Chatham University
EN-10: Community Partnerships

Words Without Walls is a creative writing outreach program that serves Allegheny County Jail, State Correctional Institution Pittsburgh and Sojourner House, a residential drug and alcohol treatment program for mothers and their children. Since 2009, creative writing classes have been taught by students at Chatham University who are earning their MFA in Creative Writing (equating to an in-kind donation or material support). Our program teaches 18 classes per year, serving over 300 men and women in the Pittsburgh area.

Words Without Walls offers creative writing instruction to those who might not otherwise have an opportunity to participate in such classes; and gives MFA students the opportunity to become engaged in the Pittsburgh community in new and meaningful ways, while practicing the skill of teaching.

In addition to teaching classes, Words Without Walls publishes an annual anthology of our students’ best work, maintains a blog to showcase weekly classroom writing, and awards the Sandra Gould Ford Prize annually to a student who shows outstanding promise and dedication to creative writing.

Link: http://www.wordswithoutwalls.com/theprogram

In 2014, the Corella & Bertram Bonner Foundation arrived at Chatham, with the mission of financially supporting undergraduate students–known as Bonner Leaders–who do volunteer work with local nonprofits. The program enables students to stay with the same nonprofit throughout their college tenure, giving them extended mentorship as they grow into assets of their organization. Many nonprofits in the area were eager to work with Chatham students again, having had them as successful volunteers in the past.

The Bonner program accepts first-years and sophomores, who go on a “speed date” with participating nonprofits at the beginning of their first year in the program. After talking with each representative for five minutes or so, students rank their favorites while nonprofits do the same for the students. It’s been a great system so far, as everyone has been matched up with his or her first or second choice. In addition to their on-site work, the Bonner Leaders meet every two weeks to volunteer at other locations or speak with professionals in the field. Sometimes professors are brought in to talk about issues involved in their volunteer experience. These meetings enrich the students’ understanding of the complex difficulties that their target populations face.

1. Civic Engagement: Participate intentionally as a citizen in the democratic process, actively engaging in public policy and direct service
2. International Perspective: Develop international understanding that enables Bonners to participate successfully in a global society
3. Social Justice: Advocate for fairness, impartiality, and equality while addressing systematic social and environmental issues
4. Community Building: Establish and sustain a vibrant community of place, personal relationships, and common interests
5. Diversity: Respect and engage the many different dimensions of diversity in our public lives
6. Spiritual Exploration: Explore personal beliefs while respecting the spiritual practices of others

Bonner Leader Partners Fall 2015- current
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts
Steel City Squash
Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council
Pittsburgh Filmmakers Association
Ten Thousand Villages
Gwen’s Girls
Carriage House Children Center
Open Hands Ministry
Just Harvet
Women’s Law Project
Homeless Children’s Education Fund
Vibrant Pittsburgh

http://chatham.edu/campuslife/bonner/
https://www.chatham.edu/news/index.php/2016/11/chatham-views/the-bonner-program-spreads-its-roots-at-chatham

For the last two years, Chatham University has hosted the Pittsburgh showing of the Wild & Scenic Film Festival in partnership with the Pennsylvania Resources Council and other organizations. The festival brings together community members from all walks of life and inspires dialogue around sustainability issues facing the local community. The film festival is key each year in bringing volunteers to Allegheny Cleanways and the Pennsylvania Resources Council's environmental programs.
LINK: http://prc.org/filmfestival/

About the Wild & Scenic Film Festival
LINK: https://www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org/about-the-festival/mission/
Mission: Transforming Film-Goers into Activists
Our environmental and adventure films illustrate the Earth’s beauty. They also show the challenges facing our planet and the communities working to protect it.

Wild & Scenic Film Festival’s Statement of Inclusion
We recognize the intersection of social justice and the environmental movement.
If we want a better planet for all, we must invite and include all voices:
We encourage film and art submissions from all skill-levels, backgrounds and locations.
We are committed to providing diverse programming to our festival goers.
We are passionate about amplifying stories from voices and perspectives that often go unheard.

We welcome all:
Gender identities and sexual orientations
Races and ethnicities
Socioeconomic backgrounds
Education levels
Ages and abilities
Political and religious backgrounds
And all other identities

We celebrate the differences between us.

Chatham Supports the Music for Food to benefit the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
https://musicforfood.net/index.php/pittsburgh/