"Do whatever most kindles love in you." --- Tereasa of Avilia

Voluntary
"An exercise of free will - deliberate, intentional, unforced, un-prescribed, willful, witting, chosen, volitional, autonomous, free, independent" and FUN!

Benefits
Getting Involved
Short Term
Long Term
How to Volunteer @ the WC
Off Campus Opportunities

Time is one of the greatest gifts one can give. The Women’s Center in an ideal place to get connected with an extensive network of students, staff, faculty, and community members.  Benefits of volunteering at the UCSC Women’s Center are:

• Developing new skills and perspectives
• Networking with students, staff, faculty, and community members
• Learning about women and gender related issues
• Making new friends and community at the Women’s Center
• Access of the feminist fridge contents
• Sending time in a tranquil, supportive environment
• Room for developing your own ideas/projects/events
• Working on fun, educational, provocative, creative events and programs
• Create and work on programs for class credit

Getting Involved

Short Term

These opportunities don’t have a set time requirement.  Work when you are available on a project-to-project basis.

Event Support
Help setup, run, and strike events. 

Office Work
Women the WC phone lines, file, organize, mailings etc.

Flyer/Publicity Distribution
Flyer on Monday afternoons to campus bus stops; flyer eateries, libraries, Santa Cruz community distribution locations; post banners around campus; organize mailings to campus units

Tabling Staffer
Set up table with WC info; answer questions about WC events and programs questions; sign people up for e-Newsletter; meet new people!

WC House Steward
Help keep the feminist fridge clean; weed the gardens; sweep cobwebs away; dust the library; take out recycling etc.

Long Term

These opportunities ask for a 3-month minimum commitment as well as attending WC staff meetings. Additional training with WC staff may be needed. 

51% Pipeline Project Interns
Leadership development for college women who may be interested in running for a political office (7 month program October – April).  Contact Roberta Valdez for more information rvaldez@ucsc.edu .

WC Art Gallery Manager
Organize and recruit art show for WC Art Gallery; work with artists for installations and take down; publicize art shows; help develop WC art collect.

Children’s Art Show Curator
Outreach to UCSC and Santa Cruz community for children artwork; hang and take down art show; create age appreciate reception.

Event Designer and Facilitator
The possibilities are endless; your ideas, staff ideas…

Graduate Student Event Coordinator
Organize research peer presentations/panels; coordinate thesis/dissertation writing support groups; host women graduate student social

Inside/Out Writing Project Intern
Facilitate writing & art workshops for women in SC county jail; support the project in the WC office.  Contact Roberta Valdez for more information rvaldez@ucsc.edu.

Justice Now
A project of the Women's Center working with Justice Now.  JN is a national organization working on issues related to the Prison Industrial Complex, specifically people in women's prisons.

Librarian Keep
Catalog and shelve new books; suggest new books; maintain Women’s Center’s collection.

LunaFest Film Festival Organizer
Films by…for…and about women.  Help organize and publicize this annual fundraising for events for The Breast Cancer Fund.

Mistress of the Web
Maintain update, and develop the Women’s Center’s web site

National Girls and Women in Sports Day Event Organizer
With a group of students, staff and faculty, plan a conference day to commemorate this annual celebration.

That Takes Ovaries! Event Organizer
Coordinate an open mike space that celebrates women’s “bold and brazen” acts.  Work with WC staff to plan this annual event.

Publicist
Write and distribute for publication articles for City on the Hill Press, Public Service Announcements to local radios, contact SCTV, Sentinel.

Student Organization Outreach
Outreach to student organizations on campus, paying special attention to women’s, students of color, and queer student organizations; introduce Women’s Center and build connections; plan events with student organizations on campus; receptions for women in the community. 

Tabling Organizer
Arrange tabling schedule at the Bay Tree Quarry Plaza and residential college locations; staff and recruit others to staff tables at the events on campus and the quarry. 

Volunteer Program Coordinator
Interview, train and place volunteers; recruitment at events and tabling.

4 Easy Steps to Volunteer at the Women’s Center:

1. Call or email Beth Rees to set up an introductory interview at (831) 459-2291 or emrees@ucsc.edu
2. Interview and fill out volunteer information form.
3. Schedule first day of volunteer work. *Note: training will occur first day of volunteer work unless otherwise scheduled and arranged.
4. Start volunteering at the Women’s Center!

WC volunteers will be appreciated by:

• Year End Celebration Beach Barbeque Party
• Certificate of Appreciation
• Love and support from the WC community
  
  

Off Campus Opportunities
Want more contact with The Real World? Come on down to the Women's Center, where your ideas and energy are always welcome -- or volunteer (often for credit!) at one of the community agencies listed below.

Presenting . . . volunteer/internship opportunities line-up!

Big Brothers, Big Sisters needs volunteers to be mentors and friends to children aged 7-14, tutor middle-school students in after-school programs, provide administrative support, and staff fundraising events. Call 464-8691.

Child Quest International needs Child Safety Trainers to teach workshops on child assertiveness and safety in elementary schools in Santa Clara County and San Jose. Contact Lindsey or Marcia, 408/287-4673.

Environmental Council needs interns for newsletter, web site, program development, and community outreach. Credit possible. Contact Cyndi, 662-2755 or cynick@cruzio.com.

Familia Center needs tutors to help kids with homework (Monday through Thursday, 3-5pm) and to provide after-school activities for bilingual girls and boys (Mondays - Fridays, 3:00-5:30pm). Contact Yolanda Goda, 423-5747.

Family Health Education Center needs volunteers and interns for grant writing, childcare, office work, public relations and parenting/childbirth classes. Spanish proficiency a plus. Contact Sara Wood Smith, 457-0334.

Kidpower, Teenpower, Fullpower, a violence prevention and self esteem-building organization for people of all ages, needs help with community outreach. Contact Irene van der Zande, 426-4407 or safety@kidpower.org.

Planned Parenthood Mar Monte in Santa Cruz and Watsonville needs volunteers to work as Education Assistants, Community Educators, Public Affairs Advocates, Fund raisers, Administrative Assistants, and Clinic Assistants. Contact Carol McPherson, 425-1551, ext. 42.

Santa Cruz AIDS Project (SCAP) needs volunteers for office work, support duties for clients and families, education and prevention, and fundraising. For volunteer application, call SCAP at 427-3900.

Survivors Healing Center needs volunteers to participate in non-profit management, program development, event organization, publicity and outreach, grant writing, research, developing written materials, volunteer management, and client services. Credit available. Contact Beth Love, 423-7601.

Triangle Speakers, an organization working to eliminate homophobia, needs help organizing a volunteer program to recruit, train and place volunteers. Credit possible. Contact 425-3227 or viacamp@aol.com.

Walnut Avenue Women's Center needs volunteers for daycare, programs on domestic violence, violence prevention, parenting, community education, and general office work. Contact Karin, 426-3062.

Welfare & Low Income Support Network needs help with office work, community outreach, and project coordination. Contact Elaine, 458-9070.

WomenCARE (Women's Cancer Advocacy Resources & Education) needs volunteers for special events. Contact Connie, 457-2273.

Women's Crisis Support/ Defensa de Mujeres needs counselors for their 24-hour bilingual hotline for women facing domestic violence, sexual assault, and chemical dependency. Volunteers also needed for office work, legal work, education and outreach, and shelter assistance. State Certified Counselor Training Programs offered twice a year. Contact Nicole 763-1683.

Women's International League for Peace & Freedom needs help with their newsletter, fundraising, member recruitment, and special projects. Credit possible. Contact Sandy Silver, 458-1200.

Women's International League for Peace & Freedom (UCSC Chapter) needs help with fundraising, member recruitment, and special projects. Contact Angela (angelo@ucsc.edu) or Lisa (lisa@ucsc.edu).

United Nations Association Center/UNICEF Store needs interns for community events and to staff gift store on Pacific Avenue. Credit possible. Contact Joan Anderson, 688-6629.

The UCSC Career Center, in Bay Tree Bookstore Building, and the Student Volunteer Connection, at the Student Center, also have great volunteer/internship listings -- check 'em out!

WORK OR STUDY AT THE WOMEN'S CENTER!
Call 459-2072 or e-mail women@ucsc.edu to request information on volunteer opportunities, internships, and field/independent study. Some of our projects: outreach to high school women, book groups, open readings, art exhibits, community murals and work teams, peer advising, dinners, films, and workshops!

JOIN THE WOMEN'S CENTER MAILING LIST
Click on our logo below (or e-mail women@ucsc.edu) to send us your name, phone, mailing address, and e-mail address. We'll send you hot-off-the-press information about events and other opportunities for involvement -- via e-mail!

DID YOU KNOW?
The UCSC Women's Center is open 9am-6pm Monday through Friday. Staff members are always happy to talk with you. Call 459-2291 to chat or to schedule an in-person appointment. After 6:00pm, you can ask the night perimeter shuttle to take you right to the Center (and when you're ready to leave, you can call for a convenient night shuttle pick-up).