Collective work is a core principle of Kwanzaa. A new community service organization called Core is just beginning to dig its nitch in Athens by stressing collective work. But the group's roots already are firmly planted.

Although Core has been serving the Athens community for 10 years, it has been registered as a formal OU student organization for only one year.

In that year, Core has networked with other organizations on campus and made a difference in many people's lives - including its members. Most Core participants are OU students, but anyone is invited to join.

"I have been involved since its inception 10 years ago, and we became members of each other's augmented families," Core Executive Director Sherina Davis said.

With its status as an established organization, the Core members are able to fundraise, and provide sites for their activities, which helps them reach a broader audience and involve more of the community.

"We've been recognized more, and we are more outspoken in the community. Now we are able to provide a more broad range of community service activities," Davis said.

The group's name is derived from a comparison between the services the group provides to the community and the core of an apple, she said. Public outreach acts as the foundation or "Core" of a community. As an apple grows from the seeds in the core, the members believe the community is strengthened as they take action and touch more people's lives, she said.

One event the group held to carry out this idea of neighborhood involvement was the Soul Food Community Dinner, held last February. Core members provided dinner for low-income residents and invited students and faculty. Core also has plans to sponsor another community dinner in the near future.

Besides community outreach, the group focuses much of its efforts on promoting their other core values.

"Our mission statement is to create a central communal foundation that promotes unity, brotherhood, self-sustainability, self-preservation, improvement and service," Davis said.

The group co-sponsored the Million Man March remembrance ceremony and sponsored a Homecoming queen candidate during Homecoming weekend.

"Once we get our feet on the ground we plan on creating a scholarship for minority freshman for those with the most improved GPA. Right now we have a lot of ideas on the table but have a limited amount of funds," said Core President Christiaan Evans.

Another program that reflects Core's mission is Project Brotherhood, an event Core sponsored with Multicultural Programming and the Ohio Athletic Program. Last May, a speaker from Cleveland talked to the group about unity and brotherhood. Afterward students, who were primarily African American athletes and non-athletes, were invited to play a basketball game.

"It released tension between students and student athletes. We had a good turnout despite the fact it coincided with Mom's Weekend," said Evans.

Core members want to have a positive impact on the new friends they make in the OU community.

"With doing community service, it gives us a chance to involve others in community service," Davis said.

The organization also prepares its members for the future.

Core's advisor, Michelle Smith, said the group is a way of promoting unity and brotherhood, and prepares them for graduation and moving on in life.