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Basic Information
Full Name:
Tim Steele
UC Email:
steelete@mail.uc.edu
College:
College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Major:
Chemical Engineering
Title of Project:
Serve Beyond Cincinnati: Pine Ridge Reservation
Thematic Area (choose only one):
Community Engagement
Expected Project Start Date:
March 13, 2014
Expected Project End Date:
March 22, 2014
Project Information
The Serve Beyond Cincinnati trip to the Pine Ridge Reservation is put on through a group called Re-Member. It is
a group that has been working there since 1997. Pine Ridge is a native American reservation up in South Dakota which
needs help rebuilding and aiding the elderly or disabled. They repair homes, build bunk beds, so pretty much anything that
is needed at the time. It immerses you in the Lakota culture while helping out a group of people who are very important to
our history. The name Re-Member actually comes from the word and means to put back that which is broken; to remember. This is a very important mission because the only way to know where you are going is to know your
background which is something that is lost in todays hustle and bustle. So, this trip should not only allow me to help
people in need out, but also learn about the culture that used to be in charge of the place we live in now.
This trip will take place over eight days during spring break. There will be driving too and from the reservation,
but the rest of the time will be spent there. We will be staying on the reservation: experiencing the culture and building
homes. Therefore, the time commitment will be met because the days will be spent volunteering and learning their culture.
The more important part is the fact that we will be submersed in their culture. We will be bringing our own experiences
and problem solving skills to help build them homes, but Re-Member is more about helping them out in their way of life.
Taking that aspect into consideration, we will be getting involved in their community and learning how to go about
problems their way.

Clearly and thoroughly address how each of the following elements will be exhibited in your work:
1. Connection to Learning Outcomes within the Honors Thematic Area (identified above)
a. Possesses awareness of purpose of service, including need for reciprocity, understanding of social issues, and
ability to see those issues from multiple perspectives.
This is the major focus of this trip. Re-member isnt about making a stamp on this reservation by changing their views, but by
supplying the resources for them to help them get out of a rough area. Every culture hits a rough patch in there time around
which usually means it dies out. No culture deserves that and this group is not only trying to help their lives go better, but also
to pass on their wisdom and knowledge to everyone who wants to learn. We are providing them some well-deserved help in
return for learning how their life is lived.

b. Relates, communicates, and works effectively with others towards sustainable social change
Along with this idea of learning their culture and making sure they can keep up their way of life there is the aspect of
making the culture ready for the long hall. We will be coming in as a group of college kids who probably have never met
before, and we must bond together to learn their societies issues and help the way they need it. This trip will have
numerous people swapping cultures, which will leave a lasting impact on the group living in the reservation.
2. Connection to Goals and Academic Theories (include reference list, as appropriate)
A. Everyone talks about how the world is becoming a global communityits true. That is why its one
of my goals to be knowledgeable in problems that plague different cultures, states, or nations. It
would be awesome to help out everyone, but that is not feasible as one person. Plus I need to educate
myself in cultures before truly being able to help; one of the best places to start is domestically
because if you are not even educated on the happenings around you then how can you expect to be
involved in other cultures. You must be engaged in what is happening around you before stretching
yourself out to be engaged in other communities

B. Academic Theory: Focusing Effect

One theory out there is that we as people tend to place importance on some aspects of life but place
lower priority on less interesting aspects. I tend to be pretty guilty of this because all throughout my
high school career I focused heavily on math, science, and sports which left anything else in the dust.
There is nothing I can do about that now, but I do think it was a mistake narrowing my vision so
much at that time in my life. So, I am trying to change that now and open myself up to put forth more
effort on things that have taken a backseat in my life when they are fantastic things to be involved in.
Volunteering was one of those things that I miss since it was nice to go weekly to the library and
shelve books. I may have not been doing much, but it was more than nothing. This is a fantastic
opportunity to learn more about the world and broaden my interests.
Reading: Pine Ridge Reservation By: Donovin Arleigh Sprague
This just covers the history of the Reservation we would be going to. The book is fantastic to prepare
because the trip is not to just show up and fix a few things, but to go about it through their lifestyle.
Re-member, the group in charge, may have been spearheaded by priests, but it is no mission trip. In
fact they want you to become a part of their culture which cant fully happen if you do not know what
has happened to the people who live there and the land they live on.

3. Initiative, Independence, and/or Creativity

Now with majoring in chemical engineering and never been going on an immersion service trip leaves me with a lack
of leadership capability hear. But, over the summer I worked construction which means that I have learned some of
the tricks of the trade, so I could help lead a group to build what is needed to build and make sure they get it done
right because messing up works against us. Plus it would actually be cool to take a group of us and go sit down and
talk with a kid our age or close to it on the reservation, and not only see how he grew up, but his hopes and the dreams
for the future.
4. Reflection
I plan on keeping a diary in a composition notebook during my time there on the reservation. This will not only
contain the events of the day, and the plans for tomorrow. I plan on covering most of what I think of during the day.
Which could range from my opinion on how the events were ran all the way to how helpful I was in their mission.
Going along with that there are some blaring hoes that I would need to cover in the reflection which are my goals for
the next day, and thinking about why the decisions people made were madeincluding my own.
Reflection Questions:
1. What aspects of other cultures stood out today?
2. Did anyone tackle the same problem another way?
3. What are the similarities to your culture as other people?
5. Dissemination
I would like to present my experiences on the trip to Serve Beyond Cincinnati. I would do this through their website
because the opportunities they offer arent just volunteer trips, but much more. That is what I dont think people
understand because I feel like people just see it as something they need to do. It shouldnt be a need because of
scholarships or honors: the people headed on the trip should truly want to be there which is sometimes lost these days.
6. Project Advisor(s)
Jamie Weisbarth
SBC Domestic Trip Coordinator
Serve.bc@gmail.com
Since Jamie is in charge of domestic trips she should be pretty knowledgeable about domestic problems our country
faces.

7. Budget (if applicable)

The cost of the trip is $500 which covers transportation, room, and food for the trip.