By Diana Moreno
I know you’ve heard it before. From high school counselors threatening your chances of getting into college if you don’t have a million volunteer hours to UF Preview pounding the message that college just ain’t college if you don’t belong to 50 different organizations, we’ve all been told the tired reasons to jump into the world of “community involvement.”
But such feats are usually unsuccessful because rewarding volunteerism comes from something more than the desire to beef up college applications or job resumes. It comes from a genuine care for issues that matter to you.
So why should you care? It’s hard enough to manage a 12-credit semester, a monotone part-time job and still find the time to do the laundry in between. And even if you do feel that passion and compassion that compels you to give your time, it’s hard to shake the lingering sense that in the long run, whatever drops of goodwill you can muster will not amount to anything in the ocean of problems in which this world seems to be drowning.
Yes, with the way history is written and taught, it’s easy to feel discouraged. It’s easy to get the impression that only people in high places, like celebrities and politicians, can make a tangible difference in the lives of others. When we believe that history is shaped by a string of brilliant individuals who have carried the masses forward towards social change through their superior talent and courage, we feel powerless before we’ve taken the first step. Reality, however, is quite different.
Behind almost every major turning point in history is the power of collective action, but even a single brave soul has the power to shake and change a community. In Gainesville, you don’t need to look far to find evidence of this.
Sallie Ann Harrison, a local women’s rights activist led the struggle to help victims of rape and domestic violence in Gainesville in the 1970s. Through her work with local churches and fellow activists, she opened the city’s first rape crisis center, a small space staffed by housewives and students devoted to counseling and even personally housing women who fell victim to physical and/or emotional abuse. Thanks to her work, thousands of women in our community now have an invaluable resource at their service.
The history of our city is a testament to the truth in Fredrick Douglas’s words, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”
So what will it be? You may go another year spending your free time flipping through hundreds of cable channels. And that is fine; the world will go on without you. Or as I did, you may decide to venture into the Civic Media Center on a Thursday afternoon, peek curiously in to see friendly faces sitting around the volunteer table and shyly ask, “How can I become a volunteer?”
Here’s a list of groups in Gainesville you can get involved with:
Civic Media Center
An alternative reading room and library of the non-corporate press, and a resource and space for organizing. Stop by any night of the week to catch different events like documentaries (Mondays at 8), organization meetings or panel discussions.
Location: 433 S. Main Street, volunteer meetings every Thursday at 5:30pm
More info and events at www.civicmediacenter.org
International Socialist Organization
With branches across the country, its members are involved in helping to improve different injustices, such as the movement to stop the war in Iraq, the fight against racism and anti-immigrant scapegoating, the struggle for women’s rights like the right to choose abortion, the fight against anti-gay bigotry and inhumane treatment of workers. ISO is committed to building a left alternative to a world of war, racism and poverty.
Meetings: Thursdays, 7pm, at the Presbyterian Student Center
More info: On Facebook, search for “Gainesville ISO.”
Students for a Democratic Society
A radical, multi-issue student and youth organization working to build power in our schools and our communities. It is committed to shifting the national priorities from war and occupation to jobs and education.
Meetings: Mondays at 6:30pm at UF in Anderson 34
More info: sdsgainesville.blogspot.com or on Facebook: “Gainesville area SDS”
Animal Activists of Alachua
A UF student group that promotes vegetarianism and animal rights on campus and in the larger community.
Meetings: First meeting of the semester is Sept. 3 at the Reitz Union room 346
More info: http://animalactivists.wordpress.com/
Queer Activist Coalition
A politically motivated activist group at UF fighting for full civil and social equality for the LGBTQ community.
More info: E-mail them at queeractivistcoalition@gmail.com or on Facebook: “Queer Activist Coalition (QAC)”. Also, check out a story written by their president discussing the group in more detail.
Human Rights Awareness
A UF student group dedicated to raise awareness and encourage activism concerning human rights violations around the world, particularly in cases of genocide.
More info: www.ufhumanrights.org
National Women’s Liberation
A Gainesville feminist group who meet to discuss and organize around women’s issues.
More info: E-mail them at nwl@womensliberation.org, or visit womensliberation.org.
Student/Farmworker Alliance
A network of students and youth organizing with farmworkers to eliminate sweatshop conditions and modern-day slavery in the fields.
More info: On Facebook, search for “Gainesville Student/Farmworker Alliance.”
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is a Nobel Prize winning grassroots activist organization. It fights to uphold human rights on the local and international level.
Meetings: Begin in the fall
More info: On Facebook, search for “UF Amnesty International,” or e-mail them at ufamnesty@gmail.com.
Bridges Across Borders
An international collaboration of activists, artists, students, educators and others who cherish cultural diversity and global peace. This organization addresses the root causes of violence and hatred in the world and examines the attitudes that cause humans to view each other as enemies and to seek understanding that allows people to appreciate each other as friends.
More info: www.bridgesacrossborders.org
Veterans for Peace
Through the lessons of their own experience, Veterans for Peace work tirelessly to raise awareness of the detriments of militarism and war as well as to seek alternatives that are peaceful and effective.
Meetings: First Wednesday of every month at 7pm
More info: E-mail the president, Scott Camil, at s.camil@att.net.
The Kickstand
The Gainesville Community Bicycle Project, The Kickstand, provides free or inexpensive bicycle-related services to anyone. The bicycle represents the most affordable, healthy and environmentally sound mode of transportation and recreation. The Kickstand seeks to encourage individuals to learn to maintain a bicycle and to use it in a responsible manner.
Location: Find The Kickstand every Wednesday at the Downtown Farmer’s Market.
More info: www.thekicktsand.org
The Fine Print
Our mission is to serve the community of Gainesville by providing an independent, critically thinking outlet for political, social and arts coverage through local, in-depth reporting. If you have a passion for independent journalism, writing, art, photography or activism, you might just be the perfect addition to The Fine Print. We are always looking for new talent, so contact us.
More info: www.thefineprintuf.org or e-mail us at alt.publication@gmail.com.
Counterpoise Magazine
Counterpoise is a quarterly review journal of alternative publications and products. The magazine offers internship opportunities, as well as reviewer positions. UF and Santa Fe students are encouraged to apply.
More info: www.counterpoise.info
Committee for a Civilian Police Review Board
CCPRB is a group of concerned citizens who demand the creation of a Citizen’s Police Review Board to fight against the pattern of corruption, arrogance, bias and violence displayed by some members of the Gainesville Police Department. Students and members of the community are invited to join the committee and help demand accountability from our civil servants.
More info: E-mail them at gvillepolicereview@gmail.com
CHISPAS
The Coalition of Hispanics Integrating Spanish Speakers through Advocacy and Service (CHISPAS) is a student-run group at UF comprised of students and community members who are invested in the immigrant community and feel passionate about sparking change on and off campus.
More info: www.chispasuf.org
Protect Gainesville’s Citizens
A group whose mission is to provide Gainesville-area citizens with accurate and comprehensible information about the Cabot/Koppers Superfund site. Through analytical research, outreach education and community participation, Gainesville citizens will have an active voice in the Cabot/Koppers Superfund site cleanup process.
More info: www.protectgainesville.org
If you didn’t see the type of organization you’re looking for on this list, or you want to find out more, check out Radical Rush- an activist fair of student and community organizations organized by the Civic Media Center every semester. This fall, Radical Rush will be held Sept. 15 – 17. Come out to the Plaza of the Americas to learn more about how to get involved and to meet some of the organizers that are making waves in our community.
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