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Civic Engagement


Ƶ HIV/AIDS Awareness

On Saturday, March 5, 2022, Ƶ Chapel represented the University at an HIV/AIDS Awareness Event at the 57th Annual Jubilee Bridge Crossing in Selma, Alabama. The Chapel joined forces with Selma Air and other community partners to make this event possible. The day was filled with presentations, vendors and exhibits, food, and a fashion show.

Volunteers at the HIV/AIDS Awareness event

Reverend Michael Thurman, Assistant Chaplain and Dr. Tracey Shannon, Interim Dean of School of Nursing and Allied Health and Dr. Vivian Carter, Department Chair of Psychology and Sociology, represented Ƶ. Ƶ’s participation was made possible through a HIV/AIDS Capacity Building Grant provided by Interfaith Youth Core.

Rev. Michael Thurman and Dr. Vivian Carter

Ƶ Chapel Helps Combat Food Insecurity

Assistant Chaplain, Reverend Michael Thurman has been actively engaged with the Macon County Minister’s Council Backpack Program. This is a program organized through theirFood Pantry Ministry. The Backpack Program was developed to help meet the food insecurity needs of the students in the Macon County Public School system, by providing them with food during the weekend. On Friday mornings Reverend Thurman, Guy Trammell,Food Pantry Ministry Coordinator, along with other volunteers from the communitygather in the parking lot of Booker T. Washington High School toload the school buses that deliver thefood to various communities throughout Macon County.

loading Macon County School busWeekly Statistics:

Number of households served 1,049

Number of buses loaded 14

Average Number of volunteers 6

Food Items included in the boxes variedaccording to the season

June 2021 - Food Distribution to the Warrior Stand and Cotton Valley Communities

Cotton Valley Delivery Food Drop off Cotton Valley delivery

Guy Trammell delivering food to
Cotton Valley in Macon County, AL

Assistant Chaplain, Rev. Thurman, assisting with deliveries. Rev. Thurman distributing food to the residents of
Warrior Stand in Macon County, AL

October 2021 - Food Distribution at the Cotton Valley Community Center

food distribution

The Rev. Michael Thurman and Mr. Guy Trammell,

helped the staff at Cotton Valley Center

prepareand distribute food boxes for the Cotton Valley communitty.

food distribution

World AIDS Day Forum December 2021

A candid discussion about the HIV virus and the AIDS conditions it causes that is ravaging the African American Community. This project is in support of World AIDS Day, a day set aside each year to globally raise awareness and to call for, not just management strategy, but for a cure for HIV/AIDS. Ƶ's Assistant Chaplain, Reverend Michael Thurman, serves as host for this dynamic dialogue. This event is sponsored by Tuskegee in conjunction with its partnersInterfaith Youth Corps, Gilead Compass Initiative and the Wake Forest University School of Divinity.

RESPONSE TO COVID-19

The Ƶ Chapel ministry team, the Ƶ Community Engagement Task Force, and Emanuel Solutions team up and present the community with some practical advice on the use of digital technology to stay connected during the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rev. Michael Thurman and Rev. D. J. Manuel discuss COVID-19 as it impacts the church and community.

TU CHAPEL and AMERICA READS AMERICA COUNTS INITIATIVE

The Ƶ Chapel is in partnership with the Financial Aid Office, and The Macon County Public Schools System, to assist students in improving proficiency in reading and math skills. This isa part of The Chapel’s CivicEngagement Initiative, which involves the University Chapel in endeavors essential to the broader community. The service that our studentsprovide has been made possible through America Reads America Counts program, which is a federally funded program provided through the Work-Study Program. Students work alongside local educators to providetutorial services primarily in the areas of reading and math for up to twelve hours each week during the school year.

Tutors participating in America Reads America Counts Civic Engagement Initiative must be awarded Federal Work-Study and have their own transportation. Interested participants should contact Reverend Michael Thurman at334-727-8614or via email atmthurman@tuskegee.edu.

Rev. Thurman orienting the new volunteers

Mrs. Minnifield, Afterschool Coordinator, assisting
America Reads, America Counts tutor, Ms. A'daisia Shields
with tutoring

Ms. Shields tuturing at the elementary school

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY OF SERVICE

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Project is one venue in which Ƶ students can participate in the University Chapel’sCivic Engagement Initiative.The Day of Service Project is held each year onthe MLK, Jr. Birthday holiday under the banner, “A Day On, NotADay Off.”
Interested participants should contact Reverend Michael Thurman, Assistant Chaplain, at(334) 727-8614or via email atmthurman@tuskegee.edu.


Additional Civic Engagements Activities in which the Chapel has participated:

  • Provided support and assistance to Ƶ’s Community Engagement Task Force, which was tasked with coordinating the University’s response to the Coronavirus in the Macon County Community.
  • Provided support and assistance for Active Minds Student Organization’s Suicide Prevention Grant through theAlabama Department of Public Health.
  • Assisted with the delivery of 682 vials of VTM (Coronavirus Testing Media) to the Alabama Department of Public Health.
  • Provided support and assistance to the Macon County Minister’s Council Food Pantry Ministry to coordinate delivery of food to 750 households within the Macon County Public School District.