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COMMUNITY MATTERS MARCH 2022

A newsletter of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life at UMBC

NOTE FROM THE STAFF

Two years ago this month, UMBC closed its physical campus in response to the threat posed by the emergence of COVID-19. All of us entered a period of loss and adjustment: newly distanced from each other, our routines and expectations derailed. In light of the pandemic and the political divisions in our society, the Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s vision of a thriving democracy in which people experience civic agency and solidarity felt more elusive than ever.

In the ensuing months, members of the UMBC community found creative ways to sustain and build authentic and empowering connections online. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni participated in virtual Center for Democracy and Civic Life programs in large numbers and with enthusiasm. The pandemic continues to disrupt our lives, but it is now possible to imagine a 2022-23 academic year in which we can be together in community with fewer constraints.

We always have choices to make about our collective future. This moment — while we remain masked and distanced, but with the hope of positive changes on the horizon — is an especially important one in which to gather our civic energy and focus on what we want our campus and other communities to become in the months ahead. How can we support each other as we enter a new season with fresh possibilities for connection? What have we learned from the past two years that can help us promote inclusion, belonging, and mutual empowerment? The Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s programs and behind-the-scenes work with campus and national partners increasingly are focusing on these questions. What are your thoughts?

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

Alternative Spring Break (ASB) Social

On February 7, David Hoffman, Faith Davis, Markya Reed, Romy Hübler, Alternative Spring Break (ASB) 2022 leaders Diane Stonestreet, Dominique Henriques Melo, Mokeira Nyakoe, Mulan Bell, Polina Kassir, and Wendy Zhang, and ASB participants gathered for conversation, games, and snacks at the ASB Social.

During the ASB social, participants made bracelets, played Jenga and Jackbox, and decorated cookies.
Participants and leaders also voted on this year’s ASB logo design, with three options created from drawings they made at the ASB Launch in December. The drawings illustrated the skills and values participants and leaders bring to the ASB experience.

The upcoming ASB program will focus on immigrant health equity, K-12 educational equity, and transformative justice in Baltimore.

Peaceworker Skill Share

On February 9, David Hoffman, Markya Reed, and Romy Hübler led a session for graduate students in the Shriver Center Peaceworker Program and their colleagues at Baltimore organizations where they are completing service-learning placements. The session featured Center for Democracy and Civic Life approaches to becoming conscious of the social norms operating within institutions and, when necessary, challenging and changing them. The session built from the idea that civic life is everywhere, including in our workplaces and other spaces we inhabit every day. The participants explored the civic dimensions of their past and present work experiences.

Alternative Spring Break (ASB) Leader Training

On February 11 and February 18, Jeff Cullen (UMBC Student Conduct and Community Standards) and Carlos Turcios and Lucy Delgado (UMBC Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, and Belonging (i3b)) facilitated workshops with Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff for Alternative Spring Break (ASB) leaders. The workshops focused on community building, reflection, restorative practices, and identity in connection with community-based work and social change.

ASB leaders work in pairs to incorporate the strategies and tools they learned about in workshops into their plans for ASB.

Changing Maryland: 2022 Legislative Session

On February 21, David Hoffman, Charis Lawson, and Romy Hübler led Changing Maryland, a program hosted by the Center for Democracy and Civic Life in collaboration with the Graduate Student Association, the Resident Student Association, and the Student Government Association.

UMBC students, faculty, staff, and alumni spoke with state leaders about issues being addressed in the 2022 legislative session and how to get involved in shaping legislation in Annapolis.

“It helps to be known by the legislators, that those connections aren't as hard to make and they are willing to engage and listen.” — Changing Maryland participant

State leaders who joined us for the conversation were:

  • Vanessa Atterbeary, Maryland State Delegate, District 13
  • Erinn Camp Mansour, Chief of Staff, Maryland State Senator Clarence Lam, District 12
  • Jessica Feldmark, Maryland State Delegate, District 12
  • Sheila Ruth, Maryland State Delegate, District 44B
  • Dana Stein, Maryland State Delegate, District 11
“[Participating in the program] makes me want to get more active, and maybe teach again…” — Changing Maryland participant

Participants met with state leaders in small groups facilitated by Clair Volkening, Logan Lineburg, and Rehman Liaqat, all of whom are members of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s ConnectionCorps. The ConnectionCorps is a facilitator training initiative that prepares undergraduate students to foster democratic participation and authentic connections among participants in the Center’s workshops and programs.

“Delegates are human beings, not all-powerful overlords.” — Changing Maryland participant

Be Your Best Self in Real Life Campus Walk

On February 22, David Hoffman, Romy Hübler, and Honors College Director Simon Stacey led a UMBC campus tour as part of their HONR 300: Be Your Best Self in Real Life seminar. Students considered the values, norms, and expectations embedded in the design of campus spaces, and answered the guiding question: What is this space trying to tell you about what it means to be a student?

David Hoffman guides students in considering messages embedded in the design of the Public Policy Building atrium.
Romy Hübler invites students to observe and draw inferences from the design of the Student Organizations Space in The Commons.
Simon Stacey asks students to notice and think about features in the lobby of the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building.

Civic Courage Journaling Project Gathering: People We Admire

On February 25, Markya Reed and Tess McRae facilitated a Civic Courage Journaling Project Gathering. Participants shared and discussed their responses to a prompt about positive moments they had experienced with individuals they deeply admire and respect and how those moments had affected them.

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. Gatherings have taken place virtually and in person.

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.

Dinner With Friends

On February 28, David Hoffman, Charis Lawson, and Romy Hübler facilitated Dinner with Friends, a program hosted by the Center for Democracy and Civic Life in partnership with the Graduate Student Association, the Resident Student Association, and the Student Government Association.

"The program allowed me to connect with students and learn more about their perspectives so that I can better support our UMBC community.” — Dinner with Friends participant

Dinner With Friends connected participants with other members of the UMBC community through engaging, facilitated small-group conversations. Participants spent the evening talking about how we can strengthen the UMBC community when we emerge from the pandemic: How can students, staff, faculty, and alumni restore and extend the sense of belonging many felt before March 2020? How can we best support and care for each other?

Clair Volkening, Logan Lineburg, Jadyn Spradlin, and Rehman Liaqat, all of whom are members of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s ConnectionCorps, facilitated the small group conversations.

"I like [that] we’re all here and we’re moving forward together. — Dinner with Friends participant

UNDERGRADUATES: Join Us as a 2022-2023 Intern

The Center for Democracy and Civic Life is looking for three undergraduate students to join our team as 2022-23 interns. Interns support the Center's programs and initiatives, working collaboratively with other members of the staff. Each intern has a particular area of focus, but all members of the team are involved in developing and producing the Center's work. Interns work either 10-15 or 15-20 hours per week during the academic year, with some variation explained below.

The internship positions available for 2022 - 2023 are:

Graphic design intern (15-20 hours/week): The graphic design intern creates program materials, advertisements, reports, and web pages aligned with the Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s visual iconography, and suggests design possibilities to other members of the team.

Community civic engagement intern (10-15 hours/week): The community civic engagement intern supports Alternative Spring Break and other programs that position students as agents of change in the Baltimore region. Alternative Spring Break will take place from March 19 - 24, 2023, during UMBC's Spring Break, and the community civic engagement intern must be available throughout that week.

Political engagement intern (15-20 hours/week): The political engagement intern supports programs that connect UMBC students with the legislative process in Annapolis, engage them in politics and pathways to political leadership, and encourage their participation in local, state, and national elections. The political engagement intern also supports the Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s research projects and contributions to national higher education initiatives.

All intern positions pay $12.50/hour for fall 2022, $13.25/hour for spring 2023.

This application is due on Monday, April 4, 2022 at 11:59 p.m.

If you have any questions about the application or the selection process, please email civiclife@umbc.edu.

UNDERGRADUATES: Join Us as a 2022-2023 Affiliate

The Center for Democracy and Civic Life is seeking undergraduate students to play leading roles in its 2022-23 programs as affiliates of the Center. Affiliates include Alternative Spring Break leaders (up to six positions), ConnectionCorps facilitators (up to eight positions), and STRiVE coaches (five positions). All positions are stipended and acknowledged on students’ transcripts.

Applications for all three positions are due by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 4, 2022. Apply here.

Alternative Spring Break leaders

Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is a six-day immersive learning experience. ASB participants explore the systemic and human dimensions of complex social issues in Baltimore. Each small group focuses on a specific topic, but the groups also consider overlaps among their issues. ASB groups work with community partners, elected officials, and scholars to identify pathways to long-term local engagement.

Past ASB groups have explored challenges and solutions relating to housing, access to nutritious food, education, and health care, criminal justice, and a variety of other issues in Baltimore. Applicants can choose to explore these topics or propose new ones.

Each leader works with a co-leader and as a member of a leadership team organized and trained by Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff during weekly meetings in the fall 2022 and spring 2023 semesters. Together the leaders develop plans for a holistic, empowering ASB experience for all participants during the week of UMBC’s Spring Break, March 19 - 24, 2023.

The overall time commitment is approximately 100 hours over the course of the fall 2022 and spring 2023 semesters. For specific dates, see the application.

Leaders receive a $1,000 stipend and a zero credit practicum notification (PRAC 096-08) on their transcripts for winter and spring 2023. Leaders also receive a graduation cord to recognize the contributions they have made to the education and growth of their peers. The Shriver Center coordinates PRAC 096-08 and the distribution of graduation cords.

All undergraduate students are invited to apply. Preferred but not required: Applicants will have participated in ASB or a similar multi-day experiential learning program.

ConnectionCorps facilitators

The ConnectionCorps is an initiative through which UMBC students learn to foster democratic participation and authentic connection among participants in the Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s workshops and programs (e.g., Change Makers Dinner, Changing Maryland, and Dinner with Friends). ConnectionCorps facilitators participate in bi-weekly and ad-hoc training sessions to build community, develop skills, and prepare to facilitate.

The overall time commitment is approximately 30 hours in each of the fall 2022 and spring 2023 semesters. For specific dates, see the application.

ConnectionCorps facilitators receive a $400 stipend and a zero credit practicum notification (PRAC 096-08) on their transcripts for spring 2022. They also receive a graduation cord to recognize the contributions they have made to the education and growth of their peers. The Shriver Center coordinates PRAC 096-08 and the distribution of graduation cords.

All undergraduate students are invited to apply. Preferred but not required: Applicants will have participated in Center for Democracy and Civic Life workshops or programs.

STRiVE coaches

STRiVE is an intensive, five-day leadership for social impact program organized in partnership with the Student Government Association. The STRiVE coaching team prepares for and facilitates STRiVE, which will take place January 9-13, 2023. STRiVE coaches meet weekly during the fall 2022 semester to practice sessions and make plans. Coaches also prepare to facilitate small and large group sessions. By the time of the retreat, all coaches have received all the training and practice needed to succeed as a STRiVE coach.

The overall time commitment is approximately 100 hours over the course of fall 2022 semester and winter 2023 term. For specific dates, see the application.

STRiVE coaches receive a $1,000 stipend and a zero credit practicum notification (PRAC 096-08) on their transcript for winter 2023. They also receive a graduation cord to recognize the contributions they have made to the education and growth of their peers. The Shriver Center coordinates PRAC 096-08 and the distribution of graduation cords.

All undergraduate students are invited to apply. Preferred but not required: Applicants will have participated in STRiVE or a similar multi-day experiential learning program.

Use this form to apply to be an Alternative Spring Break leader, ConnectionCorps facilitator, or a STRiVE coach for the 2022-23 academic year. Again, applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 4, 2022.

If you have any questions, you can contact us directly at civiclife@umbc.edu.

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES & PROGRAMS

Alternative Spring Break (ASB) 2022

Monday, March 20 – Friday, March 25, 2022

All spots for Alternative Spring Break (ASB) 2022 are filled. We will release applications for ASB 2023 in November 2022.

ASB is a six-day immersive learning experience in which participants explore the systemic and human dimensions of complex social issues in Baltimore. Participants build connections with local leaders, organizations, and policy makers and develop a sophisticated understanding of available resources and challenges. The program helps participants identify pathways to long-term community engagement.

ASB 2022 group topics are:

  • Immigrant Health Equity (led by Dominique Henriques Melo and Mokeira Nyakoe)
  • K-12 Educational Equity (led by Diane Stonestreet and Polina Kassir)
  • Transformative Justice (led by Mulan Bell and Wendy Zhang)

Civic Courage Journaling Project Gathering (Virtual)

Friday, April 1, 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.

Change Makers Dinner (Virtual) (RSVP Required)

Monday, April 4, 2022 • 5 – 7 p.m.

UMBC students, faculty, staff, and alumni: Meet local leaders and learn about their work, aspirations, and concerns in connection with voting rights, as well as 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 be announced here in March.

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 Graduate Student Association, the 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.

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