Service Reflection Groups

Held for six weeks in the fall and spring, Service Reflection Groups are led by mentors ready to discuss service, advocacy and social justice topics. If you are looking for a community of like-minded individuals who are dedicated to community service at Rhodes and want to spend more time discussing the issues that concern you, then join a Service Reflection Group.

Role of Facilitators

Service Reflection Groups are facilitated by juniors and seniors who are committed to:

assisting individuals with finding service, social justice and advocacy experiences that fit their passions or take their experiences to a deeper level of commitment.
supporting individuals that are encountering challenges.
challenging participants to develop in new areas.
expanding participants’ views by discussing political action, social justice, activism, servant-leadership, follower-ship, etc.
creating community among Rhodes students who serve across different areas.

Role of Participants

Service Reflection Group participants challenge, support, inspire and listen to others in their group. Participants also:

reflect on personal experieces and discuss what has been learned through them.
listen to the challenges of others and brainstorm solutions.
discuss incorrect preconceived notions about people, leadership, and/or service while respecting different viewpoints from our own.
assist each other in determining ways we might become stronger leaders and participants in the Rhodes and Memphis communities.
help one another become more self-aware, committed, knowledgeable about community problems/needs, and self confident.
work to develop a philosophy of leadership for time at Rhodes and after Rhodes.
act with tolerance and respect for everyone we encounter.
have FUN and relieve STRESS!

Participants must complete at least two hours of weekly service during the semester in which they are participating in a Service Reflection Group. Participants must also commit to attending all six group meetings.

Spring ′08 Service Reflection Groups

I Before Me…NO EXCEPTIONS!
Mondays, 3:00 PM, East Village A 305
Facilitators: Katie Henderson and Cord McLean
Do you often find yourself simply going through the motions of service and doing so much for others that you forget about YOU?! If so, then this is the reflection group for you! In our weekly meetings, we will talk about how to give, give, give…and get some, too! By discussing our motivations for service, our experiences, and our wishes and aspirations, we will put “I before me” and realize how service relates to the self. Ultimately, we must know ourselves as well as enjoy what we do in order to effectively empower others. Just consider this a session in “self-service”…refueling, if you will.

Service…and YOUR Future
Tuesdays, 8:00 PM, Rhea Lounge
Facilitators: Karolina Grabowicz and Rachel Touchstone
How to incorporate your service commitments into your resume – regardless of major – and how to take your learning experiences with you to your career and your future. Each week we will discuss a different aspect of service as it pertains to your future, including examples of how different people incorporate service into their lives…like Nicole Richie.

Check Yourself
Wednesdays, 7:00 PM, East Village A 306
Facilitators: Daniel Sturtevant and Paul Burmenko
Why well-intentioned people can cause unintentional harm pursuing service-related issues.

Freedom and Music
Wednesdays, 9:15-10:15 PM, East Village A 307
Facilitators: Doug Lensing and Michael Moore
This group will discuss choices and reasons pertaining to community service. The topic of each meeting will be presented to the group by way of the lyrics of a song played at the beginning of the group session. Group members may suggest songs, otherwise songs will be chosen by the powers that be. Group members are encouraged to rock out and/or dance, but this is not required. *Requirements: Attendance in conjunction with consciousness, good taste in music preferred.

Color Me Reflected
Thursdays, 8:00-9:00 PM, Rhea Lounge
Facilitators: Emi McFarlen and Marianne Olson
Miss the days when school work included coloring with crayons and constructing collages? Revisit those memories by de-stressing with arts and crafts. We will discuss service experiences while we draw and color. No artistic talent is required!

Late Risers
Fridays, 8:30-9:50 AM, Off-Campus Breakfast Locations
Facilitators: Erin Hebert and Jessica Lotz
We will meet weekly over a tasty breakfast before class to discuss the transition from direct service into activism, allowing everyone to discuss ways to get more involved in activism for their service area. The group will return to campus by the 10:00 am class time. The cost of breakfast will need to be covered by the participants.

Service Snacks
Mondays, 9:30 PM
Facilitators: Emi McFarlen and Marianne Olson
Remember snacks like puppy chow, rice krispie treats, oreo/pudding dirt cups complete with gummy worms, and monkey bread – we will be making all these and more while getting to know one another and discussing the service we all do. Snacks + service = a great reflection group!!

Crunk Songs, Service, and Social Justice
Wednesdays, 9:00, East Village A 106
Facilitators: Brian Darrith and Anthony Siracusa
The purpose of this group is to use music as a means to talk about issues of service and social justice. We will listen to different types of crunk music--everything from Woody Guthrie to Radiohead to Talib Kweli--and discuss how the lyrics comment on social justice and service issues.

Fall ′07 Service Reflection Groups

Activism in Art
Mondays, 2:00-2:50 PM
Facilitators: Ruthanne Harlow and Hayley Hille
This group will focus on the use of social messages in art to initiate discussions about cultural conditions and our responses to them.

Coffee Talk with Tstone & Kap’n Krunk
Mondays, 7:00-8:00 PM, Rhea Lounge
Facilitators: Rachel Touchstone and Allen Daniel
A group focused on fostering unity in Memphis communities (la unidad en la cumunidad) among refugees and immigrant groups.

Embracing the Silence
Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00 AM, Rocking Chair Room of Briggs
Facilitator: Tiffany Merritt, Community Service Coordinator
This group will meet to share the joys and frustrations of discerning a calling to servant-leadership. In addition to brief readings and discussions, every meeting will have a time for silence so that participants can better understand their calling, as well as learn to embrace the silence that so often greets those seeking clarity and direction.

Afternoon Philosophizing
Tuesdays, 3:30-4:30 PM, Briggs 310
Facilitator: Marie Lindquist, Associate Dean of Students
Join Marie for deep discussions on service related topics.

Crunk Songs, Service, and Social Justice
Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00 PM, East Village 106A
Facilitators: Brian Darrith, Doug Lensing, and Anthony Siracusa
The purpose of this group is to use music as a means to talk about issues of service and social justice. We will listen to different types of crunk music--everything from Woody Guthrie to Radiohead to Talib Kweli--and discuss how the lyrics comment on social justice and service issues.

Breakfast and Champions
Thursdays, 8:00-9:15 AM, Brother Junipers
Facilitators: Erin Hebert and Jessica Lotz
We will meet weekly at Brother Junipers for a tasty breakfast before class and discuss the life and achievements of past and current champions of social justice movements. The group will return to campus by the 9:30 am class time. The cost of breakfast will need to be covered by the participants.

Check Yourself
Thursdays, 7:00-8:00 PM, East Village A 306
Facilitators: Paul Burmenko and Daniel Sturtevant
Why well-intentioned people can cause unintentional harm pursuing service-related issues.

Mind, Body, and Self -What′s the Balance?
Thursdays, 9:00-10:00 PM, Rhea Lounge
Facilitators: Rachel Goodwin and Karolina Grabowicz
The purpose of this group is to talk about how to stay healthy in all aspects of life. As volunteers we like to give our time to the betterment of society. But if we are not taking care of ourselves, how useful can we really be? How much more helpful could we be if we make a commitment to ourselves to strive for a healthy mind, body, and spirit? We will discuss ways of balancing our schedules, ways of setting boundaries, and ways of implementing healthy habits into our life.
Bring your blanket, get comfy, and relax. We’ll bring the healthy snacks!

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