NOTE FROM THE STAFF
We are reflecting with gratitude on the contributions many members of our community have made to Center for Democracy and Civic Life initiatives during the 2021-2022 academic year. We cannot list all of them here, but want to recognize those who have made some of the greatest investments of time and care as Alternative Spring Break (ASB) leaders, ConnectionCorps facilitators, STRiVE coaches, and members of UMBC’s Partnerships for Listening and Action by Communities and Educators (PLACE) Project team and Political Engagement Working Group.
ASB leaders:
- Diane Stonestreet
- Dominique Henriques Melo
- Mokeira Nyakoe
- Mulan Bell
- Polina Kassir
- Wendy Zhang
ConnectionCorps facilitators:
- Clair Volkening
- Jadyn Spradlin
- Logan Lineburg
- Rehman Liaqat
- Wangui Nganga
STRiVE coaches:
- Antonio Silas
- Brianna Malbon
- Diane Stonestreet
- Jeff Cullen
- Kayla Hickman
- Rees Draminski
- Wendy Zhang
UMBC PLACE Project team:
- Briscoe Turner
- Emily Paul
- Ethan Gonzáles
- Felipe Filomeno
- Kendra Summers
- Kevin Cuatianquiz
- Lexi Stone
- Mekhiyah Spell
- Nic Nemec
- Shannon Cheek
- Stephanie Estep
- Steve Bradley
Political Engagement Working Group:
- Britany Evans
- Farah Helal
- Logan Lineburg
- Musa Jafri
We are also grateful to Madeleine Horrell, who designed the UMBC PLACE Project pages on the Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s website.
Thank you to everyone who has helped to sustain our campus community this year and supported civic learning and democratic engagement. We appreciate you, and we wish you a safe and happy summer.
Best,
David Hoffman Ph.D. ’13, Romy Hübler ’09, M.A. ’11, Ph.D. ’15, Adam Watkins, Caleb Ruck, Faith Davis, Garrett Posey, Markya Reed ’18, and Tess McRae
Center for Democracy and Civic Life Staff
FEATURED NEWS
Tess McRae Speaks on Panel about Co-Creating a Just, Equitable, Diverse, and Inclusive Campus Culture
On April 6, Tess McRae participated in a Student-Focused Panel at the Campus Compact Mid-Atlantic (CCMA)’s 2022 Service-Learning and Civic Engagement (SCLE) Conference. During the panel (recording embedded below), Tess and four other students shared their visions for cultivating a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive (JEDI) campus through community and civic engagement. Tess spoke about the Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s story-based programs.
The annual SLCE Conference engages students, faculty, and staff members from Maryland, Delaware, and D.C. Faith Davis served on the planning committee for the 2022 SLCE Conference. To learn more about the SLCE Conference, click here.
David Hoffman Serves on Restorative Practices Panel
On April 7, David Hoffman participated in “Restorative Practices at UMBC: Repairing Harm and Rebuilding Relationships,” a session organized by Student Conduct and Community Standards as part of the University Steering Committee’s Mental Health Community Action Day. Restorative practices seek to foster strong community ties and mutual accountability, and to resolve conflicts and address harms in ways that preserve everyone’s dignity. Speakers described the proliferation of restorative practices at UMBC over the past half-decade. David emphasized how the Center for Democracy and Civic Life has incorporated restorative practices into Alternative Spring Break, STRiVE, and many other programs.
Tess McRae Pilots Workshop to Foster Agency and Connection through Art-Making
On April 7, Tess McRae facilitated a Creative Expression and Civic Empowerment workshop she developed as part of her Individualized Study senior capstone project. She designed the workshop to introduce participants who may not think of themselves as artists to the practice of art-making and its benefits, and to help them recognize the full extent of their ability to co-create their communities.
During the workshop, participants used everyday materials to create art pieces about moments in their lives in which they felt they could be their authentic selves. In doing so, they explored the idea that creative expression can help people make sense of their identities and stories.
Tess McRae and Musa Jafri Present on Center for Democracy and Civic Life Programs at Student Civic Leaders Committee Meeting
On April 8, Tess McRae co-facilitated a meeting of the University System of Maryland’s (USM) Student Civic Leaders Committee (SCLC). At the meeting, committee members presented on hallmark civic engagement programs at their institutions. Tess discussed the Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s Changing Maryland conversation series, which brings members of the UMBC community and Maryland legislators together to build relationships and discuss pressing issues in legislative sessions. Musa Jafri, a member of the Center’s Political Engagement Working Group, shared his experiences as an Alternative Spring Break 2022 participant.
SCLC supports civic engagement and education efforts within and between USM universities. The committee 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 USM. Student leaders from USM institutions and USM System Office staff members comprise the SCLC’s membership. Tess and Delanie Blubaugh, a student at Frostburg State University, serve as the SCLC’s Co-Chairs. 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. If you are interested in representing UMBC on the Student Civic Leaders Committee during the 2022-2023 academic year, please email civiclife@umbc.edu.
David Hoffman Speaks on New Student Day Retriever Panel
At UMBC’s New Student Day on April 9, David Hoffman participated in welcoming hundreds of newly admitted students and their families to the UMBC community. He joined Haleemat Adekoya ’22, Kaitlynn Lilly ’22, Ainsley O’Garro, Jr. ’22 and Michael Berardi ’19 on the floor of the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena for the Retriever Panel, a chance to share what it is like to be a member of the UMBC community. Michael, manager and co-founder of OCA Mocha, recalled that he took inspiration from a course about civic agency and social entrepreneurship taught by David and a colleague. David urged incoming students to recognize the power of their own stories, and to be ready to be seen, heard, and valued by faculty, staff, and students at UMBC.
Alternative Spring Break Participants Learn about Pathways to Continuing Engagement
On April 15, Alternative Spring Break (ASB) 2022 participants gathered to share their biggest takeaways from the program and learn from campus partners including April Householder, Eric Ford, Jeff Cullen, and Rehana Shafi about opportunities to continue their social change work.
David Hoffman, Faith Davis, Romy Hübler, and Markya Reed led the program. ASB leaders Diane Stonestreet, Dominique Henriques Melo, Mokeira Nyakoe, Polina Kassir, Mulan Bell and Wendy Zhang facilitated small group conversations among participants and campus partners.
Tess McRae Leads Co-Creation Workshop at OCA Mocha
On April 23, Tess McRae facilitated a Co-Create UMBC Workshop as part of “Leadership in Excellence: Strengthening Community Ties,” a program series for students interested in learning how to recognize and draw from their qualities as leaders in ways that support their communities. The series was organized by the Student Government Association in collaboration with OCA Mocha.
During the workshop, Tess shared the Co-Create UMBC Tour (embedded below), which highlights features of UMBC created entirely or partly by students as well as resources for student co-creators, and facilitated a conversation about participants’ experiences in enacting their own aspirations.
Civic Courage Journaling Project Gathering Participants Share Conversations and Risks that Shaped Them
In April, David Hoffman, Markya Reed, and Tess McRae facilitated Civic Courage Journaling Project Gatherings. On April 1, participants shared and discussed their responses to a prompt about conversations that had altered their perspectives of themselves. On April 29, participants shared and discussed their responses to a prompt about risks they were glad they had taken.
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 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. Journal bearers also can share their reflections publicly through social media posts, art projects, and conversations at monthly gatherings. The gatherings will resume in September 2022.
If you’d like to be involved in the Civic Courage Journaling Project, send us an email: civiclife@umbc.edu. The Center for Democracy and Civic Life will provide you with a journal.
The Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s 2021-2022 staff has included four undergraduate interns as well as a program specialist, all of whom are concluding their work with us in these roles:
Caleb Ruck ‘22, assessment and special projects intern (graduating May 2022), supported the Center’s graphic design needs and research initiatives.
Charis Lawson ‘20, program specialist, supported the Center’s immersive experiences, programs, staff development, and communications.
Faith Davis ‘22, community civic engagement intern (graduating May 2022), supported Alternative Spring Break 2022.
Garrett Posey ‘22, political engagement intern (graduating May 2022), supported the Political Engagement Working Group and other political engagement initiatives.
Tess McRae ‘22, senior intern for civic design and engagement (graduating May 2022), supported the Center’s immersive experiences, programs, graphic design needs, and communications.
Thank you Caleb, Charis, Faith, Garrett, and Tess for making wonderful contributions that have helped to foster a thriving civic culture at UMBC. We are grateful that you are part of our story.
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.