CIVIC ENGAGEMENT EVENTS & WORKSHOPS

     

Civic Engagement Week

Civic Engagement Week is an opportunity for students to connect with organizations both on and off campus. CE Week includes public presentations by area non-profits (Northfield Connect), social change student organization fairs, and more. Click here for an article on Civic Engagement Week.

Transforming Privilege Retreat

The Transforming Privilege Retreat is a two-day opportunity to reflect on the many faces of privilege that we encounter in our lives as students, activists, and community members, and the ways we can transform privilege into action for social change.  We move from exploring our identities and privileges on a personal level to the exploration of privilege on broader levels, and look at concrete ways to build solidarity and make change.

Break Out of the Bubble

Break out of the Bubble is an event for students to discuss civic engagement in the local community. In 2009, the event included short presentations about different avenues for students to get involved and then break out conversations about how the Center for Experiential Learning (and others on campus) could best support student civic engagement.

Civic Engagement Workshops & Seminars

The Civic Engagement program is interested in collaborating with groups to offer workshops and seminars based on student interests.

We have developed several "civic skills" workshops including:

  • Community Organizing 101
    Learn about the principles of community organizing and how it can be applied to any and all situations involving groups of people. Topics covered include: models of organizing, action plans, leadership development, one-on-ones, coalition building, and current trends in organizing.
  • Non-profits 101
  • Grassroots Grant and Proposal Writing
    An opportunity for students to learn about grantwriting and raising money for social change projects. The CEL worked with the student social innovation group OASIS (Oles Advancing Social Innovation and Sustainability) to develop and lead this workshop. We discussed tips for writing a strong proposal, and worked through several excercises. Several students came in with their own ideas for projects they needed funding for, others were just interested in learning more about grantwriting. Click here for resources from the workshop.
  • The Vocation of Civic Engagement
    A dinner discussion with several community members and students who are dedicated to working in the community.

We also work with students to organize off-campus seminars based on issues that students are interested in. Some of these seminars include Northfield tours, the Homeless Awareness Sleepout, area farm tours, and a Day in the Life Homeless Immersion in the Twin Cities.