2021 State of the College & Foundation Annual Report

30 WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE NATIVE PLANT CENTER O n October 8, 1999, Lady Bird Johnson and her daughters, Lynda Johnson Robb and Luci Baines Johnson, attended the dedica- tion ceremony of the garden in her name here at Westchester Community College. Since then the garden has been teaching visitors and students about the use of native plants while keeping the legacy of Mrs. Johnson alive. This past year, The Native Plant Center began an expansion of the Lady Bird Demonstration garden with funding from the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust and other donors. The renovation includes a 14,000-square foot bed that buffers the meadow from the 300-car visitor parking lot and the installation of a trial research bed that will integrate native plant instruction into college curriculum. The Nativar Research Project is part of a nationwide initiative of the Chicago Botanic Garden that observes and records how pollinators interact with certain plant species. Biology pro- fessors along with Native Plant Center staff and volunteers trained in the protocol to collect data participate in research with students that will contribute to scientific knowledge. With in-person events quashed due to COVID-19, The Native Plant Center participated with the Bright Futures program in an Environmental Virtual Career Panel for students in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. The Center partnered with New York State Parks, Audubon New York, the Garden Club of America-New York, and Weed Wrangle to create Weeding for Wildlife, an educational webinar that attracted nearly 500 attendees (a recording resides on The Native Plant Center’s website). Via phone calls, emails, and letters, The Native Plant Center continued to provide assistance to municipalities and nonprofits on a variety of needs, from native plantings to tree ordinances and grant proposals. The Center was honored for its enduring commu- nity outreach and “dedication of 20 years to the native plants and natural landscapes of West- chester County” by Westchester Parks Foundation at its annual gala. 31 STATE OF THE COLLEGE 2021 VOLUNTEER OFFICE T he Volunteer Office has remained an import- ant part of the Foundation, Since the incep- tion of the Volunteer Corps 29 years ago, volunteers have dedicated more than 250,000 hours toward helping students and enhance our community on the main campus in Valhalla, and being virtual this past year has not slowed down the programs’ momentum. Hundreds of volun- teers from the community have virtually commit- ted to assisting in student success this past year. CONVERSATION PARTNERS . Literacy is the first step in developing skills that can ultimately lead to employment. This past year, approximately 250 students in the English Language Institute improved their speaking abilities through one-on- one weekly meetings with their volunteer Conver- sation Partners. In addition, for more advanced students, volunteers facilitated a series of small group discussions. These Something To Talk About sessions helped students further familiarize themselves to the English language. ACADEMIC TUTORS . Academic support is key to helping students achieve their goals. Volunteer tutors have been essential in providing that assis- tance in the college’s Academic Support Center, Writing Center, Science Tutorial, Math/Physics Tutorial, and Accounting Tutorial. MENTORING . Corporate mentors volunteer in the Workplace Culture Coaching Program, encour- aging our business students’ dreams by sharing information and offering relevant advice on career options and corporate culture. Faculty and staff members volunteer through the Connec- tions Mentoring Program, assisting students and ensuring that they each have a volunteer “point person” on campus. Volunteers also serve as Spe- cial Services Mentors working with students with disabilities, helping them learn organizational and time management skills. Other activities include volunteering for the Alumni Council, Collegium. Cultural Affairs, Project Transition, Westchester Center for the Arts, The Native Plant Center, and at various special events. Volunteers also pro- vide free consulting services and participate as members of the Foundation Board and its many committees.