Haitian Earthquake Inspires GSU Grad

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Dr. Elaine P. Maimon, president of Governors State University (left), and Dr. Sherilyn Poole, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students (right), stand with Tamara Lewis (center), recipient of the Newman Civic Fellow award and coordinator of the"All Nations for Haiti" fashion show.
Dr. Elaine P. Maimon, president of Governors State University (left), and Dr. Sherilyn Poole, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students (right), stand with Tamara Lewis (center), recipient of the Newman Civic Fellow award and coordinator of the"All Nations for Haiti" fashion show.

by Thelma Sardin

The catastrophic earthquake in Haiti occurred over a year ago, but its effect is still felt among citizens. As a result, many Haitians are homeless and battling social, economic and health disparities.

The tiny country has a population of an estimated 8.71 million and is about the size of Maryland.

The natural disaster was reportedly the regions worst earthquake in 200 years and more than

200,000 people perished from the quake.

Tamara Lewis, a Governors State University (GSU) graduate recently received an award for her fundraising efforts to help Haitian earthquake victims.

Lewis was awarded the Newman Civic Fellows Award. She received the honor from the Campus Compact, an organization of colleges and universities dedicated to furthering campus service and service-learning in higher education, according to a released statement.

The married mother of three earned her bachelors degree in Social Work from GSU on June 4.

The Newman Civic Fellows Award honors college students whose actions demonstrate their role as public problem solvers and civic leaders.

Lewis was nominated by GSU president, Dr. Elaine P. Maimon for her efforts to raise money for victims of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and her outstanding achievements as a student, according to the release.

As a student, Tamara demonstrates enthusiasm for academic excellence and genuine concern for addressing social disparities within impoverished communities, said Dr. Maimon. She is passionate about social justice and desires to empower people and communities.

According to Lewis, social justice is important to her because, I believe everyone deserves equality, fairness and respect, she said.

Lewis was the force behind last Mays All Nations for Haiti, a fashion show held at GSU, which featured the styles from all over the world. She says the fashion show was an avenue to celebrate other cultures and ethnicities through displaying fashions from different parts of the world.

The show raised $4,400 for Haitian relief efforts and featured fashions from two Chicago-area designers, Takara and Yemonja Just Human.

I was driven to help the people of Haiti because I saw a need, said Lewis. I learned how to work with students from other cultures and countries and with faculty to achieve our goal and raise money. It was a great learning experience.

A first generation college grad, Lewis plans to continue her education at the University of Illinois-Chicagos Jane Addams College of Social Work this fall to pursue a masters degree in Social Work.

She also plans to do work in community organizing, policy and advocacy.

Lewis says completing her bachelors degree after seventeen years is one of her biggest accomplishments.

Her advice to college students who are eager to volunteer is join an organization on campus that is involved in community service and volunteering, she said.

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