OxyConnects

OxyConnects develops intentional partnerships with local nonprofits, allowing students to work on a sustained basis with surrounding communities. Each OxyConnects program employs a student Program Coordinator who serves as a liaison with the community partner, recruits and trains student volunteers, coordinates logistics, and leads reflection activities with student volunteers. Program Coordinators and students volunteer on a weekly basis throughout the academic year, offering long-term support and sustainability to community partners. Partnerships include:

• School on Wheels (SOW) provides the opportunity for Oxy students to mentor and tutor young people impacted by homelessness and currently living in transitional housing. OxyConnects SOW members travel to the Good Shepherd Center twice a week to provide tutoring, homework help, and educational activities. In October 2019,  SOW began serving at a second site in Los Angeles, the Dream Center. 

• Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N) collaborates with local nonprofit, Recycled Resources, to serve the homeless and housing insecure community of North East Los Angeles. N2N members operate and staff the resource center every Saturday morning where they distribute clothing, toiletries, and other necessary items for people impacted by homelessness.

• Comparte works with Instituto de Educación Popular del Sur de California (IDEPSCA) and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) to provide English language workshops for day laborers at community job centers in Los Angeles and also for workers on campus at Oxy.

• Excess Food Recovery Team (EFRT) is a food-donation program where students coordinate with campus dining to collect and donate excess food from the Marketplace to three local community partners. EFRT members also partner with Food Forward to become Glean Team Leaders who volunteer at local farmers markets once a month. 

Questions about the OxyConnects program? Contact Marcus A. Rodriguez, SLICE Director, at mrodriguez6@oxy.edu.