Rasin Center for Global Justice

List of 7 items.

• Service Learning

  Are you dedicated to community service? We invite you to explore the Rasin Center to learn more about our Service Learning program, which offers numerous opportunities to engage in meaningful service, whether continuing past work or beginning anew. We also welcome proposals for unique service projects. The Service Learning program seeks to enhance students' awareness of the needs of both local and global communities, inspiring the Westover community to actively work against injustice and foster meaningful change.

  
  A Sample of Local Volunteering Opportunities

  • Abbey of Regina Laudis
  • Little Britches Therapeutic Riding Center
  • Boys and Girls Club of Greater Waterbury
  • Middlebury Convalescent Home
  • Brass City Charter School
  • St. Vincent DePaul in Waterbury 
  • Companion Pet Rescue & Transportation
  • Special Olympics Bowling Team
  • Flanders Nature Center
  • Waterbury Arc

• Global Programs

  Our Global program consists of supporting International and Exchange Students at Westover, and the global exchange programs at the School.
  
  

  Click here to learn more. 

• Experiential Learning Programs

  Our annual Experiential Learning Trip to Puerto Rico during Spring Break is an opportunity to engage deeply with a community building its vision for the future. Click the video below to watch this year's Experiential Learning Trip!

• Global Exchange Programs

  Westover offers three kinds of exchange program experiences:

  • Academic Exchange - Students participate in classes during the program and engage in school life for the majority of the program. Students have a chance to explore nearby cultural sites, and if applicable, continue the study of their chosen language. 
  • Language Exchange - Students live in a culture in which they will practice their language of study 
  • Cultural Exchange - Students travel, sightsee, and may participate in service learning activities with a focus on experiential learning. 

  Currently, Westover offers global exchanges to the following schools: 

  • Colegio Irlandesas Bami in Sevilla, Spain 
  • Lycée Européen in Villers Cotterêts, France 
  • Ahliyyah & Mutran in Amman, Jordan
  • St, Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School in Perth, Australia 
  • Keio School for Girls in Tokyo, Japan

• Environmental Sustainability

  Outside of the classroom, Westover students can work in the School’s greenhouse and organic garden, and learn beekeeping skills in the Westover apiary to pursue their passions for environmental sustainability. There are also opportunities to join student-led organizations, such as the Environmental Action Committee and Fair Trade Club, to collaborate with the student body, faculty, staff, and administration to create a more sustainable campus. 

  
  The School’s partnership with the Kenauk Institute in Canada offers students interested in environmental fieldwork the opportunity to participate in a junior internship program conducting research in the Canadian old-growth forests with mentorship from graduate students.

  Student Involvement

• Student Leadership in the Rasin Center

  The Rasin Center offers many opportunities for students to get involved on campus. From representing your class as a Rasin Rep to becoming involved in campus life through affinity spaces and student-run clubs, there is lots for students to become involved once the school year begins.

   

  Rasin Reps

  Through the Rasin Center, all students can run for Rasin Representative positions (Rasin Reps). At Westover, Rasin Reps are leaders amongst their peers who embody the goals of the Center through creating student events, leading Rasin Center workshops for Westover’s community, and represent their class in Rasin Center discussions throughout the year. 

  
  Sarah Q. ‘26 served as a Rasin Rep during the 23-24 school year, and shared, "As a Rasin Representative, we met throughout the school year to discuss Westover's sense of community and brainstormed ways to strengthen connections between the student body. We also organized a fundraiser from our grade during Black Maternal Health Week to donate supplies to support Black mothers."

• Clubs & Affinity Spaces

  Student Affinity Spaces

  At Westover, students, faculty, and staff have the opportunity to convene based on shared identities in dedicated affinity spaces. These spaces provide a designated time and place for members of the Westover community to offer mutual support and share personal experiences, fostering a sense of belonging and understanding. Students are encouraged to propose and lead their own spaces as well. 
  

  • ASIA (Asian Students in America - Asian American and Pacific Islander Affinity) 
  • Black Student Union
  • International Students Association 
  • Jewish Student Association 
  • Latino/a/x Student Association
  • Multiethnic and Multiricial Association
  • People with Disabilities 
  • SPECTRUM (LGBQTQIA+ students and allies) 
  • WestGen (Westover’s First Generation Scholars - catering to students who will be the first in their family to attend college) 
  • WALSA (Westover’s African Latino/a/x Student Association) 

  
  Interest Based Clubs

  At Westover, students are encouraged to explore their interests and engage in various student-run clubs. The school’s dynamic club environment provides ample opportunities for students to find a group that aligns with their passions, whether in arts, academics, social issues, or personal hobbies. If you don’t see a club that reflects your unique interests, there is always room to propose one! This approach empowers students to take initiative and share their passions, enriching the Westover community and creating new opportunities for connection and growth.
  

  • Amnesty International
  • Cooking Club
  • Crocs Committee
  • Harry Potter Club
  • Just Flex It (streetwear & trending brands)
  • Math Club
  • Anti-Gun Violence Committee
  • Marketing and Psychology
  • Bananagrams
  • Cozy Leaf Club
  • Coding Club
  • Model UN
  • Cheerleading and Step Team
  • National Days Club
  • NewsDecoder
  • Environmental Action Committee
  • Letterpress Collective
  • Dungeons and Dragons Club