Welcome!
Thank you for your interest in partnering with Nova Southeastern University's Center for Student Leadership and Global Engagement. Our commitment to the community is one of NSU's core values, and our partnerships are essential to developing empowered and engaged students.
The Student Leadership partners with a wide range of organizations—including nonprofits, government agencies, and for-profit initiatives—to provide service, democratic engagement, and community research opportunities for our students, faculty, and staff. In return, our partners gain access to a diverse pool of talented NSU volunteers. We view our partners as co-educators who help students learn civic values and enhance their education.
This page serves as a resource for both existing and future community partners, as well as for NSU students, faculty, and staff seeking community partnerships.
For questions, please contact studentleadership@nova.edu.
The Center for Student Leadership and Global Engagement is committed to empowering students with leadership and service-based educational programs that promote critical and creative thinking to develop active citizens. We utilize the Active Citizen Continuum to describe four stages of personal development, understanding that citizenship does not develop through logical or linear thinking but instead as a spectrum. With the continuum, we have language to encourage learners to move from being unconcerned members of society toward active citizens who choose to prioritize the greater community in their values and life choices.
We depend on community partnerships to develop students into active citizens. Therefore, we’ve created a few baseline expectations that we’ve seen to be most beneficial when students are working with community partners.
Student Leadership primarily partners with organizations that:
- Are non-profit organizations, community/recreation centers, government agencies, or school-based programs with a well-defined mission statement or purpose.
- Can help us to promote the ideals of social responsibility, public service, and/or civic engagement.
- Have an office or a well-defined space where our students will serve (such as a community center, park, school, etc.) and can provide a contact person to serve as the liaison.
- Offer meaningful, positive experiences—both educational and social—that will enhance the education of our students and promote our mission.
Each community partner is viewed as a co-educator and must be willing to integrate the following into each service opportunity:
Education
We ask that community partners take a moment prior to engaging in service to teach about the social issue at hand, the community they’re supporting, and how the community partner is making a difference in the defined community. Ideally education would include root causes of the social issue and how student can continue to contribute to making a positive impact even after leaving the service project.
Service—defined in one of the following ways:
- Direct Service: Active participation in service addressing the needs of the community through face-to-face and/or hands-on volunteering that addresses a specific social need.
- Indirect Service: Planning and facilitating a volunteer project that provides passive opportunities to give back to the community but does not engage participants in direct service.
- Philanthropy: The active, in-person, on-campus collection of monetary donations to address a specific social need or support a community partner. All monetary donations must be for a community partner who donates the majority of the funds directly to support a need within the community.
- Activism: The active participation, planning, and/or facilitation of an opportunity for education, and awareness of current social, cultural, and/or political issue. All Activism events associated with NSU must be approved by SLGE and/or NSU, remain non-violent, and non-confrontational. This includes on and off campus events.
Reflection
The process by which participants engage in conversation about an experience is known as reflection. Reflection is the meaning making that bridges experiences and learning. Therefore, we ask that community partners facilitate an opportunity for students to connect education about a social issue with experiential learning of the service project.
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Organization |
Mission |
General Contact |
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4KIDS brings hope to babies, kids, teens, and young adults by providing safe and secure environments for healing, equipped parents and caregivers who are trained to love kids from hard places, essential resources to meet their physical needs, nurturing counsel to help them thrive, and a renewed sense of value in their hearts. |
Email: Phone: (954) 979-7911 Location: 2717 West Cypress Creek Rd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 |
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The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is our nation’s guardian of liberty, working daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States. |
Email: Location: 4343 W Flagler St #400, Miami, FL 33134 |
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The mission of the American Cancer Society is to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support, to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. |
Phone: 1 (800) 227-2345 |
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To rescue pets in need, protect the community, and save lives. |
Email: Phone: (954) 359-1313 Location: 2400 SW 42nd St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 |
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Broward County Parks & Recreation, Special Populations Section |
Special Populations plans, develops, implements, and evaluates a variety of year-round recreation and leisure programs, special events, and services to meet the interests and needs of children, teens, adults, and seniors with disabilities. Programs are designed to develop, enhance, and/or maintain leisure skills, motor skills, socialization, and overall well-being as well as to promote fun and enjoyment. |
Email: Phone: (954) 357-8160/8170 |
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The Parks and Recreation Division is dedicated to providing a countywide park system with diverse facilities and recreation opportunities, along with natural area conservation and research-based educational outreach, to enhance the well-being of all residents, businesses, and visitors. |
Email: Phone: (954) 357-5280 |
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The Broward Partnership is committed to reducing homelessness by promoting independence and self-worth through advocacy, housing and comprehensive services. |
Email: Phone: (954) 779-3990 Location: 920 NW 7th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 |
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The park is named for Civil Rights Movement leaders who led “wade-in” protests to desegregate South Florida beaches in the 1950s and 1960s. It was once the county’s designated “colored beach” and bore the name of the Broward County attorney who was instrumental in transferring ownership of the land to the state, in lieu of being developed for residential high-rises. |
Email: Phone: (954) 923-2833 Location: 6503 N Ocean Dr, Dania Beach, FL 33004 |
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Easterseals South Florida has been serving families in South Florida for over 80 years. Their mission is to provide services that address equity and inclusion disparities for individuals with disabilities by enhancing education, advancing health, expanding employment, and elevating community. |
Email: Phone: (305) 325-0470 Location: 1475 NW 14th Avenue, Miami, FL 33125 |
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To provide high quality care, education, and a LIFELONG LOVE OF LEARNING to children from 6 weeks through school age, in a setting that is developmentally appropriate and intentionally inviting and administered by well-trained and caring adults. |
Email: Phone: (954) 486-6008 Location: 5750 W Oakland Park Blvd, Lauderhill, FL 33313 |
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The purpose of Green Sharks – Sustainability Club, is to educate students, faculty, and the university community about sustainability and environmental issues. The organization will work with students, other organizations, and university departments to coordinate educational events, spread awareness, and advocate for sustainable initiatives at the university and among the student population in a manner consistent with the most up to date and accurate information available to us. |
Email: Phone: (717) 659-2678 Location: 3770 SW 76th Ave, Davie, FL 33328 |
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HandsOn Broward empowers people to make a difference for causes they care about. By leveraging the power of people and socially responsible businesses, we transform local communities through meaningful hands-on service projects. |
Email: Phone: (954) 233-1300 Location: 5815 N Andrews Way a, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 |
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Happi Farm is a local petting zoo and a non-profit Animal Assisted Learning Center. Happi Farms offers riding lessons, trail rides, therapeutic riding, equine vaulting, and other programs designed mainly for children. |
Email: Phone: (954) 629-8133 Location: 10251 Orange Dr. Davie, FL 33328 |
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History Fort Lauderdale, formerly Fort Lauderdale Historical Society, believes that a sense of history is fundamental to understanding human experience, and therefore, collects preserves and shares material from our community’s past, so that present and future generations can comprehend more fully their predecessors, their community and themselves. |
Email: Location: 231 SW 2nd Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 |
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Providing HOPE for the homeless and hurting through housing, case management, support services and strategic alliances. |
Email: Phone: (954) 566-2311 Location: 2701 W Cypress Creek Rd, Fort Lauderdale FL 33309 |
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The mission of In Jacob’s Shoes® is to provide new and gently used shoes, socks, backpacks, school supplies, and athletic gear to children in need living in South Florida. |
Email: Location: 1809 S Powerline Rd Unit #111, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442 |
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Junior Achievement of South Florida empowers our youth with the knowledge, ability and confidence to navigate their futures, drive our economy, and lead our community. |
Email: Phone: (954) 979-7100 Location: 1130 Coconut Creek Boulevard, Coconut Creek, FL 33066 |
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The LA Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center is a result of great collaboration between the YMCA, the City, and community partners. Not only will this be a modern facility, but it will serve a diverse range of community members – from children to teens to senior citizens. |
Phone: (954) 467-2444 Location: 1409 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 |
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LifeNet4Families provides a gateway to stability for people in Broward County experiencing hunger, homelessness and poverty. The key elements for delivering the mission are providing Food and Nutrition, promoting Health and Well-Being and Enabling Stability. |
Email: Phone: (954) 792-2328 Location: 1 NW 33rd Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 |
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The mission of the NSU Marine Environmental Education Center is to provide outstanding marine education, interactive learning, and research with a focus on endangered sea turtles. Our vision is to be a premier marine environmental education facility that engages residents and visitors by increasing conservation awareness and action in a way that ultimately results in greater protection of our marine and coastal environments. |
Email: Phone: (954) 357-5161 Location: 4414 N. Surf Road in Hollywood, Florida |
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To collect, store and distribute free diapers to homeless shelters, food pantries, family service agencies, and faith-based organizations. To educate the local community about the devastating crisis of diaper need. To support and expand upon our existing relationships with shelters and community organizations in the South Florida area. |
Email: Phone: (305) 926-3815 Location: 699 West 79th Street, Unit 2, Hialeah FL 33016 |
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This ecologically and historically significant site combines the amenities of a regional park with the passive recreational opportunities of a nature center or natural area. |
Email: Phone: (954) 357-8776 Location: 3600 S University Dr, Miramar, FL 33025 |
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The NSU Shark Food Pantry serves current NSU students. The pantry is donations based. All the food distributed comes from donations made by staff, faculty, members of the community, and student groups. The student food pantry provides non-perishable food items including canned proteins, fruits, dairy, vegetables, and soups. Toiletry items are also provided in our pantry. |
Email: Phone: (954) 262-2031 Location: Don Taft University Center, 2nd Floor South Concession Stand |
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They provide recreational fitness programs in sports-based community settings with inclusion and adaptation in mind. |
Email: Phone: (954) 270-7163 Location: 501 SW 172nd Ave, Pembroke Pines, FL, 33029 |
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SAVE is recognized as South Florida’s longest serving organization dedicated to protecting people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) against discrimination. SAVE’s mission is to promote, protect and defend equality for people in South Florida who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. |
Email: Phone: (305) 751-7283Location: 1951 NW 7th Ave, Miami, FL 33136 |
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Nature is the emphasis at this small park along the New River – nature trails, a nature exhibit hall, and a full schedule of nature-oriented programming. |
Email: Phone: (954) 357-8884 Location: 2701 W State Rd 84, Dania Beach, FL 33312 |
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Since 1969, the South Florida Wildlife Center has treated and rehabilitated thousands of injured and orphaned wildlife animals in the tri-county area. The Center is the highest-volume wildlife hospital in Florida, admitting between 10,000-12,000 animals each year. Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and release injured and orphan wildlife in South Florida, and to educate the public about wildlife issues and a peaceful co-existence with our wild neighbors. |
Email: Phone: (954) 524-4302 Location: 3200 SW 4th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 |
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The mission of Special Olympics Florida is to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities who wish to participate, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community. |
Email: Phone: (954) 262-2150; (305) 299-2958 Location: 3301 College Ave, Davie, FL 33314 |
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To provide ongoing support for underserved students in today’s evolving education system. |
Email: Phone: (844) 303-7356 Location: 15713 NW 3 St, Pembroke Pines, FL 33028 |
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Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. |
Phone: (833) 204-2927 Location: 3440 Hollywood Blvd Ste 150, Hollywood, FL 33021 |
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To live, learn, and participate in building community and centering spaces by and for Black transgender and nonbinary individuals to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in order for us to become self-sufficient and flourish. |
Email: Phone: (305) 846-3186 Location: 1518 SW 2ND Ave, Dania Beach, Fl 33004 |
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Empower socially responsible leaders to get involved with community-based programs by educating them about United Nations work and its agencies, while fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships. |
Email: Phone: (787) 502-9714 Location: P.O. Box 825602, Pembroke Pines, Fl. 33082 |
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For over 80 years, United Way of Broward County has united the community to tackle the most complex, critical challenges and create long-lasting positive change. United, we stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves, united we support those who are working hard and struggling and united we fight for the Health, Education and Financial Prosperity of EVERY person in our community. |
Email: Phone: (954) 462-4850 Location: Ansin Building 1300 S. Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316-1838 |
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Promote dialogue that eliminates HIV/AIDS stigma through education, artistic expression, and cultural programming |
Email: Phone: (954) 390-0550 Location: 1350 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 |
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Our mission is to deliver engaging and education programs and facilitate participation in environmental activities to diverse persons of all abilities. At Youth Environmental Alliance, we are proud to serve as the center of an organized network of charitable organizations, educational institutions and businesses that share a common underlying philosophy – “For Youth, For the Environment, Forever.” |
Email: Phone: (954) 382-0188 Location: 6900 SW 21st Ct #8, Davie, FL 33317 |
Ways to Connect with NSU Students
The following opportunities are programs and events hosted by the SLGE office throughout the academic year. Each described opportunity requires at least one community partner to be successful. Therefore, if your organization is interested in collaborating with any of the following programs, please email Student Leadership at studentleadership@nova.edu.
On-Campus Service
Offer an on-campus volunteer opportunity where students can either complete an activity
quickly at a tabling event or provide a volunteer project for students to complete
together in a classroom. Time commitments range from 5 minutes to 2 hours.
Service Event with an NSU Club or Greek Organization
All student registered clubs and Greek organizations at NSU have a service requirement.
Therefore, they are always looking for service opportunities to complete with anywhere
from 5 to 60 volunteers. Student Leadership can assist with pairing community partners
with student org's to assist in completing this requirement.
Our annual campus wide service event that engages students and alumni in a service project happens on the third Saturday in March. Tagged line as "The Ultimate Service Project" we invite organizations onto campus and transport students around Broward County for students to engage in direct service.
Volunteer Fair
Come to NSU to recruit students to volunteer with your organization! Each year Student
Leadership hosts a volunteer fair for NSU students to meet our local affiliates at
the end of August and beginning of January.
Education Events
In person and virtual opportunities to educate students on topics regarding service,
civic engagement, and social issues are available for community partners.
Promote your Opportunity!
If your organization has a volunteer opportunity, we are able to post those events
on our event site known as SharkHub.
All undergraduate students must complete 6 Experiential Learning Units to graduate. Student Leadership oversees several pillars including volunteering with a singular organization for 40 or 80 hours, while partnering in online reflection.
Sharks and Service Alternative Breaks
A group of students, normally 10-15, go on local, national, and international service trips during scheduled breaks in the school year, such as Spring break.
This holistic experience includes education, service, reflection, and group bonding while partnering.
Contact Us
Center for Student Leadership and Global Engagement
Nova Southeastern University
Student Affairs Building, Suite 106
3300 S. University Drive,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328-2004
Main Office:
(954) 262-7195
studentleadership@nova.edu
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.