Since 2007, I have worked within the FSU College of Communication & Information to develop Project SPARTA, a service learning program based on my belief that academic work must be augmented by practical, hands-on experience guided by caring, involved mentors. Approximately 700 students have participated in SPARTA in some form since its beginning, finding their bearings and professional success through a loose formula of instruction based on the ‘teaching moment’ and ‘learning by doing’. CCI provided the space for the program to take root and grow and I am grateful for the support SPARTA has received over the years from my colleagues and students for without it, I would not find myself in the predicament I face today. Like a root-bound plant, SPARTA has outgrown its original container. SPARTA is bigger than one student, one college, one university. The vision has always been to drive fundamental, systemic change in the way we prepare young professionals to enter the workforce. In order for the vision to continue growing to its full potential, it must be replanted in a much larger container. It is with this thought in mind that I have made the decision to create that larger container by forming a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and encouraging service learning on a much broader scale. The process of replanting the vision into this new container requires my full-time attention and it is for this reason that I will be leaving my current position at CCI at the end of the Fall 2011 semester.
As I move forward in creating this new non-profit organization, I am not leaving CCI behind. I will continue to partner with the College, working with my colleagues and students as I always have to organize and manage service learning in a way that allows broad participation across the majors at both the undergrad and grad levels. I will reach out to other colleges and universities, here in Tallahassee and beyond, with the goal of systemically changing how we prepare young people to enter the workforce. The process of replanting this work into a new larger container will be a bit messy and require the support of those who share the vision. Over the coming months, I will come to you, my SPARTAns – as I always said I would when you were first under my wing – and ask for your support in a variety of ways.
We cannot grow the project unless students and sponsors know it exits. I need your help in spreading the word , helping to attract more students, more sponsors and now – donors. Without donors, we cannot do the down-in-the-dirt work required to replant the project in a much larger container. SPARTAns. Talk to people about the value of your experience and encourage them to give in whatever way they can – whether it is time and energy, opportunities or financial support. We need all of it in order to thrive and grow the project to the next level.
In gratitude for all that has been and all that is yet to come.
Melissa*
* Your humble doorman. Sans the awesome uniform with the braid on the shoulder.
