William & Mary

Civic & Community Engagement

Schedule

Active Citizens Conference February 24, 2024

The Conference will begin and end in Tucker Hall Theatre (127A).

10:00-10:40 Welcome Session

10:50 - 11:10 Dialogue

11:15-12:05 Workshop Session I

workshop session one descriptions
From Transactional to Transformational Service - Tucker 220 Zora Hancock, Molly Hoyle, Brooke Arthur, James Madison University Community Engagement & Volunteer Center How can we move from service that's transactional, short-term focus on outputs, toward transformational in which people and processes are changed. We'll explore transformative strategies to you can use as volunteers and student leaders employ when the project at hand is about getting something done.
Building Sustainable Hunger Relief Networks - Tucker 221 Daniel Zhong, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Embark on the journey of establishing a hunger-relief chapter, based on our experience in Eastern North Carolina! Open to all, regardless of prior knowledge, we will dive into practical strategies for sustainable impact, exploring community engagement, and realizing program outcomes. Fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas, this session invites you to contribute to the dialogue and action around addressing food insecurity.
Advocating for Change: Getting BigMoney Out of Politics - Tucker 222 Nancy Morgan, BigMoneyOutVA As Virginia citizens advocate both federally and in our Commonwealth for democratic reforms, let's review the issue of money in politics, both nationally and in Virginia. Virginia lags behind other states in terms of campaign finance reform, ranking 46 out of 50 in the 2020 SWAMP Index due to lack of transparency and accountability to citizens. In this workshop we will focus on how citizen activists can influence legislation on getting big money out of politics.

12:05-1:10 Lunch

1:15-2:05 Workshop Session II

workshop session two descriptions
Roundtable: Revitalizing Community Engagement Post-Pandemic - Tucker 220 Sydney Murray, Anna Mercer, Melanie Altenkirch, Avery Baker, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the service space at UNC-Chapel Hill has significantly changed. Although organizations’ need for support has greatly risen, the availability and capacity for student engagement has fallen, prompting leaders to pursue unconventional methods of generating interest in service programs. In this roundtable, we will invite you to reflect on the changes to your campus post-pandemic and ideate ways for programs across the country to improve student engagement without compromising values.
Transform Your Community with Restorative Practices - Tucker 221 Dr. Frank Cirioni, Germanna Community College What if you could foster a college or university campus where every student felt a true sense of belonging? So that your student group could recruit and retain members who are actively involved in your events, meetings, projects, and service opportunities. For example, student leaders are using restorative practices to facilitate community-building circles for their peers at campuses across the world. And that’s not all, restorative practices can be used in everyday life, too!
The Power of the Youth Vote - Tucker 222 Isabella Reed, Vidya Muthupillai, Nate Obrien, George Washington University In recent years, voting has become increasingly polarized. At the same time, young people have become increasingly involved. While the number of young adults who vote has grown, there is still significant room for improvement – the youth vote rate is only 23%. We'll explore how voting can effectively be publicized on college campuses, giving you the tools to help your campuses develop an effective campaign to help students learn how to register – and remind them to vote.

2:15-3:05 Workshop Session III

workshop session three descriptions
Making a Virginia Volunteer - Tucker 220 Mackenzie Vuotto, Maurice Huff, SERVE Virginia College students play an integral role in civic engagement. As young active adults who are a part of an educational institution, you have unique opportunities to contribute your volunteering capacity in a variety of areas. Using the data from the Virginia Community Engagement Index and the Pathways to Public Service survey, we will share top community priorities in the Commonwealth, explore various ways you can engage in your communities both at school and at home, and show the importance of advocacy and making sure your voice is heard.
How to Make Your Campus Voter-Friendly - Tucker 221 Amber Wilt, Jaylin Drewry, Liberty Tennyson, Campus Vote Project Learn how to make your campus more voter-friendly and build on existing voter-engagement efforts. We'll utilize action plans developed by Campus Vote Project and National Association of Student Personnel Administrators to explore measurable and manageable strategies to transform your campus and how to get buy-in.
A Conversation About Hope- Tucker 222 Melody Porter, William & Mary How can we use hope to dream and build new possibilities? What does hope look like in action? Join in this facilitated conversation about our experience and potential for tapping into hope in our approach to social change. This conversation is adapted from a Living Room Conversation based on the book he Four Sacred Gifts: Indigenous Wisdom for Modern Times, by Anita L. Sanchez, Phd.

3:05-3:30 p.m. Now What and Farewell - Tucker 127a