Alternative Spring Break: Raleigh

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As some of you may know, I was given the opportunity to spend my Spring Break in Raleigh, working with various organizations that help fight homelessness and many of the side effects of being homeless.

I was lucky enough to receive a $50 sponsorship from Cary Presbyterian to help fund the "trip".

Throughout our five days, we accomplished a lot! The experience was rewarding and made me realized how blessed I am to have access to the resources I have in my life. Please see my pictures below and their captions to learn about what we did and the organizations we worked with.

Some of our team members working on landscaping at The Healing Place of Wake County, a recovery and rehabilitation facility for homeless people with drug and alcohol dependencies.

We sorted nonperishable food items at Helping Hand Mission, an organization that helps families with food, clothing, furniture and shelter. They extend help beyond those struggling with homelessness by also reaching out to the elderly, disabled, low income, and victims of fire.

We also cooked a meal for thirty at the Salvation Army of Wake County's Women and Children Shelter. We prepared spaghetti, salad, toast, and cookies.
We served lunch at The Shepherd's Table, a nonprofit run out of the basement of a local church. They provide a hefty lunch to those in need, as they realize it may be the only meal they get.

We hosted a food drive on campus and collected 118 pounds of food for Urban Ministries of Wake County's food pantry. The organization also has an off-site women's shelter, an open door clinic, job training, and a community garden.

We used some of our free time to conduct an experiential learning activity, where we had to find resources for the homeless, without using our smartphones! We used the public computers in the university's library to search for places that offered free showers, food under $3, a place to sleep, medical care and other things. Here we are waiting for the bus, which we ended up missing, forcing us to walk 30 minutes downtown.

A team member and I at the bus station - a vital resource for the homeless. 

We helped put up panels and paint a house for Habitat for Humanity.

Our trip also consisted of a lot of reflecting - on our activities, on the effects of homelessness and what we could do about it and what we were already doing about it.

I'd like to give another big thank-you to Dr. Kyle Allen and the congregation at Cary Presbyterian for supporting my endeavor to make a difference in my community!




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About Post Author

Kalysha Clark is a recent graudate of North Carolina State University where she earned a Bachelor's of Science in Zoology and a minor in nonprofit studies. She is currently serving as a member of AmeriCorps and will return to NC State in January to begin her Master's program in Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology.

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About me

I am a graduate of NC State University with a Bachelors of Science in Zoology and a minor in Nonprofit Studies.

I am currently a Master's Student at NC State studying Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology. Part of my thesis will focus on how state action plans and policies look at and incorporate climate change and land use change. I am highly interested in habitat use, movement ecology and behavior, and hope to study these during my Master's and, later, my PhD.

I am currently working on my North Carolina Environmental Education Certification.

My skills include: Radio telemetry, Camera Trap Installation and Calibration, Animal Handling, Data Entry and Management, Animal Husbandry, Animal Behavior, Wildlife Rehabilitation, Raptor Handling, Project Planning, Fundraising, Public Speaking, Time Management and Organization

Classes I'm Currently Taking

-Conservation Biology
-Quantitative Methods in Education
-Wildlife Seminar
-Resource Selection Functions

Current Projects

-Evaluating Efficacy of Conservation Planning in the Southeast
-Evaluating the Household Dynamics of Wildlife Value Orientations

Honors, Awards, and Certifications

-Bachelor of Science in Zoology, 2015
-Minor in Nonprofit Studies
-Dean's List, Spring 2012, Fall 2013
-Roots and Shoots Founders' Award, $100, 2012-2013
-Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation Certification, March 2013
-Visionary Leader Certificate, Spring 2012

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