Community fairs provide opportunities
Article By: Agnes Hina
Students can connect and network with representatives of local organizations at the University of North Georgia (UNG) Community Engagement Fairs (CEF) held at the Cumming and Blue Ridge campuses this spring. Several community organizations will be in attendance with chances for participants to volunteer or earn a service-learning or work-based learning opportunity.
"Beginning this spring with Cumming and Blue Ridge, a CEF will take place at each of our five UNG campuses." Maxine Douglas, director of Academic Engagement said. "CEFs for Dahlonega, Gainesville and Oconee will occur in the fall. Our CEF is the first encounter between our community members and organizations serving the region where we live."
On Jan. 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. students, staff and faculty at UNG's Cumming Campus will be educated about the services each organization provides, recruited as volunteers for future events and develop relationships.
This will be the first year the event will be hosted on the campus, and 12 organizations from around the Forsyth County area are scheduled to be in attendance, including:
- Creative Enterprises of Forsyth County
- Family Promise of Forsyth County
- Forsyth Community Clinic
- Forsyth County Drug Awareness Council
- Forsyth County Health Department
- Forsyth County Senior Services
- Forsyth County Library
- Georgia Highlands Medical Services Inc.
- Georgia Mountain Food Bank
- Helping the Elderly
- Suwanee Association of the Arts/Cumming Art Center
- United Way of Forsyth County
"I’m very delighted with the great response we have received from our community partners for this inaugural event on the Cumming Campus," Dr. Ken Crowe, Cumming Campus executive director, said.
Another chance to meet with community partners will take place March 6 at the Blue Ridge Campus in partnership with the Division of Aging Services within the Georgia Department of Human Services to promote career opportunities for individuals who work in social service organizations. The event will last from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Our CEF is the first encounter between our community members and organizations serving the region where we live.
Maxine Douglas
director of Academic Engagement
"This event is open to UNG students and the public," Sandy Ott, Blue Ridge Campus executive director, said. " It will be our third Community Engagement Fair and we are looking forward to the opportunity to connect not only our students but members of the community with the many outstanding service organizations in the area."
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