The Butler Center for Service and Leadership

The Butler Center for Service and Leadership is the office on campus dedicated to promoting volunteerism and leadership. With over 35 student organizations and programming boards dedicated to service and advocacy work, University of Miami students have a variety of ways to get involved with the surrounding community. From large scale, one-day service events, such as National Gandhi Day of Service, to more long-term commitments, such as serving as a mentor for Big Brothers, Big Sisters, to advocacy awareness projects, such as Illiteracy Awareness Week, the Butler Center offers involvement opportunities covering a wide-range of issues. Additionally, students can participate in a number of leadership development programs, including the Leadership Development Series, a program which offers students a number of 5-week, non-credit workshops designed to help them develop and enhance their leadership skills. This semester's topics have included Community Leadership and Development, Personal Branding and Marketing, StrengthsQuest, Social Identity and its Impact, Strategic Leadership Communication, and Managing Conflict and Change. The Leadership Summit, a one-day professional conference for UM students to increase their awareness of real world leadership concepts and develop the skills needed to become leaders both on-campus and off, is another popular program offered by the Butler Center.

Throughout each month, the office also helps coordinate a variety of special events and projects. This upcoming November, for instance, students are organizing a clothing drive to support Miami's homeless and transient population. Their goal is to collect and donate over 10,000 items of clothing. Additionally, Dance Marathon, a student organized philanthropy event committed to raising money and awareness for the children and families of the Miami Children's Hospital, will take place later this month.
With approximately 70% of the student body participating in one or more of the Butler Center's programs, the office is dedicated to developing students who cultivate positive social change within their communities as engaged citizens. Students are encouraged to stop by and learn how they can get involved. The office is located in the University Center, Room 240, and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:30pm. For more information, please feel free to contact the office at (305) 284-4483 or email leadandserve@miami.edu.

Photo Caption:
On September 26, 2009, as part of National Gandhi Day of Service, over 1,100 students volunteered at over 50 sites across Miami.