Broncos ‘Spring into the Streets’ to volunteer throughout Kalamazoo Community

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Whether it’s playing in 3-on-3 basketball games, conducting  science experiments with kids or preparing local neighborhoods for spring, Western Michigan University is calling on students, faculty and staff to join Spring into the Streets by volunteering in surrounding neighborhoods.

WMU's offices of student engagement and community engaged learning/service learning revived the event from a daylong program held for students in the past. They are joined by several campus and community partners this year to mobilize the entire University community to volunteer over three days, Friday to Sunday, April 11-13. Families are also welcome to participate to create a meaningful experience, says Shawn Tenney, director of service learning.

“The weekend is an answer to the needs expressed by our community partners and a need for not only Western students to learn but for the entire community to make connections,” says Tenney. She says the program will now be a semiannual event, with Fall in the Streets opportunities planned Oct. 3 to 5. “College students, especially our international students who are navigating life in another country, will build resume and also life experience.”

Anyone in the campus community who wants to participate can register through ExperienceWMU by 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, and email Tenney with questions.

Spring into the Streets volunteer opportunities

Friday, April 11

• 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., WMU Student Center—Join seniors from the Ecumenical Senior Center in Kalamazoo for lunch with volunteers and to craft affirmation notes for Linden Grove Middle School students.
• 4:45 to 6 p.m., 1000 W. Paterson—Join the Boys & Girls Club for 3-on-3 basketball and origami.

Saturday, April 12

• 9:30 to 12:30 p.m., 4241 Arboretum Parkway—Assist with Linden Grove Middle School’s science fair. Help middle school students with cool literacy and science experiments including elephant toothpaste, temporary tattoos and more.
• 10 a.m. to noon, 816 Washington Ave.—Help with cleanup and organization of the Edison Neighborhood Association toolloaning garage, which allows residents to borrow tools for spring and summer projects.
• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 420 East Alcott St.— Prepare and beautify the Kalamazoo Literacy Council Read and Seed Trail. Volunteers will meet at the Kalamazoo Literacy Council for garden work and prepping the trail for the spring and summer.
• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 251 Mills St.—Sign up for one- or two-hour shifts for Mayor’s Riverfront Park cleanup. Help irradiate invasive trees, create generous river site lines and river overlook, and rid the park of trash.

Sunday, April 13

• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 669 Gull Road—One-and two-hours shifts are available for Verburg Park cleanup.

For more news arts and events, visit WMU News online.