Diversity and Community Engagement
The University of Mississippi

Posts Tagged ‘Madison Alliston’

The Pulse – Progress Report on GivePulse

Posted on: February 9th, 2021 by elpayseu

In this post, OCE Area Coordinator Madison Alliston provides updates on GivePulse implementation and our collective impact of community engagement for spring 2021. 

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” -Mahatma Gandhi

Volunteering is one of the most selfless acts someone can do. Giving back to the community helps individuals become more connected to others while making a difference. That’s why the Office of Community Engagement (OCE) decided to partner with GivePulse last semester. This online service platform connects students with non-profits in the Oxford community and across the country looking to make a lasting impact.

Over the past few months, the OCE team has been hard at work getting community and campus organizations onboarded and acquainted with GivePulse, and you can already see the impact it’s making. This progress report shows just how much impact our GivePulse community has already made, and we’re just getting started.

So far, the University of Mississippi (UM) community has…

1). Connected with 1,033 students and community organizations in Oxford,

2). Received over 370 community impacts,

3). Logged 1,388 volunteer hours from students, and

4). Produced an economic impact of $37,743!

The best news of all is that more and more students are joining UM’s community each day! So far, 10 major student groups and organizations have joined the UM community page including the Luckyday Scholars, UM Athletics, and Grove Grocery. Over 60 community service organizations and nonprofits have joined the UM GivePulse page, and new opportunities are being posted constantly.

In just the first few months, GivePulse’s volunteer program has already made an impact in the Lafayette-Oxford-University community, and we are just getting started. Students are seeing the value of volunteering. They are logging onto GivePulse, finding a service organization that suits them, and making a lasting impact. We are so excited that campus and community partners are utilizing GivePulse, and we cannot wait to see where we go from here!

Have you joined GivePulse, yet? Go to olemiss.givepulse.com to create your profile and find opportunities to get engaged.

If you are a community group interested in becoming an affiliate, fill out this form to provide us with the information we need to get you set up. Our area coordinators are standing by to assist you in building out your page and connecting with our community.

Be on the lookout for more GivePulse updates, tutorials, and events every week, and don’t miss out on our Issue Area Roundtables where campus and community members will come together to discuss the issues affecting our community. Register for the first roundtable on the environment and sustainability here.

For more information:

The Pulse – Why GivePulse?

Posted on: January 4th, 2021 by elpayseu

In this new series, The Pulse, our OCE team introduces GivePulse, our new online community engagement platform. In this first post, OCE Area Coordinator Madison Alliston shares how GivePulse is helpful for our nonprofit partners and broader community. 

When I was a kid what I wanted more than anything in the world was to be a superhero when I grew up. I wanted to save the day, defeat the villain, and get all the glory in sparkling tights and a long cape. But as I grew up, my childhood job of saving the day faded away. That was where I was wrong, because I can be a superhero by serving others using GivePulse.

GivePulse, an online platform for service organizations and nonprofits, allows individuals to become superheroes be helping them make a difference each and every day. This program helps volunteers, non-profits, service organizations, and students find unique, exciting, and educational opportunities for social change. Instead of waiting for the bat signal to appear, individuals can log on and find service organizations in their area with a touch of a button. <<Check out GivePulse here.>>

But how exactly does GivePulse benefit individuals and nonprofits compared to other volunteer platforms? There are numerous benefits for volunteers and organizations who use GivePulse.

1). GivePulse connects nonprofit agencies, student groups and the University of Mississippi throughout the Oxford community.

Community partners who use this program give the students at the University of Mississippi the opportunity to become superheroes. GivePulse integrates with the Ole Miss Forum, a platform students use to find events, organizations, and news articles on Campus. Because GivePulse lists all events in the community, the integration of the two programs is extremely helpful in connecting students with volunteer opportunities in Oxford.

2). GivePulse enables non-profits and service organizations to easily and efficiently create and list events, recruit volunteers, and track volunteers in the Oxford area.

Community partners who use this program can advertise outreach opportunities to more student organizations at the University of Mississippi. Service organizations are easily able to approve and edit submitted projects, events, and opportunities in five minutes or less. Students are able to easily register to volunteer for events and supply drives posted on GivePulse AND access a full service summary of all of their volunteer hours and impacts.

<<Check out this Socks and Scivvies Drive posted by Volunteer NE Mississippi.>>

3). GivePulse is extremely user friendly and easy for nonprofits, service organizations, and students to navigate.

Community partners who use this program can effectively communicate with volunteers through message boards and email. GivePulse provides a platform for volunteers to track and measure the impact of their volunteerism and allows service organizations to track and evaluate their effectiveness of their outreach efforts in the Oxford Community.

<<So far, in our first month, the University of Mississippi community has tracked 136 people with 166 impacts, 569 hours, and an economic impact of $15,463! That’s the power of tracking our collective impact, AND we’re just getting started!>>

4). GivePulse allows nonprofits and service organizations to share information about their organization conveniently to more volunteers.

Community partners who use this program can connect their Facebooks, Instagrams and websites on GivePulse. Service Organizations and nonprofits can spread the message about their group and connect other service platforms they use to obtain more student volunteers.

5).  GivePulse helps nonprofits and service organizations answer any and all questions quickly and accurately.

Community partners who use GivePulse can communicate with the program’s customer support online through email, webinars, or documentation. Unlike other online service platforms, GivePulse’s customer support team are ready to help users when they need it. I personally have emailed them and received help within minutes.

GivePulse has helped me to realize that I can be a superhero to others. I can make a difference in someone’s life. Having the ability to find numerous service opportunities in the Oxford community has inspired me to make a lasting impact on my community and acquire valuable life skills.

For more information:

Meet Madison Alliston – OCE Area Coordinator for Food, Housing, and Poverty

Posted on: September 17th, 2020 by elpayseu
Madison Alliston Headshot

Madison Alliston

“Hi, everyone! My name is Madison Alliston, and I am a junior from Hattiesburg, Miss. majoring in Public Policy Leadership and minoring in Philosophy and Criminal Justice. I’ve always had a passion for helping and serving others. That’s why after I graduate, I plan to attend law school and eventually work and advocate for vulnerable populations. I am super excited to join the Community Engagement team as the Food Security/Food Pantries, Housing, and Poverty Area Coordinator.

To me, the best part of the LOU community is meeting and making connections with others. Learning about other individuals’ cultures, views, and backgrounds has not only changed my perspective about the world but has helped me learn more about myself and my values. This community has taught me the importance of leadership, communication, and diversity and has given me opportunities to become a problem-solver and learn the necessary steps to make a difference in the world.

Community engagement is important to me because I have a passion for advocating and serving others.  Both my parents work in the disability community serving individuals with disabilities and their families. My parents have given me the opportunity to see firsthand the importance of everyone having a voice and a chance to tell his or her story. Building relationships and forming connections with all people in our communities are necessary tools to improve our world.

One thing I have learned recently is the importance of being grateful. I’m so grateful that my family has stayed safe and healthy during this pandemic. I’m grateful for the heartfelt conversations and the memories I’ve shared with my friends during these last few months. I’m grateful for the doctors and nurses who go to work each day and serve others. COVID 19 has given me time to focus on all the positives in my life and to not take anything for granted. Life is short and we need to appreciate each day and make it the best one yet.

If I could have one superpower it would be the ability to shapeshift. This one superpower has endless possibilities. I could turn into a dolphin and explore the deep seas. I could turn into a bird and fly through the sky. Or I could even turn into Taylor Swift and become a popstar for a day. Regardless of this power, I always return to being the best me I can be.”

This semester, Madison will be working with local organizations like More Than A Meal, Doors of Hope, and Oxford Community Market to ensure that everyone in the LOU community has access to basic needs like food and shelter. If you would like to get involved with the organizations in this area, please contact us at engaged@olemiss.edu to get connected to Madison.