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Neeley Fellows Statement of Cause: We strive to serve our local and global communities in collaboration with non-profit organizations by applying business knowledge and leadership skills.
During 2007-2008 academic year, Junior Neeley Fellows have began a year-long service-learning project with Samaritan House and Fort Worth South, Inc., commencing what hopes to be a long-term community partnership between TCU and Near Southside. The project is part of the Neeley Fellows’ professional development program. During the academic year, students assist the two non-profit organizations in the revitalization of the Near Southside neighborhood.
The students working with Samaritan House assist with a Near Southside Economic Development Project by conducting marketing research, assessing community needs and completing financial analysis for a real estate development project. The students working with Fort Worth South, Inc. develop of a Near Southside Tree Planting Program, working as community designers, entrepreneurs, financial analysts and marketers.
The project provides students with challenging tasks, through which they can gain hands-on, real-world business experience in a professional setting through a process that is rewarding to them as well as beneficial to the community. The project educates students to the value and art of collaboration among organizations in order to reach common goals. It involves local institutions and corporations, local and national foundations, local non-profit organizations and the Near Southside community.
Service-learning creates networking opportunities for students through contacts and partnerships with businesses, corporations, non-profit partners, and private property owners. By participating in an extensive collaboration that benefits the entire community, students develop professionally and personally. They gain deeper academic expertise, improve their interpersonal, communications and leadership skills as well as learn new business skills.
While completing the community-based business tasks, Fellows have an opportunity to apply skills that they have already learned in the business school, test business theory in practice and integrate the two. For example, they observe how the organizational management theory they study applies in practice. Then they write an end-of-semester reflection paper on organizational environment and culture, managing teams, motivation, managing communications, and leadership concepts. "I'm excited about the opportunity to volunteer with the Samaritan House and Fort Worth South. Not only is it rewarding to help others, but I am also getting real world experience by building on the management skills that I am learning in class" says April Taylor.
Melissa Melcher, one of the Fellows, received a service-learning assistantship in the spring of 2007 from the TCU Center for Community Involvement and Service Learning to assist with the project management.
Through engaging work that makes a difference in the community, the program hopes to promote social responsibility and develop a sense of stewardship among the Fellows as well as result in tangible civic improvements.
