Hampton University News June 20, 2016 HU Students Travel Abroad to Dominican Republic For International Service Learning Opportunity Eight Hampton University students traveled to Caberete, Dominican Republic for an unforgettable international service learning and study abroad learning opportunity May 16-23, 2016. For the trip, continuing HU students and William R. Harvey Leadership Institute fellows, partnered with the Mariposa DR Foundation and Center For Girls<http://www.mariposadrfoundation.org/>, University of Indiana, Education First College Tours<http://news.hamptonu.edu/release/Education%20First%20College%20Tours> and the Girl Effect<http://www.girleffect.org/about-us/> movement. All came together for the common goal of investing in sustainable solutions to end generational poverty. HU students and fellows focused on the overall experience of traveling abroad, tasting new cuisines, community service and outreach through the Mariposa Center For Girls, as well as exploring the natural wonders of the island. HU students learned to work with their hands. They mixed cement and built a wall around the perimeter of the Mariposa school, to provide an added measure of security and safety for the girls. The students simultaneously engaged with local communities as part of their service learning responsibilities. After the work was complete however, there was time to explore. "This was more than an academic opportunity, it was an opportunity delve into a new culture, a new environment and a new way of life," said DaVida Plummer, Dean of the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications, and trip chaperone. "But the takeaway for me, was to be immersed in such a beautiful culture, and know that for every minute we were there as a team, that we left a little bit of what we touched better than we found it." The Mariposa DR Foundation was established in 2009 and serves girls from youth to adulthood. The foundation provides young ladies with a safe environment in which to educate, empower and ultimately employ themselves and their immediate families. HU students not only contributed to the Mariposa girls' and DR's communities, but were also able to take their experiences and new ways of thinking learned abroad, into their own communities here in the Unites States. "The most impactful thing I took away from this trip is that one person can make a difference, but you can't make a difference just one time," said rising senior and WRHLI Fellow, Aliah Williamson. "I had a great time serving the community in the DR but my 7-8 days of working with those girls means nothing if I do not continue to spread the word and work in my community when I get home." To watch Aliah Williamson's Vlog recording the trip please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUghebuKbEg To learn more about the WRHLI or to view an overall trip Q&A with Aliah Williamson, please visit: http://li.hamptonu.edu<http://li.hamptonu.edu/> 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 404-592-4820 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/ Register here http://hbculibraries.org/html/2016meeting-form.html for the October 10,11 Membership Meeting in Atlanta. [Sized Coming Soon]NEW DIGS!!!! The HBCU Library Alliance is relocating to the Atlanta University Center Woodruff Library. July 1st is target date for transition. Stay tuned!!! LYRASIS, Inc. 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 150 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.