May 10, 2016 – Hundreds of University of Houston (UH) student volunteers fanned out throughout the neighborhood surrounding the Agape Center (6401 Calhoun Street) as part of the “Rock the Block” community cleanup event starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 9th, 2016. The block party followed from noon to 3 p.m. Festivities included a cookout, activities for kids and music.

Rock the Block is the Metropolitan Volunteer Program’s (MVP) largest volunteer event that includes several partnerships between on and off campus volunteers. This year they partnered with Southeast Houston Transformation Alliance (SEHTA), AGAPE Ministries, Forge for Families, and Harris Health Systems. The event occurred on Keep Houston Beautiful Day which fell on April 9th, 2016. Throughout the day, volunteers served the third ward through beautification projects, providing maintenance to local community gardens, and through staffing carnival games during the community block party. Through this event and others like it, MVP aims to connect UH students with the local community through the outlet of volunteering.

More about the Center for Student involvement: CSI provides involvement opportunities for students at the University of Houston main campus. The University of Houston’s diverse population ensures that there is a place for everyone, and The Center for Student Involvement helps each student find it. Over 400 student organizations are registered with CSI. Full-time advising staff assist groups with organization development and event coordination offered by the department cultivate skills that will be useful for a lifetime.

More about the Center for Student Involvement: CSI provides involvement opportunities for students at the University of Houston main campus. The University of Houston’s diverse population ensures that there is a place for everyone, and The Center for Student Involvement helps each student find it. Over 500 student organizations are registered with CSI and it is the central location for leadership programs and civic engagement opportunities. Advising staff assist fee-funded groups with the event planning of campus events and traditions. The guidance and educational experiences offered by the department cultivates skills that will be useful for a lifetime.