The funding was awarded through HSS 4110: Designing and Assessing Human Services Programs, a senior-level course taught by Tony Reyes, assistant professor of human service studies. In the course, students learn how to design programs that address social problems by conducting needs assessments, developing interventions, identifying necessary resources and evaluating program effectiveness.

Four Human Service Studies seniors 鈥� Ruby Radis, Izzy Greenstein, Chloe Vautrin, and Shayla Goba 鈥� wrote the grant proposal that led to the award. Their proposal recommended equipping a small wellness room where residents can participate in activities that support physical and mental well-being, including relaxation, movement and meditation.

As part of the project, students visited Burlington Homes to announce the grant award. During the visit, they met with Shandra Haynes, service coordinator for the community, and spoke with residents.

鈥淭he goal of the course is to help students understand how programs are planned, funded and evaluated in the real world,鈥� Reyes said. 鈥淩ather than studying these processes only in theory, students work through the entire process themselves 鈥� identifying needs, designing a program and preparing a grant proposal.鈥�

For the students involved, the project quickly became more than a typical class assignment.

鈥淲hat started as a class assignment quickly turned into a passion project in which we were actively working with Burlington Homes members to address community needs,鈥� said Greenstein. 鈥淪hayla, Ruby and Chloe genuinely cared about the outcome, so it didn鈥檛 feel like homework, and getting to meet the residents once the grant was awarded was the cherry on top.鈥�

The grant funding was made possible through a gift from an 黑料不打烊 alumna who supports the Learning by Giving model, an educational approach that allows students to learn philanthropy by making real funding decisions. The model has been championed at 黑料不打烊 by Bud Warner, professor emeritus of human service studies, who advocated for incorporating hands-on philanthropy into undergraduate education.

The wellness space will provide a quiet area where residents can participate in activities that support relaxation and overall well-being. The room may also be used by 黑料不打烊 students and volunteers who visit Burlington Homes to lead wellness activities with residents.

Through the project, students gained experience researching community needs, working with local partners and developing a professional grant proposal.

The project, supported by a Teaching and Learning Grant from 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (CATL), resulted in the creation of a lending library of activity kits now housed in the HSS Department. The library gives future students access to adaptable, ready-to-use materials they can check out for internships, practicums and CBL courses.

鈥淭hese hands-on activity kits give students a chance to try out how they approach and engage with community members鈥攂efore they鈥檙e actually out in the field,鈥� Navarro said. 鈥淚t might feel awkward at first, but practicing through role play or dyadic work really helps build their confidence. It also gives them more to offer when working with our community partners, creating more meaningful experiences and stronger connections.鈥�

In fall 2024, Reyes guided students in two sections of HSS 1110: The Art & Science of Human Service Studies as they developed activity kits based on what they were seeing and learning at local service-learning sites like Burlington Homes, Blakey Hall, the Positive Attitude Youth Center and the CityGate Dream Center. Students identified needs within these communities and designed kits to help future students connect more easily and meaningfully at their sites.

In spring 2025, Navarro launched a new CBL course, HSS 3240: Issues and Perspectives in Aging, drawing on her experience as a gerontological social worker. Sixteen students from a wide range of majors鈥攊ncluding human service studies, political science, computer science, biochemistry and accounting鈥攚orked in teams to create kits for use with older adults, youth, and children.

鈥淲e wanted the kits to be reusable, sturdy and easy to adapt for different physical and cognitive needs,鈥� Navarro said. 鈥淏ut just as importantly, we wanted them to be fun and flexible, so students could tailor them to different interests and situations.鈥�

For MJ Volpe ’25, an environmental studies and public policy double major, the project was about more than just creating a fun activity, it was a lesson in empathy and listening. As she developed her kit, she found herself thinking deeply about the kinds of activities actually reflect the interests of older adults, especially men who are often overlooked in settings like nursing homes.

鈥淚 realized how important it is to step outside of my own experience and really pay attention to what people want and need,鈥� Volpe shared.

Through conversations, observation, and active listening, Volpe designed Target Practice鈥攁 light-hearted, energetic game using foam Nerf guns and stackable targets.

鈥淣o matter someone鈥檚 age, everyone appreciates connection, competition, and a bit of silliness,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful for the chance to create something engaging, and I hope future students and community members keep approaching this work with empathy, creativity and a willingness to listen.鈥�

In addition to Volpes鈥檚 kit, the student-developed kits span a wide range of topics and activities, including:

• Computer support and virus detection
• A 鈥渨isdom capsule鈥� storytelling project
• Gentle yoga and movement
• Fishing games
• Jeopardy
• Beach day reminiscence
• Casino night
• Bowling

Each kit includes clear instruction sheets to guide students through initial conversations and help adapt the activities to participants鈥� needs. The kits were piloted in partnership with several local organizations, including Twin Lakes, Blakey Hall, Burlington Homes and the Kernodle Senior Center.

鈥淲hat made this project especially rewarding was seeing students take what they learned in class and at their sites and turn it into something creative and useful鈥攕omething that will benefit both future students and the people in our community,鈥� Reyes said.

The CBL activity kit lending library will remain an ongoing resource in the HSS department. As the collection grows, it will continue to support student learning and strengthen 黑料不打烊鈥檚 commitment to engaged, community-based education. Faculty interested in using the kits for their CBL courses can reach out to Navarro and Reyes.

鈥淭his was a transformative visit, as the team saw the work of the fall and spring semesters come to fruition,鈥� said Eric Rich 鈥�25, a business analytics major on the project team.

The visit was part of a collaborative initiative between HWH and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Center for Organizational Analytics.

Housed Working and Healthy is a Denver-based nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals experiencing housing instability through its Culinary Program. The four-month, hands-on program combines culinary training, mental health support, and job placement services.

黑料不打烊 students, including Eric Rich, Logan Laszewski, Brandon Feld and Adam Shirley, have been working on a data project under the guidance of faculty advisors Vinayaka Gude, assistant professor of business analytics, and Tony Reyes, assistant professor of human service studies. The project is designed to identify factors contributing to student success in the culinary program, allowing HWH to refine its training and support services.

During the visit, the students toured HWH鈥檚 facilities and learned about the organization鈥檚 mission to provide job training and supportive services to individuals overcoming homelessness and other life challenges.

鈥淭he most exciting aspect was meeting the compassionate students and staff at HWH and knowing that we are contributing to their mission of sustained employment,鈥� Rich said.

A highlight of the visit was the Iron Chef competition between graduates of HWH鈥檚 Culinary Program, in which Brandon Feld had the unique opportunity to serve as a judge. This friendly competition showcased the culinary skills and creativity of HWH graduates, providing a platform for them to demonstrate their expertise while receiving feedback from industry professionals.

“Data can reveal patterns and insights, but it is the human element, understanding the people behind the numbers, that truly drives meaningful impact,” said Gude. “This visit gave our students the chance to see firsthand the stories and talents behind the data they are analyzing, reinforcing the importance of empathy and human connection in their work.”

The collaboration between HWH and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Center for Organizational Analytics is part of an ongoing partnership aimed at enhancing their community culinary program through data-driven insights. Under the guidance of Professors Gude and Reyes, 黑料不打烊 students designed a dashboard to help HWH predict what students will most benefit from their program.