How Fordham Students Can Fuel Upward Mobility in the Bronx

Fordham students receive financial advice and career instruction to which the majority of the Bronx is not privy. Fortunate students may not always realize their skills are desperately needed by organizations guiding Bronx residents toward financial security amidst a 9.7 percent unemployment rate.

CBA students and some Fordham College students can take courses on personal finance, public speaking, interviewing and writing professionally – skills that will propel them through today’s competitive workforce. This makes students valuable assets to Bronx organizations which are dedicated to increasing employment rates. Thus, it is a shame when Fordham students do not share their skills and knowledge with families affected by layoffs and the tumultuous economy.  

Any student who has sought a job while beginning to manage his or her finances knows that doing so would be far more painful without university support. Stephen McGowan, Assistant coordinator of Global Outreach, Fordham alum and former leader of the 2009 GO! New York City service project, recognizes the importance of students sharing their career knowledge with their neighbors.

“As a member of the Fordham community, I have benefited from privileges allotted to me by the University - privileges not easily accessible to people living in the surrounding Bronx community,” McGowan said. “I urge any student to not only become aware of the differences between these two communities but to also learn in what ways you can help bridge the gaps that exist. One way to do this is by finding your own path to make the knowledge and skills you have acquired available for others.”

As logical as this exchange seems, personal career preparation is often a job in itself, and many students cannot volunteer during school because of oppressive time constraints. However, summer brings a wave of free weekends when students can offer their insights to Bronx residents trying to improve their financial situation. The following recommended Bronx organizations need volunteers for career and finance support programs:

 

LIFT

LIFT expands opportunities for poverty-stricken communities in New York, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. At LIFT’s Bronx location, volunteers can work individually with clients to assist job searches, prepare resumés and secure public benefits and tax credits among many other services.

Recently, Fordham’s Dorothy Day Center for Service and Justice named LIFT its Outstanding Community Partner of the Year. At a ceremony held at Fordham, Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J. President of the University, honored several Fordham seniors that consistently volunteered with the organization during college. There is certainly a close relationship between Fordham and LIFT, which makes for a very welcoming environment to new student volunteers.

Fordham alum and current LIFT Site Coordinator Danielle Egic was guest speaker at the aforementioned ceremony. She offered poignant advice to students studying poverty cycles through coursework but not through real-world interactions. 

“In our classes at Fordham, we learn about theories of poverty, race and class,” Egic said. “Theories are important to learn, but you also need practical experience if you are going to fully understand the impact of these theories. Being exposed to daily life in a county that has one of the highest poverty rates in the country, you break down stereotypes and put a face to the theories.”

LIFT in the Bronx is located at 2715 Bainbridge Av. To contact the organization about volunteer opportunities, call (718) 733-3897 or visit www.liftcommunities.org.

 

VIDA

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VIDA) is a government program that assists families with income tax preparation. The program specifically helps families in need to receive government refunds for tuition and various living expenses. Its nearest location to Rose Hill is with the Bronx’s University Neighborhood Housing Program (UNHP). This past tax season, UNHP’s volunteers provided complimentary tax preparation services to over 800 Bronx residents.

The VIDA program especially needs students with basic tax and accounting knowledge, such as Fordham CBA students who took related courses. Still, volunteers receive training and are not liable for mistakes since they are not CPAs. Kathryn Pando, CBA ’11, was a volunteer tax assistant this past spring, and she found her experience especially fulfilling considering Fordham’s Jesuit identity.

“Fordham notably educates the student as a ‘whole’ person, and I am proud to have lived this Jesuit philosophy of education combined with service,” Pando said. “The majority of CBA students head straight for corporations, but for those entering the corporate world, volunteering in the Bronx is their opportunity to explore non-profit organizations and share their talents in that area of work.”

 To join the VIDA volunteers, or to learn more about UNHP’s other volunteer programs, visit www.unhp.org.

 

Bronxworks

BronxWorks helps individuals better their economic and social well - being through educational workshops and consulting. This organization strongly believes people should be treated with dignity and respect regardless of their history or present financial situation. It runs two programs that specifically cater to volunteers with significant job experience and education.

The “Workforce Development” section fuels an ongoing battle against unemployment. Volunteers advise Bronx residents about the job search. Specifically, volunteers conduct mock interviews and resume writing workshops along with offering classes that build on-the-job skills.

The Bronxworks “ESOL Tutors” each help a small group of students with conversational and written English skills, in addition to fostering listening skills and group dialogues. Volunteers should enjoy teaching but are not required to have teaching experience, and they must be able to offer at least two hours a week.

Bronxworks has multiple locations throughout the Bronx from which students can choose. Volunteer applications are available at www.bronxworks.org.

 

Fordham Contacts

Aside from contacting these organizations, students should consult the Dorothy Day Center for Service and Justice to find programs that specifically cater to their individual talents and schedules. This office located on the first floor of the McGinley Center has a tremendous amount of resources and advisors that can lead students toward the program they are meant for.