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Graduate students GROW community connections—and build leadership skills along the way.

MIB students have launched GROW—Graduates Reaching Out Worldwide to share business and life skills locally and globally.

Eager to connect with like-minded graduate students? Looking for a way to help others? Ready to develop stronger relationships dedicated to making a difference in the world?

Join one organization and accomplish all three goals—with Graduates Reaching Out Worldwide, or GROW. 

Created by a group of motivated Master of International Business (MIB) students in the College of Business Administration’s Chapman Graduate School, GROW focuses on fortifying and deepening graduate students’ understanding and appreciation of community and global service development through active participation and planning of international and local community service activities.

“Through GROW, we are working hand-in-hand with local organizations, corporations, and community groups to increase awareness about the issues affecting millions of disenfranchised people around the globe,” said Melissa Miranda, GROW chapter president, who is slated to graduate in December, 2007. “We hope to bring attention to social justice issues and, at the same time, become better, more compassionate business leaders.”

GROW reaches out—near and far.

Sherman Humphrey (BA ’05), GROW vice president, explains that the organization plans to participate in four local community service projects.

“We’re planning two projects with The Community Partnership for the Homeless, Inc. in downtown Miami—a weekend event serving lunch to the homeless and a Christmas toy drive,” he said. “Plus, projects are in the works with United Way and Habitat for Humanity.”

Also in the works: a spring service trip to Mexico in collaboration with Friends of the Orphans, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of orphaned, abandoned, and disadvantaged children; and Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, a network of orphanages in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“We hope to share our business and life skills with the orphanage in Mexico, helping those who work and live there to do things like plan a business project as a revenue source, keep a personal budget, and practice résumé writing and interview techniques,” Humphrey said. “And, of course, we want to spend time playing with the kids.”

Mark your calendar for an evening of fashion, friends, and inspiration.

On Wednesday, November 14, 2007, join GROW and Friends of the Orphans at Fashion for Friends, a glamorous night of fashion and fundraising to help thousands of orphaned and abandoned children in Latin America and the Caribbean. The fun begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Ancient Spanish Monastery in North Miami Beach. For more details, contact GROW president Melissa Miranda at melissa_miranda@comcast.net.