By Karri Kirby

The CHABBS Global Commitment Initiative (GCI) recently hosted a community service fair that served as an opportunity for students to take action in their community and find ways to get involved on a local level.

GCI is a campaign by the CHABBS Department that encourages students to participate in activities and educate themselves about global issues. The GCI Community Service fair was held on Tuesday, April 14, and was an opportunity for students to explore these issues and get involved through a variety of local service groups.

“The GCI is designed to educate and engage the college, campus and the broader community in a discussion about global issues, trends and events,” said Elizabeth Matthews, Professor of Global Studies and Political Science and the Director of the CHABSS Global Commitment Initiative (GCI).

She explained that the GCI fair represents a chance for students to engage with 19 local organizations and to learn more about what they do in the community.

During the GCI Community Service Fair, many students were drawn to the San Diego County Foundation known as Surfrider.

Chapter Manager of the Surfrider Foundation, Haley Haggerstone, said, “We want to give people an opportunity to do something for their oceans.”

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting our world’s oceans, waves and beaches.

“Giving back to the community that you apart of now, is reverently important,” said Kimberly Palafox, a Global Studies major at CSUSM. “This is a part of the four, five, six year college experience here [at CSUSM]. It’s to not only really immerse here on campus and the opportunities of what the campus gives you, but also the community as well.”

According to the CHABBS Department, the Global Commitment Initiative is a campaign that is dedicated to implementing issues such as global awareness and multicultural understanding into their curriculum and activities. For more information regarding this event and other events in the upcoming semester, students can visit http://www.csusm.edu/chabss/about/gci.html.