RAPP Leaders Go On To Be... Social Workers!

A couple of years back, we made a couple videos called "RAPPers Go On To Be..." to highlight how involvement in RAPP makes sense for all Bearcats regardless what career you might be headed toward.

In reflecting on encouraging people to apply for formal leadership positions in RAPP, we thought it could be similarly useful to highlight how people have contributed to RAPP and gone on to apply the knowledge they learned in a variety of impactful professions.

Kurt speaks at the RAPP XXVI Wednesday Banquet.

Kurt Southard (RAPP XXIII) was a Peer Leader with RAPP XXV and Facilitator with RAPP XXVI. After graduating top of their class in 2011, they served with AmeriCorps in the National AIDS Fund Team Chicago and The Night Ministry. Kurt currently applies their social work expertise at the Chicago Women's AIDS Project.

Laura (left) and her high-five buddy Naila at ARJ 2012.

Laura Perez (RAPP XXVII) was a Peer Leader with Accelerating Racial Justice 2012, after also helping create the program as a member of the RAPP Working Group. Laura just graduated with a Masters of Social Work from the UC School of Social Work and passed the Ohio State Board licensing exam. She is applying her social work expertise at the Talbert House in Brown County.

Why Did You Join RAPP Ep. 5

Why Did You Join RAPP?

We asked a few RAPPORT members why did they initially join RAPP.
Now, we have RAPP XXIV alum and RAPP superstar Jojo Azevedo.

RAPP Working Group Update

The RAPP Working Group that convened to transition RAPP through a programming transition is still going strong three meetings into our work!

The group has spent great time exploring what to build for our intended five-day summer intensive program on racial justice and inclusive leadership.  We've worked through many big questions as well as explore how to structure an effective application process.  We've also worked on some fun but meaningful name and visual identity ideas!

By the end of April, anticipate an announcement of what we'll be doing this summer as well as our long-term vision!

Working Group participants posed for a group shot after meeting three!

RAPP Working Group Up & Running

This past Thursday, March 15th, a group of Bearcats from throughout UC's community came together for the first of four Working Group meetings to guide RAPP through our upcoming programming transition.

The group got acquainted, spent time defining racial justice & inclusive leadership, then tackled some big questions for our work over the next few meetings.

This working group is laying the foundation for RAPP's 2012-13 programming transition.  We'll continue offering our core 9-month program but with only one group of 35 students (for the last four years we've offered two concurrent groups of up to 35).  Instead of that second 9-month group, RAPP will offer a 5-day racial justice & inclusive leadership intensive - hopefully running the pilot program of it this August.

The next Working Group meeting is tomorrow, March 20th, from 5:30-7:30.  Please contact Rebecca if you're interested in joining us!

About half of the working group posed for a post-meeting picture.

Volunteers Needed for RAPP Working Group on Five-Day Racial Justice Intensive

In 2012-13, not only will the University of Cincinnatitransition to semesters but RAPP will transition the way in which we offer intensive engagement.  This email will provide a very brief overview of that; its primary intent is seeking out a group of individuals who are interested in helping RAPP make this transition a successful one.

The Big Change

Since 2008, RAPP has run two concurrent groups of approximately 35 students through our core social justice education curriculum.  This endeavor has been a challenging and rewarding attempt at building a critical mass of inclusive leaders and social  change agents at the university. 

This model, in the big picture, has proven unsustainable with current resources as well as around student engagement.  In response to this and other identified community needs, RAPP will transition away from the two concurrent group model. 

Instead, RAPP will offer two different social justice intensives in 2012-13:

• One group of 35 in the 9-month program
• One five-day racial justice intensive in mid August

RAPP staff as well as the office of Student Activities &Leadership Development is excited to try out this new structure and looking forward to the positive benefits it will bring to our campus. 

Help Needed

In order to practice the mission of RAPP, we need to include many voices in the process of planning the transition.  In particular, we are looking to build a working group of eight to sixteen members that will guide this transition process.

Ideally, this working group will include current students, Student Life staff, faculty, and other interested community members.  Its composition will also reflect the diverse community of RAPP and within which RAPP operates.

The Working Group’s Process

Over approximately eight hours, the working group will tackle the following tasks:

• Review RAPP’s history and critical foundations
• Benchmark similar inclusive leadership & racial justice intensives
• Establish the general framework for the intensive, including:
• The big idea/purpose of the intensive (similar to goals & objectives)
• How to promote the intensive (including name and visual identity)
•  The process for accepting/selecting participants

• Refresh the RAPP recruitment process to address:
• Clarifying & communicating the differences between the 5-day intensive and the 9-month intensive
• Revising the recruitment process to ensure selection of highly-committed members for the 9-month intensive

Ideally, this will be done through three two-hour meetings during March and a fourth meeting two-thirds of the way through spring quarter.  A meal or refreshments will be provided at all working group meetings.

Get Involved!

If you are interested in participating in this working group and helping guide RAPP through this important transition, please contact Rebecca at lehmanrl@uc.edu or 513.556.6119 as soon as possible.  I am hoping to set up our first meeting some time between March 7^th and 14^th.

Please also feel free to share this call for support with people you think may be beneficial to this endeavor.

RAPP Committees! Join and Make a Difference!

For a second year, we'll be running committees to help RAPP continue to improve and reach our great potential.  I'm currently seeking members for these committees that will begin meeting mid-November.  If you have any questions or would like to participate, please contact Rebecca Lehman at lehmanrl@uc.edu or 513.556.6115.
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RAPP 25^th Reunion Organizing Committee
Committee Overview and Guidelines

Background:

The Racial Awareness Program (RAPP) is approaching our 25^th year at the University of Cincinnati.  In our fifth and tenth year, reunions were organized to recognize and reunite our members.  Approaching our twenty-fifth year in the 2010-2011 school year, we have a great opportunity for many Rs: reflection, recognition, reunion, and re-energizing.

This committee began meeting in late winter 2010 to prepare for the reunion.  As we move closer to the event, I invite more people to join the committee to complete the work leading up to this important event on Saturday, May 14, 2011.

Committee Guidelines:

With the direction and support of the RAPP Program Coordinator, the RAPP 25^th Reunion Committee will work toward successfully completing the following goals:

·         Establish a timeline for organizing reunion communication and activities;

·         Working with a budget, provide a meaningful and memorable reunion experience;

·         Provide RAPPers and our supporters opportunities for reflection on the past of RAPP and re-energizing for our future.

Committee Membership:

This committee is open to all previous RAPP members and current UC students and staff, regardless of location.  Committee members should be able to participate (in person or by phone) in regularly scheduled twice monthly meetings.  Committee members will also work on tasks between meetings that are developed, assigned, and followed up on at the regular meetings.

The committee will be working through May 2011.  I am seeking up to twelve committee members and there will likely be a need for volunteer support from others throughout the work period.

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RAPP XXVI Social Committee

Committee Overview and Guidelines

Background:

The expected commitment for RAPP members is to be present in body and mind at all RAPP meetings and retreats.  Anything else, as I like to say, is extra.

That said, RAPPers every year seek to connect with each other outside of meetings.  Now that we run two groups concurrently, there’s extra interest in connecting with “the other half” of RAPP before the spring retreat.

As an opportunity to help one’s RAPPmates as well as an opportunity to develop leadership/programming skills, the RAPP XXVI Social Committee will create occasions for interested RAPP XXV members and RAPP graduates to connect outside of the RAPP commitment.

Committee Guidelines:

With the direction and support of the RAPP Program Coordinator (PC), the RAPP XXVI Social Committee will work toward successfully completing the following goals:

·         Review “best practice” program planning processes as well as learn about campus resources;

·         Utilizing office and University resources, develop and implement regular programming driven by the interests of RAPP XXVI members;

·         Strive to connect RAPP members with meaningful experiences, including service to our community and exposing ourselves to new experiences.

Committee Membership:

This committee is open to current active members of RAPP XXVI and RAPPORT.  Committee members are expected to participate in regularly scheduled twice monthly meetings.  Committee members also work on tasks between meetings that are developed, assigned, and followed up on at the regular meetings as well as attend committee-planned events as their schedule permits.

The committee will work from November 2010 through June 2011.  I am seeking up to ten members and strive for representation from both RAPP XXVI groups and RAPPORT.

Help Drive the Future of RAPP

I am currently seeking members for two key committees that I'd like to have up and running by mid-February: the RAPP 25th Reunion Organizing Committee and the RAPP Rebranding committee. Please contact me at lehmanrl@uc.edu for more information or to join!

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RAPP 25th Reunion Organizing CommitteeCommittee Overview and Guidelines

Background:
The Racial Awareness Program (RAPP) is approaching our 25th year at the University of Cincinnati. In our fifth and tenth year, reunions were organized to recognize and reunite our members. Approaching our twenty-fifth year in the 2010-2011 school year, we have a great opportunity for many Rs: reflection, recognition, reunion, and re-energizing.

Committee Guidelines:
With the direction and support of the RAPP Program Coordinator, the RAPP 25th Reunion Committee will work toward successfully completing the following goals:

· Establish a timeline for organizing reunion communication and activities
· Working with a budget, provide a meaningful and memorable reunion experience
· Provide RAPPers and our supporters opportunities for reflection on the past of RAPP and re-energizing for our future

Committee Membership:
This committee is open to all previous RAPP members and current UC students, regardless of location. Committee members should be able to participate (in person or by phone) in regularly scheduled twice monthly meetings. Committee members will also work on tasks between meetings that are developed, assigned, and followed up on at the regular meetings.
The committee will work from February to October 2010. I am seeking up to twelve committee members and there will likely be a need for volunteer support from others throughout the work period.
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RAPP Rebranding

Background:
The Racial Awareness Program (RAPP) has had several logos and advertising campaigns throughout our twenty-four years. We have had our current logo and advertising themes since 2005. As we approach our 25th year as a program, we would like to re-energize our presence on campus with new visual representation.

Committee Guidelines:
With the direction and support of the RAPP Program Coordinator (PC), the RAPP Rebranding committee will work toward successfully completing the following goals:

· Review and research rebranding processes as well as what we want to convey through our imagery
· Working within a budget given by the PC, develop and implement a campus- and community-wide contest, including selection criteria and process, for finding our new brand
· Create opportunity for promotion of the new imagery as well as RAPP overall

Committee Membership:
This committee is open to any interested community member regardless of affiliation with RAPP and regardless of location. Committee members should be able to participate (in person or by phone) in regularly scheduled twice monthly meetings. Committee members will also work on tasks between meetings that are developed, assigned, and followed up on at the regular meetings.

Committee members cannot submit entries to the contest.

The committee will work from February to June 2010. I am seeking up to seven members, with a particular interest in those with marketing backgrounds.