Community resilience and commitment
During a year of unpredictability, service organizations in our community exhibited great resilience and commitment. Haas Center staff worked alongside community partners to ensure that the channels of communication and engagement remained open for Stanford students.
In December, the Haas Center facilitated a virtual training session on navigating Stanford for approximately 20 community partners. We covered how to access key information and contacts, recruit students, and craft effective service opportunities for the Stanford community.
In March, organizer and educator Marshall Ganz, the 2022 Mimi and Peter E. Haas Distinguished Visitor, invited community organizations to discuss specific actions for persevering in uncertain times. This conversation also served as an opportunity for students, faculty, and community members to rest and rejuvenate together.
Our community partners offered service opportunities for students and alumni during the Haas Center’s annual Spring into Service event, which was held during National Volunteer Week in April. From shearing sheep at the Hidden Villa Ranch to testing interactive tree walk guides with Canopy, volunteers dedicated their time to helping address community needs.
Also in April, the Haas Center hosted community partners for a panel event on volunteer engagement strategies featuring The Health Trust, The Day Worker Center of Mountain View, and Second Harvest Food Bank. More than 30 community partners attended the event to learn and offer their insights.
To recognize and celebrate the community partners for their remarkable work, the Haas Center hosted two events in their honor. In December, nearly 50 partners joined us virtually for the annual Community Partner Breakfast, which included a discussion on how the Haas Center can support pandemic recovery locally. One attendee appreciated hearing about partners’ “experiences as practitioners and by extension the communities they serve.”
In May, all were invited to a well-deserved Community Partner Celebration. The event gave Haas staff members an opportunity to recognize community partners for their dedication to serving and uplifting their communities. Over 50 partners came to the Stanford Educational Farm to join students and faculty for a joyous celebration. In addition to the remarks and presentations, guests enjoyed a cookie decorating station, a drum circle, and delicious food.
