April 23, 2009

Spring Cleanup Photos Jump into Spring Photos

The Duquesne women's basketball team completed a pair of community service events this month - Jump into Spring! and the Duquesne University Annual Spring Clean Up.

On April 15th, the Dukes participated in Jump into Spring!, a community-wide jump roping event supporting the work of Strong Women, Strong Girls (SWSG). SWSG is a mentoring program that fosters high aspirations among low-income elementary school girls. The Duquesne Dukes along with other college volunteer mentors took part in fun and healthful jump roping challenges and a celebration of the Strong Women, Strong Girls program year. The girls spearheaded the "Communication Station", teaching the younger participants how to communicate to each other during the various jump roping activities.

Rounding out the month of April was the Duquesne University Annual Spring Clean Up held on April 18th. The Dukes put on their working gloves and pulled up their sweat pants to help "Beautify the Burgh"! The team spent the Saturday morning walking through various neighborhoods surrounding campus picking up litter in Uptown, the Hill District, and the South Side.

Later in the day, the team hauled large bags of mulch, then soiled land, and plotted plants and trees along a lot that sits on Fifth Avenue by the Birmingham Bridge. The Spring Clean-Up initiative is sponsored by Spiritan Campus Ministry in collaboration with on-campus and neighborhood partners. The effort goes toward strengthening Duquesne's longstanding relationship with the local community, as well as raising the consciousness of the participants to the community in which they live.

The Dukes women's team will continue to participate in community services events during the summer semester, and will also look to provide additional service to the community throughout the fall and winter holidays as well.