Two Michigan Rowers, Adrienne Mecham and Claire Luczak, recently completed a 15-hour training program and started volunteering at Ann Arbor Hospice and Home Care, a thirty-bed nonprofit hospice residence that serves families in southeastern Michigan. Adrienne and Claire both are in the University of Michigan's nursing program, and they see their volunteer work at Ann Arbor Hospice as a hands-on component of their studies. Given Adrienne's interest in focusing on geriatric care, she appreciates the opportunities that she and Claire have "to be companions to people at Ann Arbor Hospice, to talk with them, to hold their hands if they need it, to help at meal times, simply to hang out with people there."

"It's not community service," Carla Bezold explains, "because we're not providing services. It's about building organizations and leadership." Carla and Julia Dalzell are two members of a three-person group working to rebuild the Ann Arbor chapter of ADAPT, a national nonprofit organization that advocates for disability rights in local communities and also nationally. Carla and Julia chose to rebuild the local chapter of ADAPT as part of their participation in a Community Organizing course they are taking this semester. Carla, Julia, and classmate Sarah Watkins are raising people's interests in the community, getting people involved, and identifying issues that are important to members of the Ann Arbor community (including at an upcoming meeting in mid-April), with eyes toward changes in public policy and improved accessibility for people with disabilities.

Michigan Rowers also participate in a pen pal program with elementary school children. More information is coming soon!