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Boston University Community Service Center 2018-2019 Annual Report
OUR STORIES
Storytelling is a pathway to community.
Why does storytelling matter?
A platform for personal reflection and growth, storytelling is also a way to share and preserve experiences. This year, we tried to make our space one that encouraged connection and the sharing of perspectives.
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"ASK AND TELL":THE CSC PODCAST
Launched in Spring 2018, "Ask and Tell" is the Community Service Center's contribution to the world of podcasts. Inspired by short form monologue storytelling, each series of the podcast features two to three episodes responding to a broad idea. Each episode is five to seven minutes, allowing whomever is speaking an uninterrupted space to speak. These speakers, student leaders in the CSC, This year, through the work of the Storytelling team, the podcast took on the following topics: Growth, Gratitude, Priorities, and Substance. Listen to their wonderful stories on Soundcloud.
THE CSC LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
The Little Free Library started in 2009 when a Wisconsin man named Todd wanted to remember his mother through her love of books. In the decade since that first library, thousands of communities have created their own all with the goal of bringing people together. Program Managers Olivia Rosenburg and Sydney Collier had the idea to bring this same spirit of sharing stories into the CSC.
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"We had an extra bookshelf that we wanted to put to use and needed to reorganize the books we had in a better way," said Olivia. "I thought why not combine the two and give them both a purpose in the space."
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The shelf is now stocked with books (and some movies!) brought in by various Program Managers. Anyone who is in the space can take a book to read and will hopefully bring in a book of their own to leave behind for someone else.
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"We're always thinking of ways to bring people into the CSC and make it a collaborative space, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to do that," said Sydney. "I think it tells people that this is a space for everyone, not just for the people who work or volunteer here."
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Both Sydney and Olivia hope the CSC Little Library will continue to grow and have more participants.
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"We have a community of students that have shared interests and common ground," said Olivia, "and reading about an array of different things can really show that's true."
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DECORATING THE OFFICE
Any office space can be intimidating, especially one that is unfamiliar. All year we were trying to think of ways to show the BU community that the CSC is run by students for students. A collective effort was made to think of welcoming and fun office boards and Program Manager Emma Parkinson put together the top choices: The CSC Discover Weekly and the CSC Bookshelf. The Discover Weekly board features office favorites of all kinds from music to TV show from each member of the office.
The CSC Bookshelf is the same idea, but with books. "The boards are not only a great way for people in our space to get to know us," said Emma, "but a great way for us to get to know each other." The weekly newsletter also featured selections from both boards in each issue, citing who recommended them. "By putting our interests out there, we can encourage people to find common ground with us and each other in this space."
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