NOTE FROM THE STAFF
Despite the emergence of the Delta wave, aspects of the fall 2021 semester hinted at a gradual relaxing of constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. We remained masked, distanced, and unable to meet in large in-person gatherings, but at least campus offices were open and most classes met in-person. Then came the Omicron wave and the need for new precautions to keep everyone safe. After months of planning, the Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff made the wrenching decision to cancel STRiVE, our annual leadership for social impact retreat, which had been scheduled for mid-January. We are grateful to STRiVE coaches Jeff Cullen, Rees Draminski, Kayla Hickman, Brianna Malbon, Antonio Silas, Diane Stonestreet, and Wendy Zhang for contributing their time and care to the preparation process and know they would have been wonderful in their roles. Congratulations to Kayla on her new position as Environmental Sustainability Coordinator with Montgomery Parks.
As soon as we canceled STRiVE in late December, we began developing a new virtual program, Coalescence, which took place the same week STRiVE would have. At Coalescence we worked with students eager to forge connections and make contributions to their communities (see below). That experience, and the energy we are drawing from seeing members of the UMBC community return to campus this week, have us excited for what is ahead. In the coming months we will begin working with campus partners to encourage everyone in the UMBC community to Cast Your Whole Vote in Election 2022. We will host programs in which participants can learn about issues affecting people on campus and in our region and build mutually empowering connections (read on to learn more). Alternative Spring Break 2022 is just weeks away. And we have plans to facilitate many more meaningful conversations and that help people at UMBC build skills to make all of their communities thrive.
We wish you a safe and happy start to spring 2022, and hope to see you this semester.
Best,
David Hoffman Ph.D. ‘13, Romy Hübler ‘09, ‘11, Ph.D. ‘15, Caleb Ruck, Charis Lawson ‘20, Faith Davis, Garrett Posey, Markya Reed ‘18, and Tess McRae
Center for Democracy and Civic Life Staff
FEATURED NEWS
Coalescence 2022
From January 10-14, the Center for Democracy and Civic Life hosted Coalescence 2022, a five-day virtual program developed by Center staff following the cancellation of STRiVE 2022 due to the winter COVID-19 surge. Coalescence featured workshops and story circles facilitated by members of the Center staff. Participants in Coalescence reflected on their civic identities and aspirations, shared personal stories, developed relationships with each other, and learned techniques for building strong communities and pursuing positive social change.
"This was an amazing experience that I truly enjoyed. I felt heard and guided to where I want to be in the future. I will be applying all of the lessons in my daily life." — Coalescence 2022 Participant
Student and alumni leaders Michael Berardi ‘19, Joshua Gray, and Farah Helal shared their stories of enacting their civic legacies at UMBC during the Co-Create UMBC Workshop. At the end of the week, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Brittini Brown visited the group to encourage participants to apply what they have learned at Coalescence throughout their time at UMBC.
"Coalescence was a very eye opening and exciting experience. Although it was not in person I still came away with a lot of knowledge and I feel better and more confident in myself [...] than before Coalescence." — Coalescence 2022 Participant
Center for Democracy and Civic Life Staff in Leadership Roles
Tess McRae has been appointed Co-Chair of the University System of Maryland (USM) Student Civic Leaders Committee (SCLC) for the spring 2022 semester. The SCLC was established in 2020 in response to the Board of Regents’ acknowledgement of the continuing importance of civic education and civic engagement to the mission of the University System of Maryland. Student leaders from USM institutions and USM System Office staff members comprise the SCLC’s membership. The SCLC supports civic engagement and education efforts within and between USM universities.
In her role as Co-Chair, Tess will help to plan and facilitate convenings of the committee and identify civic engagement and education priorities for USM. She has served on the committee as a representative for UMBC since it was established. The other co-chair is Delanie Blubaugh, a student at Frostburg State University. Dr. Nancy Shapiro, USM’s Assistant Vice Chancellor for Education and Outreach, and Dr. Joann Boughman, USM’s Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, convene the committee and support its work.
To learn more about civic engagement and education work at the system level, click here.
Markya Reed '18 is serving as a member of the planning committee for the 2022 Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement (CLDE) Meeting, hosted jointly by the American Association of State College and Universities and NASPA. The theme of this year’s meeting, which will take place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is Equity and Democracy. Markya is a member of the subcommittee identifying speakers for conference plenary sessions and is contributing to an effort to prepare undergraduate students to participate fully in the conference.
To learn more about CLDE 2022, click here.
Faith Davis is serving on the planning committee for the 2022 Service-Learning and Civic Engagement (SLCE) Conference hosted by Campus Compact for the Mid-Atlantic. The annual conference engages students, faculty, and staff members from Maryland, Delaware, and D.C.
To learn more about SLCE 2022, click here.
Modeling the Way
The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Academic Innovation and Transformation Monthly Newsletter for January 2022 identified the Center for Democracy and Civic Life's work as an example of how higher education can support civil dialogue in a time of deep divisions:
"Our campuses must model for a society in turmoil what respectful disagreement, civil debate, and peaceful protest can look like. There are many AASCU members who are modeling the way. […] The University of Maryland Baltimore County through its Center for Democracy and Civic Life fosters healthy civic relationships in the campus and community."
Click here to learn more about the Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s work with national partners like AASCU.
Civic Autobiography Workshop
On December 6, Charis Lawson ‘20 and Logan Lineburg facilitated a Civic Autobiography Workshop for students enrolled in SOCY 101Y: Basic Concepts in Sociology. Participants considered how they can get involved or extend their involvement in civic life to shape the future of their communities. They explored their civic motivations and aspirations, reflected on experiences of civic agency, and envisioned the civic legacy of their contributions to UMBC.
Alternative Spring Break 2022 Launch
On December 10, members of the Alternative Spring Break (ASB) 2022 community met for the first time. Participants and leaders spent time getting to know each other, discussed their connections with this year’s group topics — immigrant health equity; K-12 educational equity; and transformative justice — and did some creative thinking about how they will learn and connect in the months ahead.
ASB will take place during the week of Spring Break from March 20-25, 2022.
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES & PROGRAMS
Changing Maryland: 2022 Legislative Session (Virtual) (RSVP Required)
Monday, February 21, 2022 • 5 – 7 p.m.
Learn how UMBC students, faculty, staff, and alumni can get involved in shaping legislation in Annapolis and contributing to the civic health of our state. Participants will meet state leaders and learn about their work, experiences, and aspirations relating to issues being addressed in the 2022 legislative session, including climate change, police reform, health care, higher education, and allocation of the budget surplus.
Part of this program will take place in small groups where participants will have a chance to interact with state leaders and each other.
Participating state leaders will be announced here in the coming weeks.
An RSVP is required as spots in these popular virtual conversations are limited. To RSVP, follow this link.
This event is hosted by the UMBC’s Center for Democracy and Civic Life in partnership with the Graduate Student Association, Resident Student Association, and the Student Government Association.
Changing Maryland: 2022 Legislative Session is part of a program series that prepares members of the UMBC community for active participation in Maryland’s legislative process.
Civic Courage Journaling Project Gathering (Virtual)
Friday, February 25 , 2022 • 3:15 – 4:45 p.m.
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.
Dinner with Friends (Virtual) (RSVP Required)
Monday, February 28, 2022 • 5 – 7 p.m.
Dinner with Friends features engaging, facilitated small-group conversations over dinner that focus on how we can strengthen the UMBC community as we emerge from the pandemic: How can students, staff, and faculty restore and extend the sense of belonging many felt before March 2020? How can we best support and care for each other? You will connect with other members of the UMBC community and spend the evening sharing stories, learning about each other's experiences, and discussing how we can move forward together.
An RSVP is required as spots in these popular virtual conversations are limited. To RSVP, follow this link.
Because we will meet online, this is a bring-your-own dinner event.
Dinner with Friends is organized by the Center for Democracy and Civic Life in collaboration with the Graduate Student Association, Resident Student Association, and the Student Government Association.
For a full, interactive list of our Spring 2022 virtual programs, click here. We hope to see you.
To contact the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, email civiclife@umbc.edu.
To read the Center’s Annual Report for 2020-2021, click here.