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September 3, 2015, Miami Shores, Florida – Barry University’s Peace Month, September, will include a number of special programs planned by the University’s Center for Community Service Initiatives (CCSI).

During this special month, the University community will participate in Hunger-Action efforts. Students, faculty, and staff will wear orange on Thursday, September 3, Hunger Action Day. Barry Service Corps Fellows will distribute orange ribbons and quick facts about hunger in South Florida. On that day, boxes will be placed throughout the Miami Shores campus for donations of non-perishable food items. These will be delivered at the end of the month to Feeding South Florida, the leading local domestic hunger-relief organization.

Volunteers from the Barry community will work from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, September 12 as participants in Feeding South Florida’s Sort-a-Thon in the organization’s warehouse. This project will also mark Barry’s participation in the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance.

CCSI staff member Liz James (left) and Barry Service Corps Fellows Donté Roberts, Nylisha Matos, and Christian Mesa prepare to distribute food-collection boxes on Barry’s Miami Shores campus.

Sister Zenaida Nacpil, OP, Chapter Prioress of the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ Our Lady of Remedies Mission Chapter in the Philippines, will lead this year’s Leading the Legacy program. She will present her talk, “Peacemaking from a Filipina Sister’s Perspective,” from noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday, September 11 as part of Barry’s Peace Month Mission Luncheon. Adrian Dominican Sisters will give presentations on peace and justice throughout the 2015-16 academic year.

Peace Month activities will continue at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, September 21, with a 90-minute forum, “The Police and the Community: Who is Protected and Served?”

Beyond Peace Month, the CCSI will continue to encourage Barry students to be involved in community service. The CCSI selected 19 students as this year’s Barry Service Corps (BSC) Fellows. After attending a mid-August orientation program, they will participate in civic learning and leadership program that promotes social justice.

This year’s BSC includes 10 new members: Taleah Becton, senior, public relations; Emmanuella Carriere, senior, pre-law; Alberto Liriano and Nylisha Matos, both sophomores majoring in biochemistry; Presler Maxius, junior, psychology; Christian Mesa, sophomore, general studies; Paola Montenegro, junior, international studies; Christopher Riker, senior, English and public relations; Matenin Sheriff, sophomore, social work; and Asha Starks, senior, applied sport and exercise sciences coaching.

“I am so pleased with the quality and amount of engagement emanating from our University community,” said Sister Linda Bevilacqua, OP, PhD, President of Barry. She noted that the activities described above cover only those that are organized by the CCSI. Barry offers numerous other opportunities for service for students, faculty, and staff. 

Compiled from a recent CCSI newsletter