Jim Cramer

Professor/chair of sociology

Jim Cramer, chair of the sociology department and an expert in human ecology -- including demography, population and environment, air quality, bioregions, immigration and infant mortality -- has been an instrumental force in the Acorn Project since its inception eight years ago. The Acorn Project sends UC Davis students to two low-income neighborhoods in Sacramento to mentor elementary school children one afternoon a week. Cramer made the trips to Sacramento to supervise for several years, but recently has taken a more administrative role.

What is the purpose of the Acorn Project?

There's the element of helping the kids with their school work and developing social skills, but there's really much more than that. It's just providing a friend and an influence. The UC Davis students really bond with the kids.

Why did you get involved?

When I was an undergraduate, I served as a tutor and mentor and I learned a lot. Getting involved is a very important part of the college experience and I think everyone should have the chance.

What have been some highlights of your volunteer work?

There have been two. Most students sign up to do this for one quarter, but many get so attached to the kids that they keep doing it quarter after quarter. Some have been doing it for three or four years. It's had a profound impact on them. Second, there is one kid in particular who stayed in the program for eight years and still drops by sometimes. He had problems at home, and this has been a refuge for him -- it gave him the opportunity to see another model for how to live. -- By Mike Sintetos

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• Do you know someone who is contributing substantially to the campus or local community through his or her volunteer efforts? Dateline would like to honor the unsung heroes among us, including staff and faculty who, in their extra hours, choose to make a difference in the community -- on campus or off -- as mentors, spirit-lifters, docents, builders of homes for the poor, and more. To nominate someone, e-mail dateline@ucdavis.edu or abagronis@ucdavis.edu.