Communiversity Youth Programs, sponsored by the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History, is one of the Stone Center’s longest-standing programs.
Since its founding in 1992 by two undergraduates (Michelle Thomas and Denise Matthewson), Communiversity has connected the vision of Dr. Stone and the work and resources of the Sonja Haynes Stone Center with the University campus and local and state communities through service-learning, community-building, social justice outreach, leadership, cultural literacy development, and interpersonal skills development.
Communiversity fulfills an important part of the Stone Center’s mission of examining the role of culture in social change and community development by helping to improve student performance through education and practical experience. These components educate, empower and expose participating community youth to various aspects of African and African-American culture and history, along with other cultural traditions, through alternative teaching methods.
Working in cooperation with other University departments and the Chapel Hill Carrboro school system, Communiversity has established lasting relationships and built an important bridge between the University and these communities while also sponsoring other community outreach programs that assist in building and/or rebuilding key economic and social resources.
Communiversity programming supports local students in grades K-12 and takes place at University United Methodist Church (150 E. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC) from Monday through Thursday. Student participants work alongside UNC volunteers from 3:00 pm-5:45 pm in various academic and cultural enrichment activities.
For more information, call (919) 962-9001.