CIVIC ENGAGEMENT WEEK

September 15-23, 2011

Northfield Connect: Local Service and Internship Opportunities
Thursday, September 15th
11:20am-12:30pm (Community Time)
Viking Theater
*Refreshments and snacks will be provided

Short presentations from local community leaders and about their organizations and opportunities to get involved through volunteering, internships, academic civic engagement projects, community-based work study, etc. followed by a networking with community leaders in the Crossroads.

Organizations that will be presenting (so far): 5th Bridge, Cannon River Watershed Partnership, Friends of Way Park, Growing Up Healthy, HealthFinders Collaborative, HOPE Center, Laura Baker Services, League of Women Voters, Northfield Community Action Center, Northfield Early Childhood and Family Education (ECFE), Northfield Enterprise Center, Northfield Middle School Youth Center, Northfield.org, Rice County Public Health, SEEDS Farm, So How are the Children (SHAC), Tackling Obstacles Raising College Hopes (TORCH), Three Links.

See local service and Civic Engagement opportunities web resoure for descriptions of opportunities with local organizations!

Northfield Bike Tour
Saturday, September 17th
10:00-11:30am

The tour will be an opportunity to informally learn and think about Northfield's history, neighborhoods, people, landscapes, institutions and organizations. Please contact Colin Martin <martincm@stolaf.edu> to sign-up (and let him know if you will need to borrow a Green Bike). Participation will be limited to the first 20 students to sign-up. Sponsored by the CEL, the Activism for Social Change Honor House and Green Bikes.

Get to Know the Activism for Social Activism Network (ASCN)
Tuesday, September 20th
7:00-8:00pm Schmidt House (ASCN Honor House)
*Apple crisp and ice cream will be served

Do you want to connect with other students interested in social activism?  Do you want to collaborate with other student groups working on social change? This will be a informal way to meet and network with other students. Sponsored by the Activism for Social Change Network Honor House.

Leaders for Social Change Chapel Talk and Poster Session
Thursday, September 22nd
11:00am (Chapel talk) & 11:15am-12:00pm (Poster Session)

Seventeen students completed nonprofit internships or community-based research projects in Northfield or the Twin Cities, lived in one of two community houses and participated in ongoing academic and vocational reflection with faculty supervisors, community leaders and CEL staff. Come hear student share about their experiences.  Read more about the 2011 Leaders for Social Change Interns.

Strengthening Local Food Systems: Conversation Involving St. Olaf, Carleton and Community Leaders
 Friday, September 23rd
5:30-8:00pm at the Carleton Great Hall (transportation provided from St. Olaf)

Help us weave a sustainable food web! A working dialogue with food producers and activists, educators, community leaders and college students on strengthening local food systems. Keynote speaker: Holly Lasagna, Bates College, "Local Food Projects and You" Please R.S.V.P. to Soraya Dangor, soraya@growinguphealthy.com.

Local Service and Internship Opportunities Web Resource
Utilize this resource to learn about opportunities to gain experience and contribute to local organizations through regular volunteering, internship or community-based work-study.

The Center for Experiential Learning facilitates civic engagement initiatives that complement the
St. Olaf curriculum to enrich students’ academic programs, promote vocational exploration and encourage
engaged citizenship. These initiatives support a liberal arts education by fostering critical thinking,
problem-solving, communication, communication, cross-cultural and leadership skills.