PROJECT SLEYA
Inspiring social change through travel & service.
WHAT IS PROJECT SLEYA?
The Service Learning Experience for Young Adults (Project SLEYA) is a social justice oriented week- long service-learning trip for young adults. Through authentic community engagement, meaningful service-learning, and intentionally designed curriculum, participants are given opportunities to develop their understanding of civic engagement and social change, develop and practice leadership skills, and make a difference in a community outside of their own. At the conclusion of the trip, participants are encouraged to utilize Project SLEYA resources to take what they learned and contribute to social issues within their own communities across central Ohio. Additionally, participants will become members of the Project SLEYA Alumni Group, which includes post trip opportunities, local service projects, professional and leadership development opportunities and social outings.
THE PROJECT SLEYA EXPERIENCE
TRAVEL
Through a travel based experience, Project SLEYA seeks to inspire participants to see and understand the world in new ways. By being outside of their own communities, participants are presented with opportunities to engage outside of their comfort zone, interact with diverse people and environments, and connect social issues from across to the country to the social issues in their home communities.
LEARN
Service-Learning is most effective when attached to specific learning outcomes and educational objectives. Each Project SLEYA trip engages participants in a 12-15 hour immersive curriculum that is designed around the outcomes of the service project. Visit the Upcoming Trips for more information about the curriculum for a specific trip.
SERVE
Project SLEYA provides participants authentic, intentional and meaningful service activities. Each trip will encompass multiple forms of service (indirect, direct, advocacy, research), to ensure participants have complete experience and to maximize the impact that the service has on the community.
PROJECT SLEYA STAFF
DR. RUSSELL MORROW, II
Founder & Executive Director
Dr. Morrow is a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion educator with nearly 10 years of experience working with college students and young adults. During his professional journey, he discovered his love for traveling and engaging in service-learning with college students as a way to support their academic curiosity, cultural exploration, interpersonal growth, and commitment to civic engagement. After working with student travel and volunteer programs on college campuses, Dr. Morrow was inspired to expand such experiences to more young adults, resulting in Project SLEYA.
Dr. Morrow received degrees in Communication (BS '12) and Higher Education (M.Ed '14) from Ohio University. He received his doctorate degree in Education Administration (Ed.D '21) from the Ohio State University where he completed his dissertation research, Service-Learning in the Classroom: Understanding the implementation of curriculum based service-learning in public schools.
In addition to managing Project SLEYA, Dr. Morrow is the Assistant Director of Multicultural Student Affairs at Denison University and serves on the board of the Highland Youth Garden in Columbus, OH.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MICIA CLEMMONS
President
Program Coordinator - Student Affairs
Otterbein University
SUPAPHEN NIROULA
Vice President
Program Manager - Center for Real Estate
The Ohio State University
ACIE MIDDLETON
Treasurer
Financial Coach
Rebel Financial
ETHAN WHITE
Secretary
Marketing Technologist
Microsoft