Each of our Community Action projects is AAUW mission-based and aimed towards encouraging and assisting women and girls to succeed in their pursuit of education.

Title One Schools: Following a long tradition, branch members make a significant time commitment to help educate Title I students during the school year.   Their willingness to share their knowledge and interest make an important difference in the lives of these elementary students.

• Hundreds of hours of time on campus are recorded by volunteers in multiple programs such as  Reading Fluency Assessment and Art Masterpiece.
• During 2020-21, the Branch contributed books to two Title 1 elementary schools that focused on strong and accomplished women and girls.

Plans are already in place to continue these activities and more in the coming year.  Anyone interested in joining these women should contact  Ellie Watland,  Community Action Chair.

Volunteering at Schools:

• • Assisting the classroom teacher in or out of the classroom with preparation activities or learning tasks
  • Listening to children practice their reading as part of  reading fluency timed trials; Reviewing vocabulary and helping children see their individual progress
  • Assisting in the school library
  • Assisting with field trips or special activities on campus
  • Art Masterpiece Program – hands-on within a special program designed to introduce students to artists, techniques, and various mediums within the class setting, using grade-appropriate activities. Volunteers are also appreciated in assisting with the preparation of the end of the year School-Wide Art Fair displaying each grade’s work.

                                                

Beth Brown, member, and Art Masterpiece volunteer shares a conversation with a third-grade boy: “Mrs. Brown, you are the best art teacher I’ve ever had. You are the only art teacher I’ve ever had!”

STEM Activities: In the Spring of 2022 SEV funded 20 Scholarships to Arizona Science Center. These scholarships provided for 20 middle school girls, ten of which are from a Title 1 school, to attend #GirlsInSTEM for Making Cents of Life: Dive Into Your Future, a half-day immersive event took participants through real-life scenarios that mimic real life. With female guest speakers from Vanguard and engaging activities, our #GirlsInSTEM learned the benefits of budgeting, showing them how to save for the item they just have to have!

Period Packing: Our branch received a Community Action Grant from AAUW AZ in the Spring of 2023. Using these funds, we promote period poverty awareness and donate several hundred period packs for menstruating girls at Chandler (CUSD) Title I schools.