The EECM Classroom

Written by: Kate Snyder, Development and Donor Communications Coordinator

One of the great things about being located in a city with so many colleges and universities (there are ten, in case you were curious) is that quite a few students from those institutions make their way to EECM.

Whether it's fraternities and sororities looking for service projects, campus groups hosting food drives, or human service projects for class, we regularly reap the benefits of having thousands of enthusiastic college and grad students roaming the city.

Most recently, EECM's Orr Center was fortunate to serve as a project site for two Occupational Therapy students from Chatham University. The students spent several weeks working with the clients and staff of the Orr Center, investigating the potential benefit to introducing structured activities into daily life at Orr.

The students conducted a needs assessment based on interviews with current guests and engaged groups of guests in a series of four activities, from collages that promoted self-awareness to a craft project where they all made stress balls.

At the end of the project, the students wrote up a comprehensive plan, based on their experiences, for how EECM might incorporate similar activities into regular operations at the Orr Center, with the help of volunteers.

It's a win-win situation. The students gain valuable experience in their field and we receive excellent insights!