NOTE FROM THE STAFF
Hello and welcome to the first edition of Community Matters, a newsletter from the Center for Democracy and Civic Life at UMBC. The Center’s work builds from the idea that all of us, and the ways we pull together to address challenges and create our shared future, truly matter. This newsletter offers a window into this work.
We invite you to read on to discover ways you can get involved and connect with each other. We are here with you, and we welcome your stories and ideas.
Best,
David Hoffman, Romy Hübler, Dominique Henriques Melo, Tess McRae, and Tirzah Khan
Center for Democracy and Civic Life Staff
FEATURED NEWS
Voter Friendly Campus Designation
UMBC has been designated a Voter Friendly Campus for the 2021-2022 academic year. The designation acknowledges the extraordinary collective work of members of the UMBC community to engage students in Election 2020.
UMBC’s voter engagement efforts have encouraged members of the campus community to cast their whole votes, which means committing fully to building strong, inclusive, just communities in which everyone can thrive. The idea comes from Henry David Thoreau’s essay on Civil Disobedience. Thoreau observed that in the 19th century there were a lot of people who complained about what the government did or did not do, but took no real responsibility. They might vote in elections, but they did not learn about the issues, engage in conversations with members of their community, and contribute their time and talent to building a better world. Thoreau urged them to “cast your whole vote, not a [ballot] merely, but your whole influence.”
UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski kicked off the Cast Your Whole Vote campaign by signing the Higher Education Presidents’ Commitment to Full Student Voter Participation, committing to a goal of full participation in elections by members of the UMBC community.
The Cast Your Whole Vote campaign emphasized four themes:
Later in 2021, when the results of the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement are released, we will learn (and share) how many UMBC students voted in Election 2020.
Alternative Spring Break (ASB) 2021
Alternative Spring Break (ASB), which took place from March 15th - 19th, was a five-day virtual immersive learning experience in which 32 UMBC undergraduates explored the systemic and human dimensions of complex social issues in Baltimore. Highlights included meetings with Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and members of the City Hall staff, UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski, and UMBC alumni playing important roles in social change efforts.
“Opportunities for making change are everywhere and there are already people doing this important work.” — ASB 2021 Participant
ASB is designed to help participants identify pathways to long-term community engagement. One of the two ASB topic groups, led by undergraduates Faith Davis and Mokeira Nyakoe, focused its exploration on food justice. The other group, led by undergraduates Rehman Liaqat and Wendy Zhang, focused on transformative justice and decarceration. The groups also considered overlaps between the issues.
“Building a strong sense of community is the foundation of effective social change, and anything you do to advance social change, no matter how small you think it is, makes a difference. I plan to use this knowledge to get more involved in the Baltimore community.” — ASB 2021 Participant
Civic Professionalism Research Project
Since October 2020, with support from the Kettering Foundation, the Center for Democracy and Civic Life has been conducting a research study on how UMBC alumni are thinking about their civic aspirations and contributions as they navigate their workplaces and careers. So far, the research team has interviewed twelve alumni who engaged with the Center’s philosophy and programs during their time at UMBC.
Among the insights the participants have shared: Because thinking like a civic professional challenges the dominant paradigm, learning to do so requires multiple experiences, and reflecting on previous experiences in light of new ones.
“The UMBC way is learning from everybody.” — Civic Professionalism Research Project Interviewee
Furthermore, the shift in thinking required for civic professionalism requires support from aspects of experience not contained entirely within discrete programs or courses. Alums remember being exposed to an empowering, humane civic discourse that permeated their collegiate environment and supported meaning-making that altered their self-concept and aspirations.
“What voodoo made so many students feel they had a role to play?” — Civic Professionalism Research Project Interviewee
This research project is part of the Center’s work to support members of the UMBC community in identifying and pursuing careers with public impact. The Center organizes and facilitates workshops that build relationships among participants while orienting them to new possibilities for their engagement in civic life. To explore or develop a workshop appropriate to your group, please click here to submit a Civic Design CoLab form.
Civic Empowerment Symposium
On February 17th, the Center for Democracy and Civic Life organized a virtual Civic Empowerment Symposium in collaboration with Community Engaged Learning at Kent State University (KSU) and the Office of Student Life Community Service Learning Center at Grand Valley State University (GVSU). Participants included delegations from all three universities, which have been collaborating to develop new civic tools for use by U.S. higher education institutions.
“This workshop was cathartic and enlightening. The stories shared enhanced my understanding of not only civic empowerment, but of the strains of leading civic initiatives during a period of immense political division.” — Civic Empowerment Symposium Participant
The goal of the initiative is to build networks of people who support civic agency and critical solidarity. Workshops at the Symposium featured new tools to help students, faculty, and staff address challenges in our institutions, geographic communities, and democracy.
“Once I have time to digest everything that I experienced and learned, I plan to get more engaged in the conversations at my university and engage more broadly in my civic activities.” — Civic Empowerment Symposium Participant
The Civic Empowerment Symposium was the culmination of a two-year collaboration among UMBC, KSU, and GVSU, which was supported by a Multi-Institutional Innovation Grant from Bringing Theory to Practice.
“I feel empowered and rejuvenated.” — Civic Empowerment Symposium Participant
RETRIEVER TALES
At the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, we believe that stories are everything. Now we are putting that principle into podcast form. We are speaking with members of the UMBC community about their stories: what brought them to UMBC, what it means to them to be here, and what hopes they have for the UMBC community. Each month, we’ll be releasing new episodes in this newsletter.
What experiences come to your mind as you listen to these stories? Let us know at civiclife@umbc.edu.
Meghan Lynch '18, M.P.P. '21, Vice President of the Graduate Student Association, shares what she has learned as a UMBC student about building collective power.
Candace Dodson-Reed '96, UMBC’s Chief of Staff, reflects on her journey from introverted undergrad to one of the university's senior leaders.
Kate Drabinski, Ph.D., a faculty member in Gender, Women’s + Sexuality Studies, recounts how people in the UMBC community supported her after her cancer diagnosis.
Rehman Liaqat '23, Finance Board Representative with the Student Government Association, discusses an experience from his first week of classes that shaped his understanding of what it means to be a Retriever.
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES & VIRTUAL PROGRAMS
Change Makers Dinner (RSVP Required)
Wednesday, April 21, 2021 • 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Change Makers Dinners are opportunities for UMBC students, faculty, staff, and alumni to engage in facilitated small group conversations with local leaders addressing issues that impact our community and nation. Participants have the opportunity to hear from several change makers, spend time in small groups interacting with them and other participants, and discuss ways forward together.
The Spring 2021 Change Makers Dinner will focus on environmental sustainability.
Among the local leaders who will participate are:
- Kim Coble, Executive Director, Maryland League of Conservation Voters
- Kayla Hickman, Sustainability Coordinator, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
- Dana Stein, Maryland State Delegate, District 11
- Carmera Thomas-Wilhite, Baltimore Program Manager, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Space is limited and an RSVP is required: https://forms.gle/goJ7GTh5kVhxTKUT9.
Because we cannot meet in person, this is a bring-your-own dinner event.
This Change Makers Dinner is hosted by the Center for Democracy and Civic Life in partnership with UMBC’s Office of Sustainability.
Civic Courage Journaling Project Gathering
Friday, April 30, 2021 • 3:15 - 4:45 PM
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. The reflection prompt is shared the week before with journal bearers via email. If you’d like to be involved with the Civic Courage Journaling Project, send us an email: civiclife@umbc.edu.
STRiVE 2022 Coach Applications
Applications are due Monday, April 12, 2021.
STRiVE coaches support the Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s five-day immersive leadership for social impact retreat, which will take place from January 10-14, 2022. For more information and eligibility requirements, click on the application link.
Alternative Spring Break (ASB) 2022 Leader Applications
Applications are due Monday, April 12, 2021.
Alternative Spring Break (ASB) leaders develop plans and learning opportunities for the week of UMBC's Spring Break (March 21-25, 2022), and will work in collaboration with the other leaders and Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff to create a holistic, empowering ASB experience for all participants. For more information and eligibility requirements, click on the application link.
Center for Democracy and Civic Life 2021-2022 Intern Applications
Applications are due Monday, April 12, 2021.
The Center for Democracy and Civic Life is hiring 3 paid undergraduate interns for the 2021-2022 academic year:
Assessment and Special Projects Intern: Areas of focus for the Assessment and Special Projects Intern will include contributing to the Center’s assessment projects, supporting its formal research projects, investigating topics related to its programs and initiatives, and producing written materials.
Community Civic Engagement Intern: Areas of focus for the Community Civic Engagement Intern will include supporting Alternative Spring Break and other programs that support students as agents of change in the Baltimore region. Alternative Spring Break will take place from March 21-25, 2022, during UMBC's Spring Break, and the Community Civic Engagement Intern must be available throughout that week.
Political Engagement Intern: Areas of focus for the Political Engagement Intern will include supporting programs that connect UMBC students with the legislative process in Annapolis, engaging them in politics and pathways to political leadership, and encouraging their participation in local, state, and national elections. The Political Engagement Intern will also support the Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s contributions to national higher education initiatives.
For more information and eligibility requirements, click on the application link.
Apply to be a Center for Democracy and Civic Life intern here.
For a full, interactive list of our Spring 2021 virtual programs, click here. We hope to see you.
Email civiclife@umbc.edu with any questions.