Community Study
Meg Fallin
May 2020
Global Cultural Adventures
Summary
An organization I wanted to learn more about in the Dallas Fort-Worth Metroplex is an organization called Global Cultural Adventures Inc., also referred to as G.C.A. While this organization has a few different locations across the States, as well as in Oceania and Europe (Global Cultural Adventures, n.d), they happen to have a location near downtown Dallas, and offer some educational programs that run in the area.
This organization, founded in 2015 in MN, stood out to me after some research about local organizations in North Texas because they their mission is very selfless and inspiring. They offer free aid to students visiting from overseas, particularly college students from China, to help them learn about the diverse multicultural stories around the nation. This includes partnering them with host families and schools that match their individual interests as both scholars and volunteers. They match up hundreds of students from overseas with local families all around the country. G.C.A offers educational programs that run for four to eight weeks, depending on each student's personal schedule (G.C.A., 2016).
G.C.A states they are passionate about dedicating time and resources to help young people from all around the world experience new cultures and traditions, to see the world, learn how they want to contribute to society, and gain a sense of independence. G.C.A states, "Volunteering brings together a diverse range of people from all backgrounds and walks of life, and it also offers an incredible networking opportunity. Our students are wishing to gain meaningful experiences while volunteering in a variety of non-profit organizations". This organization genuinely believes in the power of volunteer work, and how it can make major impacts on the lives of those who are volunteering, and the communities around them (G.C.A.. 2016).
Some of their volunteer projects include crafting with blind and low vision individuals (The Blind Community Center of San Diego, 2020), painting murals, sorting food for those in need, collecting data, and making banners for local charities (G.C.A., 2016). G.C.A offers opportunities for their students to learn about many different cultures and industries in the States, with programs in but not limited to, California, Texas, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Minnesota (The Children's Museum in Oak Lawn. 2017).
Annotated Resources
G.C.A. (2016). Global Cultural Adventurers, Inc. (GCA). Retrieved May 28, 2020, from https://www.gcaus.org/
Global Cultural Adventures. (n.d.). Global Cultural Adventures Go. Retrieved May 29, 2020, from http://www.gcago.com/
The Blind Community Center of San Diego. (2020, May 8). Chinese Students Volunteer. Retrieved May 30, 2020, from https://bccsd.org/chinese-students-volunteer/
The Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn. (2017, August 14). Museum Partners with Global Cultural Adventurers. Retrieved May 29, 2020, from https://www.cmoaklawn.org/blog/museum-partners-with-global-cultural-adveturers
Plan to Connect & Brochure
With Covid it has been difficult to get in touch with G.C.A, to discuss ways I can volunteer with them in the future, but while I wait for them to reopen, I have designed a brochure advertising this fascinating organization that I will send to them and update upon request. I would really love to try to help plan an art project with some of the volunteers in the area, and got excited when I learned that they have completed murals with past volunteers. It would be interesting to be a part of this in the future, and to hopefully act as an extra art resource for future projects in my area. Working with college-level students would be an entirely new experience for me, as an educator who only has experience working with very young students - but it would be a very endearing opportunity to connect with young adults from all around the world and be a part of this volunteer-based organization.
Below is an attachment of the Brochure I've designed for G.C.A, there is a front and back side that is designed to be folded twice, creating three mini pages, vertically.
