Center for Civic Engagement

Looking for a volunteer opportunity? The Normal First United Methodist has a need for volunteers at their Attic Sale event this Friday, July 26. 📦

Volunteers will assist in moving tables and packing leftover items from 3 to 4:30 p.m. For more information and to sign up, contact Carol Morgan at [email protected] or (309) 452-3127

And that's a wrap on this year's Preview Service Project! 🎒

Thank you to all who donated school supplies and to the 118 attendees who helped us stuff a total of 833 backpacks with supplies and handwritten messages of encouragement to the students! The backpacks will go to local students from Kindergarten through 3rd grade.

Looking for a volunteer opportunity? Home Sweet Home Ministries has a need for volunteers in the kitchen and dining area of their Bloomington, IL, location. 🍎

To sign up, visit https://hshministries.org/volunteer/opportunities-to-serve or call 309-828-7356 and ask to speak with a volunteer coordinator to set up times.

🎒 This year's Preview Service Project of stuffing backpacks with school supplies is going strong! 106 attendees have stuffed 719 backpacks for Kindergarten and 1st-3rd grade students so far. Backpacks will be donated to children in the local community. Thank you for making a !

Looking for a position on campus where you can make a ? We are seeking two Student Office Assistants for the School Year. Help spread the word and apply using the link below!

https://jobsearch.illinoisstate.edu/en-us/job/519032/student-office-assistant

to Month. Last June, Redbird alumni across the country exceeded expectations and recorded over 780 hours of service. Check out pictures from service projects at West Bloomington Revitalization Project, the ISU Share Shop, the Chicago Suburban Alumni Network's park cleanup, and the Impact Luncheon, where our incoming graduate assistant, Liam Gunn, spoke to the attendees. We are of all who made an impact!

Last Call❗The Community Impact Assessment survey closes tomorrow at 11:59 p.m. Don’t miss the chance to provide valuable feedback on partnerships with Illinois State University. Go to https://bit.ly/ISU-impact to complete the survey now!

👟 WJBC and partners are organizing a Back to School Shoe Drive for local kids from kindergarten through 12th grade. Learn more about how to make your contribution in their linked story!

2024 Back to School Shoe Drive to Help Local Kids in Need No kid should have to go back to school with shoes full of holes or NO SHOES AT ALL!

✅ Don’t miss out on the opportunity to complete the Community Impact Assessment!

👥 The survey is open to any member of an organization that has partnered or is currently partnering with the ISU community. If your class or department has worked with a community organization, remind them to go to http://bit.ly/ISU-impact and complete the survey by July 10!

If you have any questions, please email Rachel Waring-Sparks at [email protected].

This year's Preview Service Project of stuffing backpacks with school supplies is going strong! 69 attendees have stuffed 580 backpacks for 2nd-grade and Kindergarten students so far.
If you would like to donate supplies, you are more than welcome to do so! If you are here for the 2024 Preview you can drop your donated supplies at Milner Library. All other outside donations will be accepted at the Center for Civic Engagement.

This year's Preview Service Project of stuffing backpacks with school supplies is going strong! 61 attendees have stuffed 384 backpacks for 2nd-grade and Kindergarten students so far.
If you would like to donate supplies, you are more than welcome to do so! If you are here for the 2024 Preview you can drop your donated supplies at Milner Library. All other outside donations will be accepted at the Center for Civic Engagement.

✋ Has your organization partnered with Illinois State University? If so, fill out our Community Impact Assessment survey to help us assess our relationship with community partners.

🫵 Remember, you have one more week to provide your much appreciated feedback at https://bit.ly/ISU-impact

This year's Preview Service Project of stuffing backpacks with school supplies is going strong! 54 attendees have stuffed 320 backpacks for 2nd-grade students so far.

If you would like to donate supplies, you are more than welcome to do so! If you are here for the 2024 Preview you can drop your donated supplies at Milner Library. All other outside donations will be accepted at the Center for Civic Engagement.

The Center for Civic Engagement is launching its Community Impact Assessment!

This survey is open to any member of an organization that has partnered or is currently partnering with the ISU community. The purpose of this assessment is to better understand the impact that the university is making in the community through engagement with community organizations. Follow this link to participate by Friday, June 28: http://bit.ly/ISU-impact

If you have any questions, please email Rachel Waring-Sparks at [email protected].

We had a great time at this year’s Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Meeting. The conference brings together faculty, student affairs administrators, students, senior campus leaders, and community partners to advance institutions’ commitment to advancing democracy. It was a good opportunity to share knowledge and learn about practices to help strengthen civic engagement at Illinois State.

This year's Preview Service Project of stuffing backpacks with school supplies has begun! 35 attendees have filled 156 backpacks for 2nd-grade students so far. 🎒

If you would like to donate supplies, you are more than welcome to do so! If you are here for the 2024 Preview, you can drop off your donated supplies at Milner Library. All other outside donations will be accepted at the Center for Civic Engagement. 📚

🏆 Professors Jessica Sullivan and Kirsten Clerkin from the Mennonite College of Nursing were announced as the new Collaboratory Civic Engagement Champions.

👥 As instructors in the Family Nurse Practitioner program, Sullivan and Clerkin partnered with the Kankakee County Health Department, expanding healthcare access for adolescent-age patients and allowing students to have clinical training with the population.

🌐 The traveling trophy was awarded to them during a Nurses Week Potluck for faculty and staff this month. Read the full story: https://news.illinoisstate.edu/2024/05/mennonite-college-of-nursing-professors-are-selected-as-collaboratory-civic-engagement-champions/

We are of the Illinois State University students awarded with the Paul Simon Democracy Prize. Congratulations to Saqlain Khurshid, Lyndsay Jones, and Keara Gray. We can’t wait to see your projects come to life!

Congratulations to this year’s Paul Simon Democracy Prize Awardees!

This year, four prizes were awarded to Illinois college students for the design and implementation of projects to revitalize democracy in their communities.

- Lylee Gibbs (SIU)
- VanKevia Garner (SIU)
- Saqlain Khurshid (ISU)
- Lyndsay Jones (ISU)
- Keara Gray (ISU)

Learn more about the winning submissions.
➡️ https://ow.ly/AtGo50RU6Mu

🏆 Friend of Civic Engagement Award Winner: Dr. Ashley Waring-Sparks

ℹ Dr. Ashley Waring-Sparks has provided fantastic support to civic engagement at Illinois State, participating in various activities from driving vans to service projects, assisting major events such as the Holiday Helper Project, and serving as an Election Greeter. Her dedication and proactive support in various capacities, including after-hours logistical efforts, have made her a treasured friend of the Center for Civic Engagement.

Congratulations to Dr. Ashley Waring-Sparks!

🏆 Friend of Civic Engagement Award Winner: Rocío Morales

ℹ Rocío Morales has demonstrated a profound dedication to civic engagement through her role as a trip advisor for multiple Alternative Break trips, where she has provided guidance and encouraged students to sustain their passion for community service. Her influential presence extends beyond advising, as she actively promotes the Alternative Breaks program on campus, integrates civic engagement into her teaching, and consistently brings joy to all interactions.

Congratulations to Rocío Morales!

🏆 Student Civic Engagement Award Winner: Claire Campbell

ℹ️ Claire's involvement with the local non-profit For a Better Tomorrow is extensive, serving in various capacities, from mentoring in the Youth Global Citizen project to leading philanthropy and community service events. Additionally, her role on campus as a member of the STEM Ambassadors team and her research into students’ perceptions of the climate in STEM programs underscore her profound dedication to making a significant positive impact in her community and beyond, as noted by her nominators.

Congratulations to Claire Campbell!

🏆 Community Partner Civic Engagement Award Winner: BN Welcoming

ℹ️ BN Welcoming, a local organization dedicated to fostering a safe and supportive environment for immigrants and refugees, has been highlighted for its strong support of community-engaged research. Their recent collaboration with Dr. Gina Hunter’s Advanced Ethnographic Methods course provided students, including Stevenson Center Fellows Laura Keeran and Sierra Mack-Erb, with hands-on learning experiences that embraced civic engagement, activism, and applied learning, allowing them to explore and practice a decolonized approach to research methodology.

Congratulations to the entire team at BN Welcoming!

🏆 Interdisciplinary Civic Engagement Award Winner: Student Navigators Team

ℹ Launched in the Fall of 2023, the Student Navigators Team at Illinois State University was initially established to combat food insecurity (after a study showed that the issue affected 40% of students) but soon expanded its mission to include a broader range of basic needs. Comprising faculty, staff, and students, the team collaborates with multiple university departments and local organizations, providing personalized support and resources to over 50 students thus far.

Congratulations to the entire Student Navigators Team!

🏆 Staff Civic Engagement Award Winner: Kacy Rader

ℹ️ Kacy is celebrated by her nominators for her unwavering dedication and positive impact within the community, serving as a mentor and a champion for public health initiatives such as the Narcan Distribution Initiative and mental health awareness events. She has collaborated with state senators and the Civic Engagement Committee of the Student Government Association, resulting in work that has influenced thousands of students and embodied the essence of civic engagement with a profound and lasting impact.

Congratulations to Kacy Tudeen-Rader!

🏆 Registered Student Organization (RSO) Civic Engagement Award Winner: Astronomy Club

ℹ️ The Astronomy Club at Illinois State University demonstrated a passion for civic engagement through extensive collaboration in planning and executing a campus-wide solar eclipse viewing event, partnering with multiple departments and STEM-related student organizations. Alongside facilitating educational programming and coordinating volunteers for the event, the club maintains an active community presence by promoting partner events and fostering a welcoming, interdisciplinary group dedicated to cultivating an appreciation for astronomy.

Congratulations to the Astronomy Club!

🏆 Faculty Civic Engagement Award Winner: Dr. Frank Beck

ℹ️ For the last two decades, Dr. Beck has led the Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development at Illinois State University, where he has also taught Sociology 466, guiding students in community-engaged research projects. His collaboration with local organizations like BN Welcoming and the Ecology Action Center, his significant role in data management for the Mclean County Government's Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, and securing millions in grant funding highlight his deep commitment to civic engagement and mentoring students in these endeavors.

Congratulations to Dr. Frank Beck!

🏆 Centering EDI Civic Engagement Award Winner: Dr. Grace Kang

ℹ️ Dr. Kang, a faculty member at the School of Teaching and Learning, is deeply engaged in the Champaign community and the Unit 4 school district, participating in multiple mentorship and PTA leadership roles, including equity initiatives and fundraising efforts. Her involvement extends into hosting a creative writing after-school program and leading the Diversity and Equity Cohort, which enriches education students' learning through exposure to diverse school environments and community partnerships, highlighting a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of her work.

Congratulations to Dr. Grace Kang!

🏆 Starting today, we are highlighting this year's Civic Engagement Award winners. And we begin with the Unit Civic Engagement Award Winner: The Eckelmann-Taylor Speech and Hearing Clinic.

ℹ️ The Eckelmann-Taylor Speech and Hearing Clinic, established in the 1930s at Illinois State University, provides practical training for students in speech-language pathology and audiology while offering extensive community services through partnerships with local non-profits and initiatives like an in-house food pantry and educational programs. The clinic's commitment to student development and community engagement, highlighted by activities such as service trips and free educational film screenings, has been recognized as a strong asset to the university.

Congratulations to the entire team at the ISU Speech and Hearing Clinic!

The Center for Civic Engagement is looking to hire a few students to serve as Deliberative Dialogue facilitators starting in the Fall of 2024!

Apply by May 24 using the link https://jobsearch.illinoisstate.edu/en-us/job/518706/deliberative-dialogues-assistant and come work with us!

To learn more about Deliberative Dialogues, visit https://civicengagement.illinoisstate.edu/students/dialogues/