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Maverick Philanthropy Initiative, a Service Learning Highlight

Learn how the Maverick Philanthropy Initiative allowed UNO Public Speaking Fundamentals students to participate firsthand in building community capacity through advocacy this spring.

  • published: 2020/06/29
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The UNO Service Learning Academy (SLA) is working with UNO faculty, preschool through 12th grade (P-12) teachers, and community partners to creatively adapt service learning projects to remote learning. Service learning projects will be highlighted throughout the remote learning phase.

Student Philanthropy and Service Learning

Initiated in 2019, the Maverick Philanthropy Initiative is a student philanthropy model of service learning that links charitable giving with student voice and course instruction. Community organizations provide expertise on community-identified issues and solutions by submitting funding applications, which are chosen and advocated for by students. To date, the Maverick Philanthropy Initiative has awarded $17,000 to community causes.

A UNO student said, “It’s neat to be able to make a difference while also advancing my education.”

During the Spring 2020 semester, 10 sections of the UNO Public Speaking Fundamentals course participated in the Maverick Philanthropy Initiative. UNO students gave speech presentations that attempted to captivate and convince their fellow classmates to support their selected organization’s call to action. The awarded organizations of each class section were given a $1,000 grant.

This spring, the UNO Public Speaking Fundamentals course instructors adapted the Maverick Philanthropy Initiative in response to UNO’s online/remote learning mode. This required students to expand their virtual and professional communication skills. Interviews with the organizations were conducted via Zoom, email, or phone, and the final speeches were presented online.

Watch one example of a Maverick Philanthropy Initiative presentation.

Through the Maverick Philanthropy Initiative, students are able to practice creativity, build community connections, and advocate for a social cause from the very beginning stages of the project.

Learn more about how your UNO course or community organization can be involved in future semesters of the initiative.

Spring 2020 Awarded Organizations:

Learn more about the UNO Service Learning Academy

The UNO Service Learning Academy (SLA) works to support UNO faculty members to develop service learning courses in collaboration with community organizations, governmental agencies, and preschool through 12th grade (P-12) teachers.

What is service learning? Service learning is a method of teaching that combines classroom instruction with meaningful, community-identified service.

Learn more about how the Service Learning Academy is responding during UNO's online and remote learning mode by visiting the UNO SLA Resource website.