Application for 2001-2002 School Year

Praxis: Theory Into Action
Trinity's Residence Based Community Service Program

Program Group Coordinator
Jeffrey Green '01 (2000-2001)

Program Group Advisor
Joe Barber, Assistant Director of Community Service

Mission & Goals

Praxis is a residence-based community service program established by and for students with the purpose of creating an environment that actively promotes and engages students in community involvement and building within the residence hall, on campus, and with the Hartford community.

Praxis means "theory into action" which is very much in concert with the purpose of a liberal arts education. Trinity College’s mission statement puts forth the notion that its "paramount purpose is to foster critical thinking, free the mind of parochialism and prejudice, and prepare students to lead examined lives that are personally satisfying, civically responsible and socially useful." Realizing such a grand vision requires that all aspects of Trinity College connect thought to practice and concept to reality, both inside and outside of the classroom. The following goals will be used to guide the program in the right direction towards bringing its mission to full fruition:

A. Create a community of civically engaged individuals

Part of the reason for a residence-based program is to foster a community of people dedicated to service. In a society too many times characterized by a lack of connection among people, Praxis believes that service should and can act as a "tie that binds" people together in a community. This will serve as an example to the rest of Trinity about the importance of community.

It is the belief of the Praxis program that students (and people in general) should not engage in volunteer work without being imbued with a sense of community. There is an ironic twist of circumstances when the community is taken out of "community service". The purpose of Praxis is to avoid this "bowling alone" phenomenon and view service as a way not only to contribute to, but also create community.

B. Develop sustainable and reciprocal campus/community partnerships

Praxis participants realize that the importance of community service must be coupled with foremost attention paid to reciprocity so as to avoid the trap developing a paternalistic relationship between campus and community. In this way, everyone involved is server and served. With so much attention paid recently to the significance campus/community exchange, Praxis can use this opportunity to take the lead in demonstrating how campus and community can and should work together on an equal basis for a greater common good.

C. Development of student leaders

While it is important for Praxis participants to be involved with community service project work, it is of greater importance for members to learn to run their own projects and teach others to do the same. Ultimately, the long-term success of any project depends on investing others in the project work so that they themselves can progressively and independently take on more responsibility. In doing so, these new leaders will be better able to carry on and realize the mission and goals of Praxis.

Application Guidelines

The application process involves interested individuals submitting a proposal rather than merely filling out an application. The purpose of doing as such is to engage you, the potential participant, in a more thoughtful examination of why you want to be a part of Praxis and in what manner do you believe that you would like to and could contribute to the program. The application may be structured in a manner that best suits you but shall consist of the following elements:

Current Praxis participants must also reapply to the program each year. However, your application guidelines are a little different. You should address the above questions but within the context of a brief narrative consisting of:

Interview

Upon submitting your application, you will sign up for an interview and be interviewed by one or more of the following people: the Praxis Advisor, the Praxis Coordinator, and/or current participants in the Praxis Program.

Contract

If admitted to the program, you are required to sign a contract in which you will commit yourself to furthering the mission of the program by, at a minimum, undertaking the following activities:

1. Organize/run or actively participate in a community service project.
2. Participate in all aspects of at least one all-campus program.
3. Attend all Praxis all-campus programs.
4. Regularly attend Praxis meetings.