CCRI International Club trip to South Korea
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Community colleges serve as essential gateways to a better world for millions of Americans. These under-appreciated—and under-funded—institutions help people from all walks of life overcome hardship and benefit from new opportunities. Like all organizations charged with difficult missions, community colleges have their failings and successes, their strengths and weaknesses.
Members of the International Club visiting the medina of Marrakech, Morocco, May 2018
For the past 12 years, one of the Community College of Rhode Island’s (CCRI) unquestionable success stories has been the International Club (IC), which was founded by Monica Lee, a native of South Korea and counselor at the college. Monica’s love of travel and tireless commitment to her students has led her to dedicate significant time and personal resources in order for 10-15 young men and women each year to explore the world. Under Monica’s direction, the club has opened doors to places too many Americans ignore or reflexively recoil from and few get the chance to see and understand first hand. In 2016, for instance, the club traveled to Haiti, where, instead of relaxing like most of their peers, members spent spring break working to help others less fortunate than themselves. Last year the club traveled to Morocco, where they spent 7 days during Ramadan learning about the culture and history of a country that, as their trip to Roman ruins taught them, has been a vibrant if tumultuous crossroads of civilizations for centuries. The International Club has also been to Spain, France, and Thailand, among other countries, over the years.
The students who make up the IC come from all walks of life. Some of them are first-generation American or even in the process of obtaining citizenship; some of them have returned to college after years of working difficult jobs or raising families; almost all of them are the first in their families to attend college. Many come from families that have lived in New England for generations. Others have come with their parents from Haiti, Cambodia, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Portugal, Senegal, Nigeria, and Poland to settle in Rhode Island. They all represent, in their determination to learn and live happy lives, what is best about America. Whatever their origins or differences, they all call Rhode Island home now, and the International Club is the place they come together to learn more about themselves, their community and the world.
This year, Monica’s last before retirement, the IC intended to visit her birthplace, South Korea. The students assumed their efforts, which matched those of the past, would be good enough. By hook and by crook, Monica has, with the support of CCRI, been able to keep this vital educational mission alive for over a decade. This year, however, it appears the IC has reached the end of its rope. In spite of the students’ best efforts to raise funds for the trip, the school is unable to contribute what it has in the past and their plans—and the future of the club—are in jeopardy. The CCRI International Club is reaching out to you in hopes that they can keep this student organization viable now and indefinitely. Anything you can give to help them overcome the $20,000 shortfall they are facing will make a critical difference in the futures of 15 young people who have worked hard and sacrificed to improve their lot in life. Without that money, their trip to South Korea will not take place. Should they receive anything in addition to that sum, they will set it aside to help sustain the IC. They would ultimately like to establish a permanent endowment to make sure these trips, and the legacy Monica started, continue long after she has retired.
Thank you in advance for your generosity,
The CCRI INTERNATIONAL CLUB
Members of the International Club visiting the medina of Marrakech, Morocco, May 2018
For the past 12 years, one of the Community College of Rhode Island’s (CCRI) unquestionable success stories has been the International Club (IC), which was founded by Monica Lee, a native of South Korea and counselor at the college. Monica’s love of travel and tireless commitment to her students has led her to dedicate significant time and personal resources in order for 10-15 young men and women each year to explore the world. Under Monica’s direction, the club has opened doors to places too many Americans ignore or reflexively recoil from and few get the chance to see and understand first hand. In 2016, for instance, the club traveled to Haiti, where, instead of relaxing like most of their peers, members spent spring break working to help others less fortunate than themselves. Last year the club traveled to Morocco, where they spent 7 days during Ramadan learning about the culture and history of a country that, as their trip to Roman ruins taught them, has been a vibrant if tumultuous crossroads of civilizations for centuries. The International Club has also been to Spain, France, and Thailand, among other countries, over the years.
The students who make up the IC come from all walks of life. Some of them are first-generation American or even in the process of obtaining citizenship; some of them have returned to college after years of working difficult jobs or raising families; almost all of them are the first in their families to attend college. Many come from families that have lived in New England for generations. Others have come with their parents from Haiti, Cambodia, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Portugal, Senegal, Nigeria, and Poland to settle in Rhode Island. They all represent, in their determination to learn and live happy lives, what is best about America. Whatever their origins or differences, they all call Rhode Island home now, and the International Club is the place they come together to learn more about themselves, their community and the world.
This year, Monica’s last before retirement, the IC intended to visit her birthplace, South Korea. The students assumed their efforts, which matched those of the past, would be good enough. By hook and by crook, Monica has, with the support of CCRI, been able to keep this vital educational mission alive for over a decade. This year, however, it appears the IC has reached the end of its rope. In spite of the students’ best efforts to raise funds for the trip, the school is unable to contribute what it has in the past and their plans—and the future of the club—are in jeopardy. The CCRI International Club is reaching out to you in hopes that they can keep this student organization viable now and indefinitely. Anything you can give to help them overcome the $20,000 shortfall they are facing will make a critical difference in the futures of 15 young people who have worked hard and sacrificed to improve their lot in life. Without that money, their trip to South Korea will not take place. Should they receive anything in addition to that sum, they will set it aside to help sustain the IC. They would ultimately like to establish a permanent endowment to make sure these trips, and the legacy Monica started, continue long after she has retired.
Thank you in advance for your generosity,
The CCRI INTERNATIONAL CLUB
Organizer
James Miller
Organizer
Norwich, CT
