Earlham, Richmond organize day of service to unite students with town
By Sasha Benderly-Kraft
Earlham students and Richmond community members will collaborate in a clean-up of the Starr, Vaile and Old Richmond neighborhoods tomorrow.
This event, the annual Earlham- Richmond Community Day of Service, marks the beginning of a series of neighborhood clean-ups happening in Richmond over the next month. Junior Hannah Hale Leifheit, one of two Earlham students who took on the task of organizing the event last year, has again taken the lead on the Earlham portion of organizing this year.
To Leifheit, the day represents a “reminder that we’re part of a community” — a way to bring Earlhamites and Richmondites together to do something positive for their shared space.
According to Leifheit, the original momentum for the event last year came from local government. She and fellow Earlham student Emily Ostroff ‘09, had been working with the mayor’s office as part of their work as Bonner Scholars. During the planning process of the event, Leifheit says the two students were approached about spearheading the Earlham side of the event.
“They realized that in order to get students out there, they needed a room to gather, maybe food, and transportation,” said Leifheit, “so it made sense to look for an Earlham connection.”
This year, with Ostroff graduated, Leifheit has taken on the main responsibility for organizing on campus, which she says fits naturally with her own volunteer background. Leifheit is a Bonner Scholar and formerly served on Earlham Student Government, both of which are key partners in the organizing process, along with the Earlham Volunteer Exchange.
Vice President of Community Relations Avis Stewart notes that students have mostly handled the work of organizing.
“If students want to be involved,” said Stewart, “Community Relations is interested in helping, but this event is mostly student-guided.”
Leifheit said the trash pick-up was chosen to improve the space the community occupies.
“The appearance and feel of a space really makes a community,” she said. “There are a lot of yards and lots with a lot of trash problems in the areas we’re working in, and by cleaning that up we improve the community for everyone. Plus it’s an easy thing that everyone can do in any amount — every little bit helps.” Speaking to the Methods of
Peacemaking class taught by Gypsy Swanger, director and professor of peace and global studies, Mayor Sally Hutton had high praise for the Community Day, particularly for the fact that it gets Earlham and Richmond people working side-by-side.
Leifheit agreed.
“It’s great to have Earlhamites and Richmond folks working toward a common goal,” she said.
“Having experience together lets us show each other who we really are.”
Leifheit’s biggest concern this year is getting Richmond community members to come out.
“Last year, we stuck trifold pamphlets in gates and mailboxes,” said Leifheit, “but this year we mostly put flyers in local establishments to integrate with community ties already in place.”
The organizers also put a public service announcement on local radio station G101.3 and an editorial in the Palladium-Item.
Stewart sees the day as a good way to get students into the world of service. To him, Earlham’s focus on community is a way of integrating the learning experience into everyday life.
“It’s vitally important to see people actually get involved with doing things, not just talking,” said Stewart. “It’s what lets us turn theory into practice.”
Stewart hopes that the spirit of cooperation built at events like this one will not only get students involved and keep them there, but also to foster acceptance of Earlham students in the community at large.
“The Earlham-Richmond relationship has really improved over the last few years,” he said, “but like any relationship, we need to nurture it.”
Leifheit believes that, as long as the current level of cooperation between students, student organizations, and the city continues as it currently is, that the event will grow in coming years.
“Hopefully, we will find ourselves in a place where Community Day will be an institution in its own right — it will be thought of like any other major student activity that people look forward to,” she said. “It should be a snapshot of a successful city.”
The Earlham-Richmond Community Day is tomorrow, April 17. It will begin with a breakfast in Runyan Center’s Hancock room at 8 a.m., and buses will transport students to the clean-up locations at 9 a.m., where the city will be providing dumpsters. The day will culminate in a barbecue for all participants at the Elizabeth Starr Academy at noon.
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