UA’s Hands on Tuscaloosa Event will Promote Leadership Development through Community Service

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama Center for Sustainable Service and Volunteerism and the Office of Student Leadership are partnering to host Hands on Tuscaloosa, a day-long student community service and leadership development event Saturday, Feb. 28.

Hands on Tuscaloosa will begin with the UA LEADS: Leadership, Education, Action and Diversity Summit at 8 a.m. in the Ferguson Center Ballroom on campus. The summit will bring together UA students, faculty and staff to participate in educational sessions and hear keynote speakers.

From 1 to 6 p.m. summit participants are invited to take part in painting, landscaping and beautification projects at Central and Maxwell elementary schools. The center plans to send some 400 students into the community to help them initiate long-term service relationships with community partners.

“Hands on Tuscaloosa is an incredible project,” said Elliot Spillers, student director for the event.  “Over time, we have seen tremendous growth and sustainable change. This year we expect to see that cycle continued as we implement measurable change in our community.”

Transportation to and from the project sites will be provided. Students can earn eight Panhellenic points and five SLPRO hours for participation in both the leadership seminar and the service component of the event.

Participants are asked to register for the service projects at http://volunteer.ua.edu/ and for UA LEADS by going to http://leadership.ua.edu.