Community Affairs Board (CAB)

INTRODUCTION

The Community Affairs Board is AS’s volunteer outreach center. In fact, it’s the largest student-run volunteer organization on campus. CAB serves our community in many ways, including working with the houseless, children, seniors, the environment, animals and many more! “CABbies” are dedicated to finding ways to serve our local community both on and off campus. To this end they also publish a weekly online Care-Mail newsletter with volunteer opportunities and events. Beyond our local community CAB Alternative Breaks have taken students across the country to help out in projects that include Hurricane Katrina relief in New Orleans, Hurricane Sandy relief in New York and New Jersey, and their latest trip with the National Park Service to the Grand Canyon.

Click here for a video about some of the things CAB worked on this year.

Making a short story a bit longer, here’s the range of regular activities straight from the CAB website:

Environment

Weekly we participate in Adopt a Block and pick up litter right here in the streets of Isla Vista. There are also tree planting events and creek cleanups together in a group! Currently we are in the plastics coalition working on reducing the amount of plastic being used here in Santa Barbara and beyond!

Youth

We organize loads of projects specifically directed for the youth. The Family Literacy Program is one of CAB’s oldest and largest programs that matches up UCSB students with a child in Isla Vista to meet on a weekly basis and tutor. Amiguitos is also a youth outreach tutoring organization. We also provide childcare grants to undergraduate parents two times every quarter to assist with financial needs. In addition we help organize after school programs, holiday programs and giveaway backpack & school supplies at the start of each school year.

Hunger-Houseless

Every other week there are Dinner Clubs where volunteers help serve delicious food to the houseless of our community. One is held at St. Michaels right in our Isla Vista community and another at Downtown SB. Furthermore, we are looking to work with other organizations and have started adding Swipe out Hunger, a new collab to the schedule.

Senior-Citizen

Over the years we have developed close ties with local retirement homes such as Friendship Manor (right in Isla Vista) where we have weekly meal serving at the Manor. Occasionally during the holidays, we host fun themed events for the lovely senior citizens of our community such as a Christmas party and Valentine’s Day Dance.

Animals

There are loads of animal shelters in Santa Barbara and we strive to volunteer there as well as assist in restoration projects. We work often with B.U.N.S, a bunny shelter in Goleta where our volunteers love spending time at weekly to play with bunnies. Keep a look out for an animal fair on campus!

Special Projects

Special Projects helps facilitate projects that are not covered by the other coordinators. For example, every quarter CAB hosts an event called YOU MATTER! during dead week right before finals in an effort to remind students that “you matter!” We have all sorts of fun and free things to help relieve what can be a very stressful time such as: food, music, massages, skateboard cleaning, test supplies, a letter making station and more! We are also currently forming a new tabling committee!

Alternative Breaks

Every Winter Break, Spring Break, and one special weekend CAB organizes alternative breaks. These are opportunities for students to use their time off for the greater good by participating in an all expenses paid trip by CAB. In the past we have helped disaster relief efforts post Hurricane Katrina and environmental restoration in Oregon. Winter Break 2016 was at Baton Rouge, Louisiana! Applications are sent out through Care-mail and can be found on the CAB website when open.

REAFFIRMATION

All this dedication didn’t go unnoticed. Students voted overwhelmingly to reaffirm CAB’s funding in this year’s AS elections, because they know that being “Caring AS CAB” is one of the benchmarks of student engagement!

(Poster created by the Creative Media Unit)

THIS YEAR IN CAB AS CRONICLED ON FACEBOOK

Open House

During the first week of classes students were invited to a kick off Open House where they could learn about all the ways they can make a difference working with CAB.

AS Fair

CAB also reached out at the AS Fair at the beginning of the quarter.

Isla Vista Beach Clean-Up

CAB started the year in Isla Vista off running by partnering with the IV Recreation and Parks District to host a neighborhood clean-up followed by a picnic in Perfect Park with free pizza and desserts.

CAB Leaderboard Retreat in Solvang

Here’s the CAB leaderboard with “the big red shoe” in the Danish capital of America, Solvang. Also, home to some amazing Danish bakeries and lots of other sweets!

You Matter

As in past years, CAB was in the Arbor each quarter around midterms and finals to help people destress with free snacks, Scantrons, pencils, and, most importantly, hugs and a reminder, You Matter!

Pancake Study Jams

CAB served breakfast for dinner as part of their quarterly study jams! Everyone needs a break, so why not study with free food?! The well-attended jams took place in the GSA lounge.

CAB Pumpkin Social

The Halloween season was cause for CAB’s first social event of the year with lots of great photo ops!

Thanksgiving for Isla Vista Families

Volunteers made Thanksgiving dinner bags for families in IV to celebrate the holiday.

Bunny Beds

Bunnies need love too. So CAB invited folks to come help make newspaper mats for bunnies. As a reward there was food and credit toward service hours.

IV Elementary Garden

CAB partnered with Explore Ecology and held a community work party in March. They found  enthusiastic volunteers looking to get dirty and help perform a variety of garden tasks. This community work party was well attended by parents, students, and members of the surrounding community. Tasks included hauling plant material, amending soil, sheet mulching, planting, creating garden art with students, and carpentry. And helping students reconnect with nature and increase their food literacy in a dynamic outdoor garden classroom setting.

CAB VOLUNTEER WEEK

This year’s Volunteer Week was packed with activities!

Check out the program:

To celebrate a wonderful year of volunteering, CAB will be hosting our annual Volunteer Week Festival. There will be games and activities, music, FREE food and much more. Make sure not to miss out on this fun and free event! We look forward to seeing you all there! Activities: Obstacle Course * Carnival Games * Henna Artists * AP Rock Wall * Tie Dye Station * Pot your own succulents * Pizza provided by Woodstocks * Trail Mix Bar provided by the IV CO-OP.

Monday 4/24:
RECESS IN IV

Restoration and Volunteering at Children’s Park.

CAB ALTERNATIVE BREAKS

Baton Rouge

A group of CABbies traveled to Baton Rouge during winter break!

Grand Canyon

Spring Break was spent at the Grand Canyon.

END OF YEAR BANQUET

Yes, the year of volunteering through CAB does end. This year’s banquet had a tropical twist.