To kick off the Fall 2024 semester, CUNY SPS Student Life hosted an information session for students interested in becoming Change Warriors.

What’s a Change Warrior? It’s a CUNY SPS student committed to making positive change and building leadership skills by volunteering, either for at least a month or up to an entire academic year. During the info session, which took place on September 9 via Zoom, Student Life College Assistant Elizabeth Navarro gave a presentation on what it takes to become a Change Warrior.

“[The program] is designed for those who are passionate about serving their communities and contributing to societal improvements,” Navarro explained to the attendees.

Started in Fall 2023, CUNY SPS Change Warriors was created to unite students passionate about giving back, encourage the understanding of community service’s impact, and inspire a lifelong commitment to volunteering. In its first year, 32 students completed the program, and 24 of those students completed over 45 hours within a single semester.

Gichael Brown, who is pursuing her BA in Psychology at CUNY SPS, was one of those students. She volunteered at a range of events and organizations last fall and spring through a list provided by Change Warriors, including food distribution events. Another student, JaQueen Barksdale, who is pursuing her BA in psychology, volunteered at a food pantry last fall in a Bronx church where she built strong bonds with staff running the program.

To become a Change Warrior, students should volunteer for at least 12 hours, though there is no maximum number required. They must also attend the Change Warriors orientation before volunteering, attend program meetups, and write a reflection after volunteering. Undergraduates must also maintain a 2.5 GPA and graduate students should maintain a 3.0.

Volunteer activities include anything from education and social justice activities to disaster relief and environmental conservation. Any activities that offer compensation or academic credit, of course, do not qualify as volunteering. For students who can’t commit to an entire year of volunteering, month- and semester-long opportunities are also available.

For those who missed the info session but are interested in learning more, contact Elizabeth Navarro, CUNY SPS Student Life College Assistant at elizabeth.navarro@cuny.edu, or Reshma Jaigobin, CUNY SPS Student Development and Leadership Coordinator, at reshma.jaigobin@cuny.edu. Change Warriors will hold a mandatory orientation for students on October 1 at 6:00 PM via Zoom.