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by Raul Lopez, '12
Chautauqua County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition, Infinity Visual and Performing Arts, and the Dunkirk Free Library were chosen from 13 applicants to be a part of the popular Community Partners Program at SUNY Fredonia.
The program provides mutual benefits to students in the Public Relations Campaigns class and nonprofits in need of public relations assistance. Students are given real life experience by working to develop comprehensive public relations plans based on the needs of the organizations.
SUNY Fredonia President Dennis Hefner announced the organizations selected to participate in the program at a news conference at the university today.
“This is truly a great program that our communication department offers and we take a lot of pride in the experience it gives the public relations students,” Hefner said. “Not only are students given the opportunity to acquaint themselves with real public relations work, but they are also making a difference in the community by lending a hand to nonprofits.”
The Community Partners Program broke two records this year: the most students participating and the most number of applications received from nonprofit organizations seeking assistance. Because of this, three organizations were selected this year, rather than two, as has been done in past years. For the first time, students were given the opportunity to vote on the nonprofits with which they wished to work.
The Chautauqua County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition is comprised of residents, public and nonprofit organizations, and schools throughout Chautauqua County that have joined forces in an attempt to prevent teen pregnancy in the community. The coalition’s mission is to provide young adults with education, training, advocacy, information, and support on adolescent health and development with an emphasis on teen pregnancy prevention.
Infinity Visual and Performing Arts is a nonprofit music and arts education program located in Jamestown, N.Y. Infinity provides youth with the opportunity to enhance their musical talents and performance skills under the supervision and direction of local artists and musicians. The organization offers after-school programs as well as musical instrument lessons, art workshops, and dance classes to children of all economical backgrounds.
The Dunkirk Free Library, built in 1904, advances the quality of life in the community and provides unrestricted access to information in a variety of formats. It assists 2,410 cardholders of all ages through collections, services, and programs that support development of an individual's full potential. The library has been an active participant in SUNY Fredonia’s annual Big Read project, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Community Partners Program is in its 12th year of existence at SUNY Fredonia. Public relations seniors participating in the program act as small public relations firms to provide promotional services to local nonprofits that are in need of assistance. At the end of the semester, students will submit a comprehensive public relations plan to their community partner for implementation. This gives students a chance to put into action the skills they have learned throughout their education and offers them a sense of the challenges and rewards that come with being a public relations practitioner.
Student representative Kaitlin Fassl also paid tribute to President Hefner during the press conference. "As you probably know, President Hefner is retiring this summer and this is the last time he will work with the Community Partners Program. President Hefner, you have been an essential part of our education and the success of the public relations major. You have been a huge supporter of us since the Community Partners program began in 2001."
Since his direct involvement in 2004, President Hefner has attended every press conference, met with students beforehand to help prepare, and supported the program in every way. Ms. Fassl added, "We would not have seen the amount of growth and advancement in this major and the Community Partners Program without his support...Thank you, President Hefner, for helping to make this program the gold standard of service learning at SUNY Fredonia. We will miss you."
For more information on the Community Partners Program, contact Ann Carden, associate professor of communication, at 716-785-3487 or ann.carden@fredonia.edu.
SUNY Fredonia is a comprehensive, public, liberal arts college in Western New York that offers undergraduate and master’s programs. Founded in 1826, it is among the oldest schools in the SUNY system.
