The Heart of a High Functioning Community: Community Development Roxy Gandia & Nekeisha Randall

University Housing’s Philosophy  Community is more than programming  Programming is more than an event

University Housing Mission University Housing provides comfortable, affordable and secure on-campus housing options in residential communities where the academic success and personal growth of residents are encouraged and supported.

Community Definition What does Community mean to you? fJeSQG00&feature=player_detailpage

Community

Community Tie Into the Mission Affordable Providing programs with funding through RHA and Hall Councils Personal development to be more fiscally conservative. Personal Growth Educational & academic development Diversity Recreational Social Academic Success Educational & academic development Social Comfortable Personal development Safety & Security Diversity Social Secure Personal development Safety and security

Importance of Community  Community helps students get involved  Everyone needs a community to belong to  Diversity enriches our lives  Community makes residents feel at home Why is community development important?

Methods of Building Community  Building positive relationships between staff members (RAs, CAs, DAs, OAs & custodial)  Building relationships between staff members and hall councils  First hall/floor meetings  Rounds  Attending Hall Council Meetings & Programs  Being a positive role model  Increasing your knowledge of resources at the University & Athens Community  Confronting oppressive behaviors  Planning programs that are open to all residents.  Interacting with all residents, not just the ones on your roster.

P.A.W. WEEK (People Are Watching)  Designed to promote safe living in the halls and security awareness on campus.  New ideas for programming involve Facebook and internet safety.  Can incorporate UGA Police or OSEP P.A.W. WEEK (People Are Watching)  Designed to promote safe living in the halls and security awareness on campus.  New ideas for programming involve Facebook and internet safety.  Can incorporate UGA Police or OSEP ROOMMATE WEEK  Activities planned to allow roommates to interact with each other.  Emphasize the completion of roommate agreements.

ROOMMATE WEEK  Continuation of Roommate Week from Fall Semester.  Roommate connections are emphasized as well as a reminder of Roommate Agreements.  Roommate Appreciation Day. ROOMMATE WEEK  Continuation of Roommate Week from Fall Semester.  Roommate connections are emphasized as well as a reminder of Roommate Agreements.  Roommate Appreciation Day. D.A.W.G. DAYS (Diversity Awareness Week at Georgia)  Each community is responsible for a program that promotes diversity and awareness of differences.  Committee of staff members coordinates week, which includes giveaways, an award presentation, and numerous activities with other departments.

Safe Spring Break Week  Designed to promote safe habits while on Spring Break.  Ideas for programming included bulletin boards emphasizing care safety and safe travel tips. Utilize UGA Police. Healthy Eating Habits Week  Designed to promote healthy choices and better understanding of nutrition  Bulletin Board contest  Programs from Athens Eating Disorder Recovery Center, University Health Center

Inclusive Community

What is an inclusive community?  Does everything that it can to respect all its residents, gives them full access to resources, and promotes equal treatment and opportunity.  Works to eliminate all forms of discrimination.  Engages all its citizens in decision-making processes that affect their lives.  Values diversity.  Encourages members to get involved

Inclusive Community Why is building an inclusive community important?  Acts of exclusion and injustice based on group identity and other factors should not be allowed to occur and/or continue.  All people have the right to be part of decisions that affect their lives and the groups they belong to.  Diversity enriches our lives, so it is worth our while to value our community's diversity.  Respect & appreciation

Ten Signs Of An Inclusive Residence Hall Environment  Everyone feels welcomed, respected, included, appreciated, embraced and empowered.  Residents see all residence hall staff as ambassadors of community. Staff members are seen as agents of change, not agents of fear.  Residents are involved in an incentive- based system for encouraging and supporting hall interaction.  Residents and hall staff feel like they are stakeholders and are invested within the building.  Residents identify with the residence hall community through a common symbol or theme visible throughout the building.

Ten Signs Of An Inclusive Residence Hall Environment  Residents feel celebrated for who they are and for their accomplishments.  Staff members are motivated through a common vision towards hall unity.  Staff members are given the resources, the support and direction to create inclusive floors/units.  All building staff members are viewed as a part of the community, not just the RAs.  Residents have direct input in decisions made on behalf of their residence hall.

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Discussion  Community Dynamics in terms of Programming  CAs & RAs working together  Programming  Building Community

Questions