Residents of Sutter Hall, have taken the initiative to give back to the community through programs provided in their unique theme-living housing.

Global awareness, health and wellness, leadership and service are the themes for the three floors.

 “We put emphasis on multiculturalism, social inequality and poverty,” said global awareness resident adviser Anthony Taylor.

Residents in the global awareness community participated in fundraisers and volunteer opportunities throughout the Sacramento area.   

They have also provided food and cooked meals for people living at the Vacaville Opportunity House, a homeless shelter that encourages a productive lifestyle in the community.

The themed-living communities, along with other residents halls, collected and recycled cans and bottles, raising about $200 for Typhoon Haiyan relief in the Philippines. 

Taylor said he meets with residents from his floor to speak about issues occurring in society or gather ideas for potential volunteer opportunities. 

Although community service is not a requirement, residents also take part in a variety of programs that include creating bulletin boards and attending entertainment events. 

Nicole Zauner, the resident life coordinator for Sutter Hall, said the themed communities have been around for three years, but it is the hall’s first year to implement the structure.

“The floor themes were started as a way to connect students with similar passions,” Zauner said.

This semester, feminism, global poverty and race and ethnicity are issues residents in the global awareness community have become interested in learning more about.

“Soon we hope to have a film screening on [those]  issues,” Taylor said.

He said his experience living at Sutter Hall has been different compared to other halls.

“Sutter is a great community,” Taylor said. “Sometimes when I was living in Sierra [Hall] I wanted to leave. It was more individualistic. People at [Sutter Hall] are more together in this struggle of college.”

Taylor was inspired to become a resident adviser because he wanted to be a leader in making a change.

In order for students to live in Sutter Hall, they must complete a separate application to answer why they want to be part of a community. 

“When you can get people together with the same interest, the force multiplies and we manage to make a team where we actually take action,” Taylor said.

Communications major Antonio Coffee lives in the global awareness community. 

He said he was excited to find out his hall had floor themes when applying for housing. 

“I’ve always been one to embrace different cultures, so when I saw global awareness I thought, ‘What better way to learn about other cultures,’ ”Coffee said.

Coffee’s his most memorable experience with his community was volunteering at the Vacaville Opportunity House during global poverty month in November.

“Our floor is great,” Coffee said. “When we do our events, others join from other floors and even from other resident halls.”

Now, Coffee is looking forward to the next community service at homeless shelter Loaves and Fishes in Sacramento, where they will be providing a meal for those living there.

For more information on Sutter Hall visit www.csus.edu/housing