CSUCI's Hosts Week of Events on Hunger, HomelessnessWHAT: The Center for Community Engagement at California State University Channel Islands will host a series of events focusing on the issues of hunger and homelessness beginning Oct. 8 through 12 for Citizenship Week, which is a part of CSUCI's "Be a Part From the Start" program. The purpose of these events is to raise awareness, provide education, and take action on the reality of hunger and homelessness issues locally and globally. The events have been designed to give the CSUCI campus community and the community-at-large an opportunity to become informed about these issues, speak out about them, experience them, and take action against them. Citizenship Week provides students with greater awareness about the issues that impact the community, helps to promote the endeavor to end hunger and homelessness, and may bring greater solidarity and understanding, as well as promote future civic involvement of CSUCI studentsMonday, Oct. 8-12Event: Food DriveLocation: Bell Tower, Sage Hall, Student Life, Library and the HubDescription: CSUCI campus community will be able to donate canned food items to FOOD Share, a local regional food bank dedicated to ending hunger in Ventura County. Food bins will be placed at various locations around campus.

Monday, Oct. 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.Event: Hunger and Homelessness in Ventura County: An Economic Perspective and its Implications for Food and HousingLocation: Bell Tower Room 1302Description of Event: CSUCI faculty member, Dr. Paul Rivera and panelists discuss the economic causes of hunger and homelessness in our community. Panelists include: Douglas Tapking (Area Housing Authority), Sandra Bishop (FOOD Share), Leslie Leavens-Crowe (Farmworker Housing), Karol Schulkin (Homeless Services Program), and Myranda Huck (CSUCI Alum/Homeless Count). This event will be facilitated by Dr. Elizabeth Hartung.Tuesday, Oct. 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.Event: Raising Hope for Rwanda Location: The HubDescription of Event: In the summer of 2007 CSUCI student Kyle Morford traveled to Rwanda to help bring electricity to 22 orphanages. Come hear about his experience and find out how you can help support his continued efforts to work with the children of these orphanages.

Tuesday, Oct. 9 from 7 to 9 p.m.Event: Social Justice Poetry Slam

Location: The Hub

Description of Event: Express yourself and speak your peace! Come to the Social Justice Poetry Slam for a night of words, music and fun. Sign up at the Multicultural, Women's & Gender Student Center (MWGSC) and let your words be heard! This event is in collaboration with the MWGSC.

Wednesday, Oct. 10 from 6 to 9 p.m.Event: Hunger Banquet

Location: Malibu Hall 100

Description of Event: The Oxfam Hunger Banquet designed for students, university community, and the community at large, is a participatory dramatization of the inequitable distribution of food and resources in today's world; giving participants firsthand experience, if only for a brief moment, of the realities of global hunger and poverty. Introductory remarks provided by Dr. Theodore Lucas and Dr. Andrea Grove who will facilitate the event.Thursday, Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Event: Volunteer Fair

Location: South Quad

Description of Event: Get Involved! Be a Part! Take Action! More than 20 Ventura County community based organizations will visit the CSUCI campus to offer a wide variety of volunteer opportunities. The Fair will give students, faculty and staff a chance to interact and explore these organizations and to find volunteer opportunities that meet their specific needs.Friday, Oct. 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.Event: Day of Service

Location: Habitat for Humanity and FOOD Share

Description of Event: CSUCI students are welcomed to volunteer their time and morning at either organization. Space is limited (and nearly full) so you MUST contact the Center for Civic Engagement and Service Learning if you are interested at 805-437-8851. Lunch and reflection will be from 12 to 1 p.m. at FOOD Share. Reflection led by Dr. Trudy Milburn.For more information about any of these events contact Pilar Pacheco, assistant director of Service Learning & Civic Engagement at CSUCI, 805-437-8851 or pilar.pacheco@csuci.edu.