interestingly enough, during the start of the internship, I was actually enrolled to take an Introduction to Marketing course, which is required for my major, business administration, so it was amazing to see what I’ve learned in the classroom in show up in the workplace. Through the Collaborative & Cross-Sector Collaborative Leadership Minor program, I learned the importance of collaboration and how it requires an understanding of different sectors, such as private, nonprofit, and public. I navigated these sectors daily, creating content for different purposes, whether for funders or community members. This experience taught me how to navigate designing a project and to use perhaps specific language depending on the audience, especially language that works to destigmatize mental health & wellness. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to attend one of the best conferences centering youth voices called the Impact Conference. The workshop sessions were informative and relatable and enriched my academic, professional, and personal life. I took many notes, some of which I have already begun to implement in my campus involvement, such as organizing a listening circle or even making plans to do a strategic plan for an organization that I am a part of so we can navigate how to increase civic engagement. Above all the Impact Conference was a reminder that we are here to serve the public, but we must listen and address systemic barriers. We are the next generation of leaders needs that will continue to create new solutions and dismantle systems of oppression, so we are not simply putting a band aid on the problem but truly addressing & meeting the needs of our communities. We cannot do this without collective action which is what collaboration is all about. All in all, the internship program and minor have taught me valuable lessons I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Collaborative spring empowerment retreat
This year, The Collaborative had the privilege of welcoming Dr. Nikita Harris from the University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa as the workshop facilitator for our annual Student Service and Leadership Collaborative Spring Retreat. Dr. Harris led an impactful workshop focused on equipping students with strategies to strengthen their mental fitness in the face of difficult and challenging life situations. Throughout the retreat, students engaged in insightful activities that helped them identify saboteurs—those internal and external distractions that hinder their progress toward achieving high-level goals. Additionally, the workshop emphasized the importance of developing a positive mindset and enhancing emotional intelligence, key components for becoming more effective student leaders. The retreat provided our students with valuable tools and perspectives that will support their personal and leadership growth.
Johnnah Bailey, Well-Being Partners
Bio: Meet Dr. Nikita Y. Harris an award-winning educator who teaches communication and leadership in the College of Communication & Information Sciences at the University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa (UA). Dr. Harris is the inaugural Graduate Program Coordinator for the online M.A. degree in Organizational Leadership in the Department of Communication Studies at UA. Prior to joining the faculty at Alabama, she served as the Associate Chair and Director of Curriculum for Online Programs at Columbus State University in Georgia. Dr. Harris was instrumental in launching the University System of Georgia’s first 3-year, online bachelor’s degree programs principally funded through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the development of innovative online educational models focused on improving retention and increasing graduation rates among students historically not well served through traditional higher education, especially minority, low-income and military students. She is passionate about mentoring students and future leaders across all fields and disciplines. Dr. Harris has worked in a variety of diverse educational and professional settings which include Texas Southern University, The George Washington University, Trinity University, Auburn University, Columbia Union College, Prince George’s Community College and Kaplan Online. She served as a Public Service Fellow at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland and trained employees in communication, management and leadership in over 30 different federal, state and government agencies through the Human Resources Institute and the Federal Training Academy in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area. Dr. Harris is the Founder and Executive Director of the National Black Debutante Project (NBDP) which supports several initiatives in preserving the history and traditions of African American Cotillions and Black Debutante Culture in America. She holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Communication (with an emphasis in organizational theory, leadership training and assessment) from Howard University in Washington, DC and was a Doctoral Fellow at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Interpersonal Communication. She earned a Master’s of Arts in Communication Studies from Auburn University in Alabama and an undergraduate degree is in Speech Communication from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Collegiate 100 national student leadership conference 2024 ATLANTA, GEORGIA The Collegiate 100 National Student Leadership Conference aims to empower and inspire college students from universities across the country, By providing a platform for networking, leadership development, and professional growth, the conference seeks to equip students with the skills and confidence needed to suceed in their academic and future professional endeavors. Through engaging workshops, keynote speakers, and collaborative activities, the conference fosters a sense of community and encourages students to become influential leaders in their respective fields and communities. This year the conference was held in Atlanta, Georgia.
IMPACT Conference 2024 STEPHEN F. AUSTIN UNIVERSITY NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS The IMPACT Conference is historically the largest annual conference focused on the civic engagement of college students in community service, service-learning, community-based research, advocacy and other forms of social action. Their vision is to empower generations of learners to lead inclusive social change movements to liberate themselves and their communities. IMPACT was hosted on the campus of Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas.
THE COLLABORATIVE conference series
.
Collaborative spring empowerment retreat cont'd
The Student Service and Leadership Collaborative continues to empower students through national conferences and fellowships. These events unite students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, facilitating connections with peers, mentors, and professionals in social justice and leadership fields. Attendees gain insights, research, and best practices, enhancing their advocacy skills. Expert speakers offer diverse viewpoints on social justice, broadening understanding of issues. National experiences challenge beliefs, promote critical analysis, empathy, and cultural competency. Such conferences enrich and transform college students, equipping them to create global impact.
The Collaborative spirti award Timothy Troxel, Munroe Meyer Institute
the john scott leadership award LaMondre Perkins, The Lehmin Center Tre Gould, 100 Black Men of Omaha .
the collaborative Awards and recognition banquet
Mary & rodrigo scholarship award Jenna Abbott, Project Xtramile
Budget Summary
Revenue Sources
University Funding
$63,860
Private Funding
$95,000
OPPD SSLC Fund
$15,000
The Student Service and Leadership Collaborative banquet was a resounding success, celebrating the remarkable achievements of our students while fostering a sense of community and shared purpose. The event, attended by executive leadership members, featured inspiring reflections from student speakers who shared their experiences and growth over the past year. These personal stories highlighted the profound impact of service and leadership opportunities on their development. We were also thrilled to recognize students who received awards for their outstanding service and leadership, acknowledging their exceptional contributions to both the university and the broader community. Our outstanding nonprofit partners were key to these successes, providing meaningful opportunities for our students to engage and make a difference. Additionally, we extend our deepest gratitude to our donors, whose generous contributions have empowered these initiatives and enabled our students to thrive. The evening was a powerful reminder of the collective impact that collaboration between students, leadership, nonprofit partners, and donors can have on our community, and we look forward to building on this momentum in the coming year..
Totals
Budgeted Total
$174,360
Actual Expenses
$171,937
Expense Category
BUDGETED
ACTUAL
Student Salaries
$103,023
Staff Salaries
Student Leadership & Development
$5,054
Mileage
$500
$0
130 CEC
The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. UCTEMP2020
collaborative. unomaha.edu
UNO STUDENT SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP COLLABORATIVE
6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68182
402.554.4478
jsouthallii@unomaha.edu