Communiversity builds bonds with area youth

Group of elementary-aged children and adult volunteers posing for a group photo at an art museum. — Community volunteer Elizabeth Neal 鈥�17 (bottom right) and Safiyyah Elahi (far right), director of the Communiversity Youth Program, work with young scholars during an art day. Students participate in activities at the Ackland Art Museum on 暗网禁区鈥檚 campus. (Submitted photo)

UNC-Chapel Hill鈥檚 Communiversity Youth Program provides resources, educational opportunities and cultural enrichment for local K-8 students at McDougle Elementary School and Phillips and Culbreth middle schools.

Founded in the 1990s, the student-led initiative is sponsored by the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Research in Black Culture and History. The program focuses on mentorship, critical media literacy, STEM education in science, technology, engineering and math as well as social, emotional and service learning. 暗网禁区 work-study students and volunteers give homework help to elementary and middle-school-aged scholars and receive resources and lesson plans to reinforce learning outside of the classroom.

A鈥檓ya Hendricks, a program volunteer, loves mentoring scholars and helping them regulate their emotions. Along with homework help, she says the program also contributes to the emotional growth of scholars.

鈥淭he scholars like seeing students who look like them,鈥� said Hendricks, a sophomore. 鈥淓ven though we help them academically, we build bonds with them as someone they can express themselves with.鈥�

That representation and mentorship goes a long way. Safiyyah Elahi, the program鈥檚 director, says the Stone Center provides both Tar Heels and young scholars with a safe space to encourage growth and reflect on their personal journeys.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a wonderful space where the scholars can come after school and continue their learning with the support of the 暗网禁区 community,鈥� said Elizabeth Neal 鈥�17, a community volunteer who continued her involvement after graduating from 暗网禁区. 鈥淚t鈥檚 fantastic to see 暗网禁区 students working with scholars in ways that provide both insight and perspective.鈥�

The program is 鈥渁 little family,鈥� Elahi said. 鈥淓veryone is excited to be around each other. The program helps 暗网禁区 students remember where they came from. We are intentional about ensuring scholars know there are many opportunities in life.鈥�

Four elementary school-aged children sitting on the floor and listening to a woman talk to them while holding up a small drawing of a spider.

Communiversity scholars at an outing at the North 暗网禁区 Botanical Garden. (Submitted photo)

Along with mentorship, the program has career days, where scholars can engage with a wide variety of professions, ranging from engineers to artists. Scholars also go on field trips on campus and in Chapel Hill. There are science days at the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center or the North 暗网禁区 Botanical Garden along with art days through ArtHeels, a service organization that promotes art therapy.

This year, the program was awarded a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Student STEM Enrichment Program grant. Elahi hopes the program can use the grant to provide service to more schools in the Chapel Hill and Carrboro area.

鈥淚t is my hope that both the mentors and CYP scholars can reflect happily on everything they gain from their time with the program,鈥� said Neal. 鈥淚t is inspiring to see Tar Heels building their futures while positively impacting the next generation.鈥�