Center for Civic Engagement Newsletter 2022

CENTER FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT NEWSLETTER | FALL 2022

This past fall, the CCE was bustling with energy as our programs and events returned to full capacity! We engaged our campus community in dialogue, volunteer/advocacy opportunities, professional development, and networking/learning from local leaders, advocates, and elected officials. We continued to strategically align our programming and practices with the CCE’s four pillars: Community, Advocacy, Civic Learning, and Political Engagement. We are very proud of all that the CCE staff and student employees accomplished this year and are grateful for our strong community and campus support.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year and look out for our upcoming spring events!

Kate Adams, Assistant Director

7 TH ANNUAL DAY OF SERVICE 2022

In partnership with First Year Experience, the First Year Day of Service program returned to full capacity in fall 2022 with roughly 200 students participating in 25 service projects, working with 22 community partners across the North Shore.

2ND ANNUAL CIVIC DINNER SERIES FALL 2022

The Civic Dinner Series provides students with the opportunity to network and learn from local advocates and their peers on important social issues over a welcoming meal. This fall, we kicked off our series focusing on mental health and housing advocacy. We want to thank our guest mental health advocates from the NAN Project, Raw Arts, Bake It Till You Make It LLC., and the Counseling Graduate Program at Salem State. Thank you to our housing advocates from Lifebridge NorthShore, North Shore Community Development Coalition (NSCDC), and the Haven Project. Our campus community enjoyed learning from you and thank you for your advocacy work.

NEXT SEMESTER

Wednesday

February 15, 2023

Wednesday

March 29, 2023

COMMUNITY PARTNER BREAKFAST

This year, our annual Community Partner Breakfast returned for the first time since 2019! Over 60 members from our campus and local community attended to network and develop

MEETING WITH HORACE MANN YOUTH ADVOCATES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS

In November, the CCE and Intersectional Feminist Collective (IFC) met with 6th grade Horace Mann alumni and our elected officials to share how youth advocates are addressing period poverty and are engaged in trying to solve this community challenge. We met with Stephen Zrike, Superintendent of Salem Public Schools, Representative Paul Tucker, and Representative Elect Manny Cruz to discuss the “I am Bill” and how it will help our community.

International Relations Department, the CCE brought Braver Angels to facilitate a light parliamentary-style debate on whether governmental health and safety measures outweigh individual freedoms. Braver Angels is a 501c3 non-profit with a mission to depolarize America. The debate was non-competitive and provided an experience in civil discourse. Students addressed issues of mask mandates, lockdowns, temporary business closures, abortion access among others. Professor Ruget stated, “We hear from many students that hyperpolarization and negative media coverage are driving them away from politics. The Braver Angels Debate offered a different model: one in which they could discuss a controversial issue in a safe space. It was so inspiring to see students feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, listen deeply and respectfully to each other, and come away energized and enthusiastically asking Salem State to do this again soon.”

SERVICE SATURDAYS

Service Saturdays provide students the opportunity to volunteer one Saturday a month and develop meaningful relationships with our community partners and like-minded students. In October, we volunteered at Mack Park Food Farm, harvesting vegetables, and preparing the soil for winter rye. In November, we worked alongside volunteers from Peabody High School at Newhall Fields Community Farm, preparing garden beds and harvesting herbs. While volunteering, our students learned how these organizations are addressing food insecurity and sustainable farming in the North Shore. Please be on the lookout for opportunities to volunteer February through April of 2023!

MEET THE NEW COHORT OF CIVIC FELLOWS

We are excited to introduce our 2022-2023 cohort of the Civic Engagement Fellows! This group works to address important social issues on our campus, in the community, and across the state of Massachusetts. Their advocacy has been focused on campus hunger, LGBTQIA+ advocacy, and reproductive justice.

INTRODUCTION TO ANTIRACIST COMMUNITY ENGAGED PEDAGOGY

Professor Megan Murphy, Education, Salem State and Professor Roopika Risam, Film and Media Studies and Comparative Literature, Dartmouth College, introduced the New England Equity and Engagement’s Principles for Anti-Racist Community Engagement and explored ways to integrate communitybased experiential learning in academic courses.

Top Left to Right: Abby Blessington, Sarah Greaton, Christine Belitsky, Billy Walsh, Carmela Brown, Emilie Bennett, Brian Wellman and Atiya Haynes. Lower Left to Right: Autumn Brian, Lizabeth Davis, Norah Conway, Rebecca Hurley, Dasia Dobbs, Lillien Kelley, and Natalie Vardaro.

FOOD PANTRY OPEN HOUSE

The Civic Fellows and the SSU Hunger Free Campus Coalition hosted a Food Pantry Open House at the university to spread awareness about resources for students experiencing food insecurity. The committee gave tours of the SSU food pantry and collected student feedback. They provided information about legislation H.4697, an act establishing the Massachusetts Hunger-Free Campus Initiative and provided attendees the opportunity to send postcards to their representatives advocating for the bill. Multiple elected officials and SSU administrators attended, including Representative Tucker, Senator Lovely, Ward 5 Councillor Cohen, and President Keenan. Students shared their lived experiences with hunger and reinforced the importance of passing the Hunger-Free Campus Initiative to provide guidance and funding to public colleges to address food insecurity.

CRITICALLY ENGAGED CIVIC LEARNING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

In December, Professor Cindy Vincent, Media and Communications, led a professional development workshop on the Critically Engaged Civic Learning framework. The workshop discussed key components to develop equitable community partnerships, including social justice, power dynamics, community, civic learning objectives, reflexivity, and sustainability.

HUNGER FREE TOWN

HALL AT UMASS LOWELL

Three of our Civic Fellows attended the Hunger Free Town Hall at UMass Lowell. They learned about the Hunger Free Campus Bill and how UMass Lowell is supporting students who are struggling with food and housing insecurity. They were excited to hear about their meal swipesharing program, the pantry’s 503(c) nonprofit status, and their new food pantry renovations. They also received a tour of the Strive Pantry and discussed SSU efforts with community leaders. The Civic Fellows plan to engage student advocates across the state.