NOTE FROM THE STAFF
During the entire 2020-21 academic year, the Center for Democracy and Civic Life team worked remotely, seeking to sustain and build community in a time of unparalleled challenges. Members of the team met in person on just four occasions, three of them to assemble materials to send to participants in programs we created or adapted for virtual settings. Despite being physically separated, we hosted twice as many programs as in the previous year, and reached twice as many people, while working with other members of the campus community behind the scenes to respond to crises and help students, faculty, staff and alumni remain connected and hopeful.
The story of our work last year is reflected in our 2020-21 annual report, which we are releasing today. Included are descriptions of some of the key ideas behind the Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s initiatives, information about our programs and other contributions, and acknowledgements of the many people at UMBC and beyond without whom our work would not be possible.
Preparing the report filled us with gratitude. Last year was extremely difficult. We drew energy from colleagues, students, alumni, and local leaders who helped us create (virtual) spaces that felt magical at times: healing, restorative, empowering. Thank you for being important contributors to the work of building a thriving democracy, and for bringing us joy in a challenging time.
Best,
David Hoffman, Romy Hübler, Caleb Ruck, Charis Lawson, Faith Davis, Garrett Posey, Markya Reed, and Tess McRae
Center for Democracy and Civic Life Staff
FEATURED NEWS
Dinner with Friends
On October 7, the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, the Graduate Student Association, Resident Student Association, and the Student Government Association hosted Dinner With Friends.
Dinner With Friends connected participants with other members of the UMBC community through engaging, facilitated small-group conversations. Participants spent the evening sharing stories, learning about each other's experiences with important issues affecting UMBC students, faculty, staff, and alumni, and discussing how they can move forward together.
"We need to create more safe spaces like this." — Dinner with Friends participant
The discussion topics included:
- Building community during and after the pandemic
- Supporting mental health in challenging times
- Fostering equity and inclusion
Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff members facilitated Dinner with Friends along with a team of undergraduate students: Clair Volkening, Faith Davis, Joshua Gray, and Wangui Nganga.
"This was great. I truly missed events and conversations like this." — Dinner with Friends participant
Workshops
The Center for Democracy and Civic Life organizes and facilitates workshops that build community while orienting participants to new possibilities for their engagement in civic life.
On October 13, David Hoffman and Romy Hübler facilitated a Meaningful Research Workshop for McNair Scholars enrolled in AFST 495: Field Research in Africana Studies. Participants considered the connections between their passions and potential research and graduate school choices. They reflected on the contributions they hope to make through their scholarship; identified questions, concerns, and fears related to establishing a satisfying career; and brainstormed skills they would like to develop while at UMBC to overcome challenges to making meaningful contributions through their research.
On October 20, David and Romy led a Civic Autobiography Workshop for the Student Government Association’s First Year Ambassadors. Participants considered the potentially hidden civic dimensions of their campus involvement by exploring their civic motivations and aspirations, reflecting on experiences of civic agency, and envisioning the civic legacy of their contributions to UMBC. David and Romy also shared stories of contributions they have seen students make to the campus community in their combined total of 32 years at UMBC.
On October 22, David and Romy facilitated a conversation with the Student Government Association’s Government Affairs Committee. The conversation focused on the importance of trust in the social change process and how to establish trust with stakeholders at UMBC and state legislators.
Meet Us Where We Meet: Connecting with Students Virtually
On October 26, Tess McRae led a session as part of the Division of Student Affairs’ staff development series, a rare instance of an undergraduate student leading professional development for staff. In the session, participants:
- explored features and functions of various online platforms;
- learned about practices to enhance meaningful virtual engagement;
- discovered how students are making use of virtual tools and spaces; and
- received a resource sheet containing instructions and suggested uses for technological and non-technological tools.
Click here to watch a recording of the session, here for the slideshow, and here for the resource sheet.
Planning STRiVE and Alternative Spring Break
The coaching team for the STRiVE leadership for social impact retreat began meeting weekly in September. The coaches, who are staff members and students, are preparing to facilitate more than 50 sessions in which participants will discover their strengths and values, learn how to work more effectively in groups, envision contributions they could make at UMBC, and tackle both simulated and real leadership and social change challenges.
The STRiVE coaches are: Antonio Silas, Brianna Malbon, David Hoffman, Diane Stonestreet, Jeff Cullen, Kayla Hickman, Markya Reed, Rees Draminski, Romy Hübler, Tess McRae, and Wendy Zhang.
STRiVE will take place from January 10-14, 2022. You can find more information here. The application is due November 15, 2021 by 11:59 p.m.
On Saturday, October 9, members of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff gathered for the first time with students who will lead Alternative Spring Break (ASB) 2022. Over the next five months, the ASB leader team will envision and plan a six-day immersive learning experience in which participants explore the systemic and human dimensions of complex social issues in Baltimore. Participants will build connections with local leaders, organizations, and policy makers and develop a sophisticated understanding of available resources and challenges.
ASB 2021 group topics will focus on:
K -12 Educational Equity, led by Diane Stonestreet and Polina Kassir
This ASB experience will explore how the Baltimore City Public School System can support all students equitably and effectively. Participants will examine barriers students face relating to their socioeconomic status, race, and/or immigrant status, as well as trauma stemming from adverse childhood experiences. Through conversations with local government, educators, and organizations that promote equity in K-12 education, participants will investigate systemic challenges and consider innovative strategies for creating positive change in education. Participants will emerge with greater clarity about how you can contribute to advancing educational equity in Baltimore.
Immigrant Health Equity, led by Dominique Henriques Melo and Mokeira Nyakoe
This ASB experience will explore health education in Baltimore and its potential role in helping immigrant communities thrive. Participants will explore the history and current landscape of healthcare access in Baltimore, including structural barriers relating to immigrants’ legal status, language, race, and socioeconomic status. Participants will interact with local government officials, nonprofit leaders, and grassroots advocates to learn about policies and community initiatives. Participants will gain insights about new opportunities to promote health literacy and create equitable health access.
Transformative Justice, led by Mulan Bell and Wendy Zhang
This ASB experience will explore restorative and collaborative responses to harm and violence as alternatives to punishment-based practices in criminal justice and policing. Participants will gain an understanding of the systemic factors contributing to crime and conflict, as well as how to empower communities through methods centering safety, accountability, and equity. By working with local advocates, policy makers, and organizations, participants will develop skills and learn strategies for addressing the underlying conditions that contribute to harm and violence.
ASB 2022 will take place from March 20-25, 2022. You can find more information, including in-depth topic descriptions, on the application form: here. The application is due November 22, 2021 by 11:59 p.m.
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES & PROGRAMS
Change Makers Dinner (Virtual; RSVP required)
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 ∙ 5 - 7 p.m. ∙ Webex
UMBC students, faculty, staff, and alumni: Join a conversation about the challenge of credibly communicating scientifically sound public health information at a time when our society is divided and people invest their trust in different media sources.
Meet local leaders and learn about their work, aspirations, challenges, and how you can get involved. You will have the opportunity to hear from several of these change makers and spend time in small groups interacting with them and other participants.
Change Makers will include:
- Adam Abadir, Director of Communications, Baltimore City Health Department
- Dr. Vic Madrid, Medical Director, University Health Services, UMBC
- Dr. Mohammed Shafeeq Ahmed, President, Howard County General Hospital
- Samantha Smith, Associate Director, Health Promotion, UMBC
- Lydia Walther-Rodriguez, Baltimore Regional Director, Maryland CASA
An RSVP is required as spots in these popular conversations are limited. To RSVP, follow this link.
Because we will meet online, this is a bring-your-own dinner event.
This event is hosted by the Center for Democracy and Civic Life in partnership with the Office of Health Promotion, the Graduate Student Association, and the Resident Student Association.
STRiVE and ASB Applications
Two programs’ applications are due in November: STRiVE and Alternative Spring Break (ASB).
UMBC’s STRiVE retreat has inspired hundreds of undergraduate students in the past 13 years. Now it's your turn. Spend five days building community and developing skills while exploring leadership for social impact. You will emerge with greater clarity and confidence about the contributions you want to make.
This year’s STRiVE retreat will take place January 10-14, 2022. STRiVE participants will make new friends, discover their strengths and values, learn how to work more effectively in groups, envision contributions they could make at UMBC, and tackle both simulated and real leadership and social change challenges. Past STRiVE participants have gotten deeply involved in campus organizations and initiatives, and have made phenomenal contributions. More information is available here.
STRiVE will take place from January 10-14, 2022. The application form: here. The application is due November 15, 2021 by 11:59 p.m.
Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is a six-day immersive learning experience for undergraduate and graduate students focused on a variety of social issues in Baltimore. ASB groups work with community partners, government officials, and scholars to foster sustainable connections and lay the groundwork for long-term collective civic action addressing disparities resulting from structural racism and other systemic inequities. As an ASB participant, you will develop skills that can help you reflect on experiences; share, solicit, and make use of stories; build community; work collaboratively; and analyze approaches to problem-solving to identify what works, and what else is possible. You will gain an understanding of a particular social issue and learn about the various approaches people are taking to address that issue. And you will develop a new sense of the human-scale impacts and dimensions of abstract, systemic issues: seeing the impacts of the issue on the people affected, and understanding the experiences and perspectives of people in various positions relative to the problem.
ASB 2022 will take place from March 20-25, 2022. You can find more information, including in-depth topic descriptions, on the application form: here. The application is due November 22, 2021 by 11:59 p.m.
Apply for University System of Maryland Student Regent
The University System of Maryland encompasses 12 institutions, including UMBC, and three regional higher education centers. It employs more than 16,000 faculty members and 25,000 staff members, and owns almost 1,000 buildings. Its annual operating budget is more than $5 billion. There are more than 170,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at its various institutions.
If you are a UMBC undergraduate or graduate student, how would you like to represent all of those students as a member of the Board of Regents, the system's governing body?
Take a look at this description of the Student Regent position and consider applying. Please also pass the information along to friends who may be interested. The Student Regent will serve from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024, with voting rights in 2023-2024. All applicants should be planning to graduate in spring 2024 or later.
The application deadline is Friday, November 5 at 5 p.m. Here is the application.
Submit completed applications by email to dhoffman@umbc.edu. If you need more time to get the required letters of recommendation, let us know and we can arrange a separate due date for them.
The Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff are very happy to answer questions about the position and the process, so don't hesitate to contact us (civiclife@umbc.edu) if you'd like to know more.
Civic Courage Journaling Project Gathering (Virtual)
Friday, November 19, 2021 ∙ 3:15 - 4:45 p.m. ∙ Online
The Civic Courage Journaling Project creates opportunities for individual reflection and group conversations about personal experiences that have important, often hidden civic dimensions. Civic Courage, identified by the Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement (CLDE) Theory of Change as one of the capacities necessary for active and engaged citizenship, encompasses the ability to take risks, work through tension, be patient in the face of challenges, stay open and engaged, take responsibility for the foreseeable consequences of one’s actions, face changes bravely, and act in accordance with one’s core values and beliefs.
UMBC student, faculty, staff, and alumni journal bearers respond to prompts from the Center for Democracy and Civic Life by creating entries in their journals. We share the prompt via email and our myUMBC page during the week of each gathering. If you’d like to be involved with the Civic Courage Journaling Project, send us an email: civiclife@umbc.edu.
To contact the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, email civiclife@umbc.edu.