NEWS

By ROBERT ALBRIGHT

Carolina Center for Public Service

CHAPEL HILL -- The Carolina Center for Public Service has partnered with campus groups and community leaders to organize the first STRETCH Conference aimed at "STudents REaching Toward Change" this week at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The conference, to be held Friday and Saturday (Oct. 4-5), will include workshops and training sessions conducted by university staff, students, faculty and community leaders. The conference is open to all undergraduate and graduate students at Carolina, and registration, materials and meals are free. More than 100 students have signed up to participate. Online registration at www.unc.edu/cps/stretch closes today (Oct. 1.) After Tuesday, students can call (919) 843-7568 to ask about remaining availability for the conference.

Partners in planning the conference include the APPLES Service-Learning Program, Campus Y, Carolina Union, Carolina Leadership Development and the Executive Branch of Student Government.

Dr. Lynn Blanchard, director of the Carolina Center for Public Service, said STRETCH provides students an opportunity to build their leadership skills and expand their understanding of public service.

"STRETCH offers current and future student leaders the chance to connect and share their experiences as well as learn more about the many resources that support leadership and service at Carolina," Blanchard said. "We are fortunate to have the support of our partners, dedicated people in the community and other organizations on campus."
STRETCH kicks off Friday at 5:30 p.m. in Dey Hall’s Toy Lounge with a dinner for registered participants. Terri Houston, a guest speaker from the UNC’s Office of Minority Affairs, will also deliver a motivational program entitled "Moving Your Constipated Vision!"

At 9 a.m. on Saturday, conference participants will gather at the UNC School of Public Health’s McGavran-Greenberg Building for breakfast and a welcome from Dr. Steve Allred, associate provost for academic initiatives at UNC. Later, student, staff and community leaders will lead interactive workshops with conference participants. Workshop topics include networking, conflict resolution, diversity and fund raising.

UNC senior Lydia Guterman, who is helping facilitate a workshop on recruiting and retaining volunteers, said she expected to share lessons she had learned about student activism.

"STRETCH provides a unique opportunity for experienced leaders to pass on what they have learned about service in and around the university community to a new wave of student activists," Guterman said.

Following the morning workshops, STRETCH will conclude with a simple "hunger lunch" and roundtable discussions on important needs in the community. Faculty experts and community leaders will lead the table discussions, which will center on a variety of issues such as hunger/homelessness, health care access, women’s issues and affordable housing.

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STRETCH contact: Chad Fogleman, 843-7568, jfoglema@email.unc.edu

News Services contact: Mike McFarland, 962-8593