NASHVILLE, Tenn. Over the course of the latest school year, the Meharry-Vanderbilt Student Alliance (MVSA) has impacted the Nashville community with a number of volunteer experiences -- including efforts with the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and the Tennessee Environmental Council. Additionally, their effort have continued to serve as a bridge between the graduate student body of Meharry Medical College (MMC) and Vanderbilt University (VU), exposing students to the underserved populations of Nashville while also allowing them to network and socialize.
MVSA events and efforts for the previous year include:
The Annual MVSA Back to School Picnic - Sept. 22, 2015
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The MVSA invited all new and returning students from MMC and VU to its annual Back to School Picnic, where there was ample attendance from both institution's graduate students.
Meharry Medical College Community Day - Oct. 17, 2015
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The MVSA participated in MMC's annual Community Day, a morning dedicated to serving the Nashville Metro Area. In the picture above, Meharry Co-President Terry Lyles explains the organization's plans and activities for the upcoming year.
Happy Healthy Halloween - Oct. 30, 2015
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Happy Healthy Halloween, a community service project, provided elementary and middle school-aged children in the Nashville community with a safe and fun environment. MVSA partnered with the 100 Black Men Chapter at Meharry to host. The carnival-themed event took place at the Henry A. Moses Alumni Hall, and a total of 15 student organizations participated.
Second Harvest Food Bank - Feb. 6, 2016
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The MVSA volunteered with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Nashville, contributing sorting over 4,000 pounds of food and water for food shelters throughout Middle Tennessee. In addition, the group directly donated over 55 pounds of canned goods.
Community Day at the Divine Art Café - Feb. 7, 2016
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MVSA and Vanderbilt VOISCE (Vanderbilt Organization for Interdisciplinary Student Community Engagement) hosted a Community Day at Divine Art Cafe & Toffee Art Cafe in East Nashville. Members from the Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and Vanderbilt University Law School assisted with health screenings, oral health kits and community legal sources.
About the Meharry-Vanderbilt Student Alliance
The Meharry-Vanderbilt Student Alliance (MVSA) has been in existence since 2003. Its purpose is to encourage students from each campus to meet each other, to identify common interest, to pursue joint projects, to approach community outreach together, to have joint recreational activities and to help define the process for making the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance beneficial to their educational experience. In addition, the student group serves as the forum for addressing all student matters, announcements, etc. across institutions.
About the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance
Founded in 1999, the Alliance bridges the institutions of Meharry Medical College and Vanderbilt University. Its mission is to enrich learning and advance clinical research by developing and supporting mutually beneficial partnerships between Meharry Medical College, Vanderbilt University and the communities they serve.