RAPPORT Back in Action in '09

I find that first meetings are great fun! It's a chance to connect or re-connect. It's a chance to see where you're headed. It's a chance to have some fun before the serious business of social justice kicks in (which, can still be fun in the doing, but but I think is pretty serious in nature).

Last Wednesday was our first RAPPORT meeting of the '09-'10 school year. We reconnected, we chatted about the year ahead, and we trooped over to the Latino Film Fest hosted by Diversity Education.

Tonight will be another exciting first - the first meeting of RAPP XXV Tuesday group! Can't wait to have us all together!

Emma (RAPP XXIII) and Jojo (RAPP XXIV) strike a pose.

Coya texting while Jojo and Geneva smile for the camera (all RAPP XXIV).

Nicole (RAPP XXIV), Jen (Diversity Ed. GA), and Mia (RAPP XXII) getting ready to head to the film.
-Rebecca

Much is Owed Our Interviewers

Interviews this year's RAPP group were conducted from July through this week. Considering we had over 70 people complete interviews, it was a lot of time talking with folks! We never could've gotten through so many interviews and had such a quality of conversations if it weren't for the many RAPPORT members and a RAPP friend who helped out conducting interviews and providing feedback on the candidates.

A great big thank you to the following folk who pitched in on interviews:

Jojo Brannon (RAPP XXIV)
Eddie Cancel (RAPP XXIII)
Nicole Cassini (RAPP XXIV)
Gabby Givens (RAPP XXIV)
Tad Miller (RAPP XXIV)
Jen Rush (Diversity Education GA)
Krystal Smith (RAPP XXIV)
Brenna Travis (RAPP XXII)

An extra big thanks to Jen (pictured above), who isn't even a RAPPer but stepped in as the Diversity Education GA and co-conducted the most interviews of our dedicated group!

-Rebecca

Welcome the Newest RAPPers!

It's been an exciting day!
The more recent part has been our second Film Friday showing, which was great fun. I enjoyed watching Companeras - a film from this week's Latino Film Festival that profiled America’s first all-female mariachi band, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles - and the conversation we had afterwards about the music, the people, and the issues they faced, particularly around sexism.
The more exciting part of the day was in the morning. We welcomed our RAPP XXV members into the group! All new members were emailed and called this morning with the results of the application.
It's been a busy and challenging time this recruitment in many (positive!) ways. We had 170 people express interest in joining RAPP, nearly 80 of whom pursued membership through applications and interviews.
We've welcomed our newest members and have a waiting list of folks hoping to get in by the second meeting.
I've been overwhelmed by the interest and am excited going forward with our two, full groups! We have an amazing team of facilitators and RAPPORT members who've done much work getting the group in place. Many thanks to all who helped spread the word, promote RAPP at events, and interview our candidates!

Student Activities Fair

It's the end of a season - info table season! Today's Wellness & Student Activities Fair, organized by the UC Wellness Center and Student Activities Board, was the last info table of fall quarter. Given the amazing response in applications we've had this year so far, we promoted RAPP XXVI - next year's RAPP group.

It was a great time - the usual fun of info tabling plus a chance to visit with a lot of RAPPers!

Brittany of RAPP XXIII staffed the table for a while.

Emily of RAPP XXIV stopped by.

Eddie - RAPP XXIII member & active RAPPORT member - stopped by for a quick visit.

Blake of RAPP XXIII staffed the UC Alliance table.

For once I DIDN'T wear a RAPP t-shirt - I donned an SAB "Get Active!" one instead.

Latoya and Britt'eny continued their on-going debate on whether RAPP XXIII or XXIV is better.

Latoya found some support from Asha for her argument about the superiority of RAPP XXIV.

-Rebecca

RAPPORT Goes Into the Streets

One of the foci of RAPPORT is service to our community. We have an on-going relationship with the Lower Price Hill Community School in which most of our service will be completed. We started of the 2009-2010 school year with a fun event elsewhere, though.

Into the Streets is one of the largest community events organized by UC's Center for Community Engagement each year. RAPPORT members (as well as several prospective RAPP XXV members - yay!) registered and participated in the event Saturday morning. We joined groups of students working with 20 local community organizations for a wide variety of projects.

You can see the UC students at work in CCE's on-line photobook. Below is Jen Carter, GA with CCE, giving our groups instructions before we headed out for the morning's work.

-Rebecca

Turner Scholars Welcome Event

When I hear a student is Turner Scholar, I immediately assume they're an outstanding individual. Like most assumptions, I base it on the people in the group I've met before. Since many a RAPPer has been a Turner Scholar (or is it the other way around?), I've had the pleasure of meeting many. Through them, and through participating in the Turner Selection Committee, I've developed great respect for the program's academic rigor and community-minded nature.

Because of all of that, I was exstatic to get to attend the recent Turners Scholars Welcome!


Picture taking after the delicious dinner (provided, btw, by RAPP VI alum Dr. Bleuzette Marshall of the UC Foundation).

The RAPP display at the event. We're on track for continuing the great tradition of Turner Scholars in RAPP this year!

-Rebecca

Good Reason for No Film Friday: LGBTQ Meet 'n' Greet

This Friday we won't be hosting a Film Friday screening. Instead, RAPP folk are invited to attend the LGBTQ Meet and Greet hosted by the UC Women's Center.
The Women's Center has been helping women, their allies, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender folk and their allies for 30 years at UC. The LGBTQ Meet and Greet is an annual social get-together and networking opportunity.
Stop by between 12-2PM on Friday, October 2nd, on the 6th floor of Steger Student Life Center.
If you're a former RAPPer, drop by the office before or after to help out with interviewing RAPP XXV candidates!