Alcorn University News April 2015 Alcorn psychology student Ajasha Long gives back to community Alcorn State University senior and psychology major Ajasha Long never pictured herself working in a setting where caring for children was the primary task. Thanks to her internship where she worked with at-risk children, she developed a different way of applying her knowledge in various areas. "That was my first experience in a setting such as that one," said Long. "I'm so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone because I learned that psychology is so much more than just one specific area. Our main purpose is to help and cause no harm. I learned that helping anyone in anyway would still make me professionally happy." Long, a St. Louis, Mo. native, completed an 84-hour internship at the Natchez Children's Home in Natchez, Miss. as a requirement of the psychology program at Alcorn. The Natchez Children's Home is a non-profit organization whose mission is to intervene in the lives of children and families facing a crisis. While working there, she organized an event with Natchez restaurant Ruby Tuesday March 28 and 29 in order to raise money for the children's home. A portion of the proceeds from those two days of sales, along with over $800 raised by Long during her fundraiser, went to the needs of the Children's Home. "As an intern for the organization, I wanted to do something to help fulfill some of the needs of the Children's Home. There is always something that can be done, so this was just a small token of my appreciation to the Children's Home." Long hopes that her willingness to donate to a worthy cause will encourage her peers to do the same in the future. "Donating to charities such as this one is very important. The Natchez Children's Home and other charities operate strictly off of grants and donations. If it weren't for the help of others, the organization would not be able to function." SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.