I arrived at the conference at 2:30pm. I headed over to one of the forums but the combination of arriving late to the forum plus being tired from traveling made me not be able to follow much of what was being said. For the rest of the day I was more prepared, so I'll go ahead and describe that:
-Oxfam Hunger Banquet: Going in we were randomly given one of three papers, each representing lower, middle or upper class. I got middle class. The lower class sat in the middle of the basketball court, the middle class sat on the bleachers and the upper class sat on special tables that looked fancy compared to the rest. There was some talk about disparity in the world, but the talk wasn't as powerful as the actual event when we each got different food. Upper class had pasta, sauce, bread sticks and plenty of food, the middle class had one serving of rice with beans and the lower class had a serving of rice on a napkin. We could see what we each could eat and this was more powerful than any words said. Very few people shared (as happens in the real world) and all one could do was eat what one have and maybe crave the better food of the higher class or feel pity for the lower class. The division is much more than just food as if one tries to share food with the lower class one feels like an alien to them. The problem of inequality in the world is complex and it takes courage to fight against the things in place to share the loot with everybody. The banquet was quite an interesting experience. A round of comments followed, then at the end one of the leaders of Oxfam gave a speech about how climate change affects the world and specially affects poor people. I hadn't thought about the effects of global warming in this fashion before.
-Opening Session: I had a great time at the opening session mainly because of the great job Ryan and Ned Rymer did. As an introduction Ryan was very funny and filled the room with his positive energy. I thought the speech by the Dean of northeastern (he was the dean of arts if I am not mistaken) was pretty good and uplifting, but I think the best thing for me was the talk by Ned Rymer. His talk was funny at points (the pictures from his youth), interesting and very encouraging. It is great to know that there are people out there working on programs to give better education and whose main purpose is serving the community. I liked the very optimistic tips he gave at the end and his reflection on his mistakes and how they helped him learn. The last talk was also interesting, it is illuminating to find about the passion behind famous programs like "Vote or Die".
In summary, I had a very good first day and I am very happy the opening session was uplifting, specially after the banquet which was hard knowledge.
-Quique, Dartmouth College
Friday, March 7, 2008
Kaila F: Very first blog ever!
Hi! My name is Kaila and I am very excited to be attending another amazing student conference(this is my first time blogging, so bare with me). I am here with an incredible group of motivated, intelligent, and superb beings, a group from Johnson State College, located in the wild, frozen lands of Northern Vermont.
Today an especially incredible opportunity arose for us Vermonters. A group of students on our campus is currently planning to do our own Oxfam America Hunger Banquet. Our hope is to educate the local community about hunger that many people are faced with every single day. Tonight, we had the chance to experience the event that we are planning (like mad!) to host at our very own small campus.
I do not think I realized how much this event would mean to me until I experienced it firsthand today. I knew the in's and out's of the event, which class coordinated with which color character card. I knew what the speakers would be saying throughout most of the event. I knew that people in the different classes would be eating foods representing the different poverty levels of the world. But how can one prepare for the emotions that arise during, as well as following the event. For me, it was quite unexpected. After memorizing statistics and hearing about the horrible situations people face in their daily lives, I thought it wouldn't get to me this time. When in fact, it was quite the opposite. As I walked out of the Cabot Gymnasium this evening, I thought about everything that affects hunger. I thought about why people, who have so much, cannot share with others? Why are people so hungry in Haiti that they have to resolve to eating dirt cookies? We are all human beings. We all deserve to live happy and healthy lives. What makes this world so unfair, so unjust that this poverty can continue everyday without drastically changing?
Tonight I realized that this problem, this epidemic of hunger, needs to stop. Things need to change. Tonight I am fasting for those people who do not have a choice whether or not they receive a portion of rice for their meal. Tonight I am fasting for all of the children in the world whose last words on this earth are "Mommy, I'm hungry".
This experience was a very positive one. We walked away from it even more informed than we already were. Now we have been given the tools to get out into our community and give others the tools and support they need to move into positive action. Without the education, there is no action. Without the action, there is no change. I wish luck to every student out there trying to make a difference in this world. We have the ability to create change, so keep fighting for what you believe in!
Laura: Here and at Friday Forums
Hi, I'm Laura, on staff at Johnson State College in Vermont in the Center for Service Learning. I came down this morning with four great students and the (also awesome) VISTA from our office, and we are so excited to be here! After a yummy lunch I'm now liveblogging in a Friday Forum workshop called "Not Your Average ASB: Alternative Break Foundations and Innovations." We started out by talking about the different models of programs represented by all the students in the room (about 45 or so). All these folks are interested in engaging in intensive direct service during breaks--and it's presented by Jill, a staff member from Break Away.
The discussion centered around different components of quality alternative breaks: direct service, drug-and-alcohol-free policies, education, diversity, orientation, training, reflection and reorientation.
The conversation moved towards cultural sensitivity in substance-free policies and the importance of pre-trip education. The discussions programs have before heading out can ensure that the service we perform is as beneficial to the community as possible, and that we get the most out of the experience itself.
It's so great to be here talking about alternative breaks. As an undergraduate I was a trip leader for alt breaks and now as a staff member it's been wonderful to continue conversations and working with students around alt breaks.
We're talking about things to discuss with host organizations before going. It's important to learn about the organization's mission and the community needs they serve. Host sites can also be great resources for learning about the community you're in--they can tell you what to do when you get that little bit of free time! We've been talking about how organizations determine what needs exist in the community, and how the organization addresses those needs.
In discussing re-orientation (or what I think is one of the most important parts of an alternative break experience--"what to do when you get home"), one student described going abroad and feeling isolated after returning home. Our discussion centered on how we can minimize that isolation when we return. Some groups I've been a part of don't want to leave each other after that week, 10 days or couple weeks of service together. (Of course, others are a little different--especially after a long time in a van together!) So re-orientation can be things like getting together, swapping photos or sharing the food that you enjoyed on your trip (like philly cheesesteaks after traveling to Philadelphia :) ), but it can be bigger than that too: one student described going on a trip focused on prison reform. After returning to campus, a number of his fellow participants have worked to start clubs and activist efforts focused around prison issues. There are other examples in the room, too: with connections to sustainable coffee-shops, using construction skills in building our own homes, and changing majors or career plans.
In discussing diversity, one student lamented her difficulties in recruiting male participants. One solution offered by another was to have male trip leaders prominently visible in recruitment efforts; another solution was to use "male language"-- talking about adventure instead of feelings and "gushy stuff." Another idea is to recruit in classes--especially core curriculum classes, and to pair trip issues with targeted recruitment to courses (e.g., a trip focused on children or education advertised in an education class).
Break Away has a model of how alternative breaks can lead to active civic engagement, called the Active Citizen Continuum. Hearing how folks have made connections and changes in their lives after service trips has been great--and that the model Break Away uses doesn't necessarily always fit everyone, and of course in alternative breaks we're not trying to force anyone to become more engaged in community and civic life. As a student and now a staff member--and in my personal and academic life as well--I've seen how service (for me it was always more than just alt breaks) can lead to new choices and priorities. My service work helped me narrow my field of study (from human development to adolescent and youth) and figure out what kind of job I wanted to have, what kind of work would be most fulfilling. In fact, I came to this conference as an undergrad. It gave me a great opportunity to learn more about all the exciting work going on around the nation and the world. I made so many great connections then and it led to me changing some of my service work: I had volunteered with youth substance abuse prevention and leadership programs, and I started making connections to service and activism (and in fact, now run workshops for high school students on activism--and how they can bring about social change in their schools and communities). I'm so glad to bring students I work with now to this conference--hopefully they'll have the same kind of experience I did!
We've split up into small groups depending on where are programs are in their development, and are discussing program structure--whether programs are student-run, staff-run, or a combination. Sitting with similar groups, we're discussing the timeline of planning trips. It's also great to get to the nitty-gritty and talk about logistics! We're talking about fundraising and how trips are funded. One student is discussing successes with doing personal visits to local businesses, and asking family members to donate towards the participants' trip costs. Some groups have had success with silent auctions, and a creative one I've heard so far is to have a guitar hero tournament. (I've always wanted to have a rock-paper-scissors tournament to raise funds!) One great idea we're discussing is to tie donations to a concrete item, such as hardware (the example given was nickels for nails--give a nickel and you've just provided a nail for the group to use).
One great idea I just heard was a campus that encourages trip leaders to buy postcards during their trip and send notes to campus administrators (and big donors) thanking them for their support. How wonderful! I'd love to get a note like that (hint, hint guys...) A related idea is to use the alumni offices to find alumni association chapters in cities where alt break groups have traveled, then see if the chapter might like to visit with the current students--whether it's hosting for dinner, career networking, or even asking alumni to join in the service projects.
We ended the session with round-table discussions in small groups about innovative and best practices in alternative breaks hosted by students and staff from several campuses. Thanks for a great session, everyone!
(and now, off to the opportunities fair)
--Laura Megivern, Johnson State College
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Learning, Sharing, Networking, and Collaborating: We Can't Wait!
Hello! I must say, I am very excited that I have the opportunity to attend the IMPACT conference this weekend and to facilitate a workshop on Saturday morning. I am a sophomore at Miami University in Oxford, OH who has been involved with several leadership and engagement initiatives. I am a Service Guide with our Office of Community Engagement and Service -- for this role, I lead Miami students on Saturday morning volunteer outings to social service agencies in Cincinnati and Oxford. I also work as the Community Service Associate in the University Honors Program; in this role, I plan our Urban Plunge immersion programs and coordinate an EITC tax campaign and the PLEAS (Peer Leaders in Engagement and Service) program. I'm also working with a visionary Oxford resident by leading the student volunteer charge on a grant-based disaster relief kit project, which provides low-income families in Oxford and surrounding communities with emergency kits.
Miami University is a unique place, and there are many good people here who know a lot about engagement, networking, collaboration, and leadership. I established my adopted definition of leadership through an enlightening October conversation with Dr. Denny Roberts, our former Associate Vice President for Student Affairs who is now in Qatar building his own division of student affairs at Education City, a consortium of prestigious universities that came together in the Middle East (I have a feeling that a few of these universities will be well-represented at the conference this weekend). After we met at LeaderShape last August, Denny nominated me to be the student representative on our Leadership Steering Committee. In our October meeting, which took place a week before he left for Qatar, Denny and I were discussing my steering committee role, as well as my LeaderShape Vision. The topic of defining leadership came up, and Denny, author of Deeper Learning in Leadership, gave me my adopted definition: leadership equals conviction in action. I and many of my colleagues at Miami are putting our convictions in action, and we can't wait to hear what everyone else is doing.
At Miami, we face a variety of issues ranging from the divide between Greek students (35% of our student body) and non-Greek students to mobilizing students to be civically and politically engaged to defining our leadership hallmark. Because I work in two service-based offices (OCE&S and Honors) and am invested in so many initiatives, I've witnessed collaboration result in wonderful things, but I can't wait to learn how offices and organizations at other universities work together. Another issue that comes up at Miami is building community in our residence halls. Rachel Chase, Stephanie Raill and I will be facilitating a workshop titled, "Scholar-Leader: a Self-Governed Community." I am a current Scholar-Leader, Stephanie is our associate director, and Chase is the RA for the program, which is housed in Elliott and Stoddard Halls, the two oldest residence halls west of the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania. Admission to the Scholar-Leader program is through application and students receive scholarships that cover approximately half the cost of housing each semester. We are a unique community because of our small size (70 residents between the two buildings) and because each corridor creates its own policies, and residents -- not the RA or the director -- are responsible for creating programming within Scholar-Leader, on campus, and in the larger community. We are running our workshop like it's the first corridor/all-community meetings of a new year school year; using this framework, we'll be addressing issues such as the role of the RA and advisory council, how we engage through programming, group leadership, our autonomy, and how we build community. We are anxious to hear what other universities are doing -- our seminar is highly interactive, so we encourage you to come to our 9:00 workshop on Saturday and share your perspectives!
Chase, Stephanie and I met yesterday to finalize our plans -- we'll be leaving Miami's campus tonight at midnight to catch our flight to Boston. We're a little worried about the weather. Three students from Miami's Wilks Scholars Program/Wilks Leadership Institute will be joining us. I can't wait for the IMPACT conference to commence.
-- John Hummell, Miami University Sophomore, hummeljd@muohio.edu
Miami University is a unique place, and there are many good people here who know a lot about engagement, networking, collaboration, and leadership. I established my adopted definition of leadership through an enlightening October conversation with Dr. Denny Roberts, our former Associate Vice President for Student Affairs who is now in Qatar building his own division of student affairs at Education City, a consortium of prestigious universities that came together in the Middle East (I have a feeling that a few of these universities will be well-represented at the conference this weekend). After we met at LeaderShape last August, Denny nominated me to be the student representative on our Leadership Steering Committee. In our October meeting, which took place a week before he left for Qatar, Denny and I were discussing my steering committee role, as well as my LeaderShape Vision. The topic of defining leadership came up, and Denny, author of Deeper Learning in Leadership, gave me my adopted definition: leadership equals conviction in action. I and many of my colleagues at Miami are putting our convictions in action, and we can't wait to hear what everyone else is doing.
At Miami, we face a variety of issues ranging from the divide between Greek students (35% of our student body) and non-Greek students to mobilizing students to be civically and politically engaged to defining our leadership hallmark. Because I work in two service-based offices (OCE&S and Honors) and am invested in so many initiatives, I've witnessed collaboration result in wonderful things, but I can't wait to learn how offices and organizations at other universities work together. Another issue that comes up at Miami is building community in our residence halls. Rachel Chase, Stephanie Raill and I will be facilitating a workshop titled, "Scholar-Leader: a Self-Governed Community." I am a current Scholar-Leader, Stephanie is our associate director, and Chase is the RA for the program, which is housed in Elliott and Stoddard Halls, the two oldest residence halls west of the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania. Admission to the Scholar-Leader program is through application and students receive scholarships that cover approximately half the cost of housing each semester. We are a unique community because of our small size (70 residents between the two buildings) and because each corridor creates its own policies, and residents -- not the RA or the director -- are responsible for creating programming within Scholar-Leader, on campus, and in the larger community. We are running our workshop like it's the first corridor/all-community meetings of a new year school year; using this framework, we'll be addressing issues such as the role of the RA and advisory council, how we engage through programming, group leadership, our autonomy, and how we build community. We are anxious to hear what other universities are doing -- our seminar is highly interactive, so we encourage you to come to our 9:00 workshop on Saturday and share your perspectives!
Chase, Stephanie and I met yesterday to finalize our plans -- we'll be leaving Miami's campus tonight at midnight to catch our flight to Boston. We're a little worried about the weather. Three students from Miami's Wilks Scholars Program/Wilks Leadership Institute will be joining us. I can't wait for the IMPACT conference to commence.
-- John Hummell, Miami University Sophomore, hummeljd@muohio.edu
Josh - Couldn't Be a Better Time
The IMPACT conference is set to be a tremendous event thanks to the tireless work of the organizing committee (thanks y'all!). For the work I am doing, this event couldn't come at a better time.
I am a community organizer for Free Press - a national organization focused on giving people across the country a voice in the media debates that shape everything we see, read, and hear. I work on our Stop Big Media campaign and our Save the Internet campaign.
This is a moment of truth for American media - everywhere we turn big companies are trying to push the public out of the picture, off the airwaves, or trying to disrupt the free flow of information online. But at the same time - students and citizens across the country are stepping up in huge numbers and are making an impact in their communities and in Washington DC.
I just got off the phone with some students in Chicago who filed comments with the FCC about the future of the Internet. Last week I was in Boston with students who were organizing against Comcast's blocking of the internet. Last year Seattle students turned out in huge numbers to demand more local independent and diverse media.
I look forward to hearing about what is happening on your campuses and discussing ways to fight for a media that really represents all people, addresses our issues, and serves the public.
Josh Stearns - Free Press/StopBigMedia/SaveTheInternet
I am a community organizer for Free Press - a national organization focused on giving people across the country a voice in the media debates that shape everything we see, read, and hear. I work on our Stop Big Media campaign and our Save the Internet campaign.
This is a moment of truth for American media - everywhere we turn big companies are trying to push the public out of the picture, off the airwaves, or trying to disrupt the free flow of information online. But at the same time - students and citizens across the country are stepping up in huge numbers and are making an impact in their communities and in Washington DC.
I just got off the phone with some students in Chicago who filed comments with the FCC about the future of the Internet. Last week I was in Boston with students who were organizing against Comcast's blocking of the internet. Last year Seattle students turned out in huge numbers to demand more local independent and diverse media.
I look forward to hearing about what is happening on your campuses and discussing ways to fight for a media that really represents all people, addresses our issues, and serves the public.
Josh Stearns - Free Press/StopBigMedia/SaveTheInternet
Jenny--The Sponge
Hello, my name is Jenny and I recently accepted a Director of Civic Engagement position at a community college. My responsibilities include community service events, civic activities and involvement, getting a service learning program off the ground, and diversity programming. This is my first "grown up" job since finishing grad school and the position is a newly created job at my institution. I have experience with service learning and volunteerism as an undergrad, but now the tables have turned! Add all of this to the fact that I was previously unfamiliar with the community college atmosphere AND the actual physical community in which my college is located--needless to say, I have a lot on my plate! I am coming to IMPACT hoping to be inspired and looking for new ideas for my programs. I hope that many of the ideas will be adaptable to the community college. Most of all, I just want to learn! I suppose you could call me a sponge.
I am also looking forward to visiting Boston and I can't wait to see what activities are in store. I've never traveled further north than Indianapolis! I can't wait to eat some authentic clam chowder. :)
I hope to meet other young campus administrators from across the nation, but I fully expect to be inspired by the passion of the students I anticipate meeting at IMPACT. See you soon!
-Jenny, Director of Civic Engagement, Ivy Tech Community College Sellersburg, IN
I am also looking forward to visiting Boston and I can't wait to see what activities are in store. I've never traveled further north than Indianapolis! I can't wait to eat some authentic clam chowder. :)
I hope to meet other young campus administrators from across the nation, but I fully expect to be inspired by the passion of the students I anticipate meeting at IMPACT. See you soon!
-Jenny, Director of Civic Engagement, Ivy Tech Community College Sellersburg, IN
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Quique: Excited
Hello, my name is Enrique (Quique is the common nickname for Enrique), I am a Mathematics graduate student at Dartmouth College. My experience with helping others is in teaching and mentoring. I am attending the conference expecting to learn of more things I can do to help society, I am very interested in finding ways to help get education spread to everybody.
I am excited that the conference starts in just a couple of days and I am looking forward to listening to good speeches and to learn at the workshops. I'll be commenting here on the workshops I attend.
Looking forward to meeting you in Boston,
-Quique
I am excited that the conference starts in just a couple of days and I am looking forward to listening to good speeches and to learn at the workshops. I'll be commenting here on the workshops I attend.
Looking forward to meeting you in Boston,
-Quique
Abby: Beyond Apathy - Where Does Voting Fit In?
The label of young people and college students as apathetic is old. It’s just not true and people need to get over it. Sure, not all young people are actively engaged in some sort of civic/political/community activities, but to say that a majority of young people just DON’T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING is ridiculous. [A friend of mine always likes to ask: what is apathy anyways?]
Being at IMPACT this weekend would likely convince even the most cynical that young people and students in the US are passionate about solving public problems and making change. But what’s also significant about IMPACT is the diversity of community-building and change strategies that will be represented. There will be students who focus on direct service, policy advocacy, voting, leadership development, service-learning, community-based research, policy research - the list could go on.
This year’s primary campaign is exciting largely because of the huge youth turnout numbers. Don’t get me wrong, this is great – really great. Maybe now the public can construct a different picture of young people---a real one. A SOLE focus on youth voter turnout, however, is misleading. The ways that young people are working to address public problems is far broader than voting.
Is voting a litmus test for youth civic and political engagement?
Voting is one of the easier activities to track and measure. Other activities, like discussing public issues, is harder to measure. Is this why it gets so much attention? Having talked to a lot of people about voting, I know that one answer to this question would inevitably be that voting is a great indicator because it’s “the most important responsibility of a citizen”. It’s not that this isn’t true or isn’t a good reason, but we cannot overlook the important and significant work that is happening in other areas---work that is providing concrete experiences with public problem-solving, finding policy solutions and bringing communities together to deliberate. We cannot deny the long-term, deep, challenging, messy work that young people and students are involved with on a range of issues in communities all across the country and around the world.
Do we shortchange young people and students by creating the perception that voting is THE marker of participation and engagement?
Given what’s going on with the primaries, I’m going to be interested in how this conversation plays out this weekend at IMPACT…
-Abby K
Being at IMPACT this weekend would likely convince even the most cynical that young people and students in the US are passionate about solving public problems and making change. But what’s also significant about IMPACT is the diversity of community-building and change strategies that will be represented. There will be students who focus on direct service, policy advocacy, voting, leadership development, service-learning, community-based research, policy research - the list could go on.
This year’s primary campaign is exciting largely because of the huge youth turnout numbers. Don’t get me wrong, this is great – really great. Maybe now the public can construct a different picture of young people---a real one. A SOLE focus on youth voter turnout, however, is misleading. The ways that young people are working to address public problems is far broader than voting.
Is voting a litmus test for youth civic and political engagement?
Voting is one of the easier activities to track and measure. Other activities, like discussing public issues, is harder to measure. Is this why it gets so much attention? Having talked to a lot of people about voting, I know that one answer to this question would inevitably be that voting is a great indicator because it’s “the most important responsibility of a citizen”. It’s not that this isn’t true or isn’t a good reason, but we cannot overlook the important and significant work that is happening in other areas---work that is providing concrete experiences with public problem-solving, finding policy solutions and bringing communities together to deliberate. We cannot deny the long-term, deep, challenging, messy work that young people and students are involved with on a range of issues in communities all across the country and around the world.
Do we shortchange young people and students by creating the perception that voting is THE marker of participation and engagement?
Given what’s going on with the primaries, I’m going to be interested in how this conversation plays out this weekend at IMPACT…
-Abby K
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Shannon: Great Expectations
Hi!
My name is Shannon and I coordinate service and volunteer programs at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Our program consists of one-time volunteer events, blood drives, a community tutoring program, and alternative break trips. I am pretty new to my position so I am very excited to attend the conference and learn tons!
My excitement for the conference is heightened by my expectation that at some point this weekend, the proverbial light bulb will go off and blind everyone around me with a giant "a-ha!" moment never before experienced at the same magnitude.
Where does the light bulb expectation come from? Not only have I been reading and re-reading the conference schedule and already agonizing over which workshops I will choose, I am already brainstorming some fabulous ideas that I hope to implement on my campus as a result of attending the conference.
I know with certainty that the light bulb won't go off unless I make the effort to flip the switch. My #1 goal this weekend is to meet as many people as I can and hopefully make contact with colleges that would be interested in collaborating. Although I am not new to service and social justice, I am new to advising service programs on a college campus. I can't wait to connect with other college administrators and their students who will no doubt teach and inspire me to be the best advisor I can be. I can't even imagine what the energy will be like and how motivated I will be to come back to Stevens Point, Wisconsin and get to work!
Safe travels, everyone. I'm looking forward to meeting you in Boston!
-Shannon Chronister, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
My name is Shannon and I coordinate service and volunteer programs at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Our program consists of one-time volunteer events, blood drives, a community tutoring program, and alternative break trips. I am pretty new to my position so I am very excited to attend the conference and learn tons!
My excitement for the conference is heightened by my expectation that at some point this weekend, the proverbial light bulb will go off and blind everyone around me with a giant "a-ha!" moment never before experienced at the same magnitude.
Where does the light bulb expectation come from? Not only have I been reading and re-reading the conference schedule and already agonizing over which workshops I will choose, I am already brainstorming some fabulous ideas that I hope to implement on my campus as a result of attending the conference.
I know with certainty that the light bulb won't go off unless I make the effort to flip the switch. My #1 goal this weekend is to meet as many people as I can and hopefully make contact with colleges that would be interested in collaborating. Although I am not new to service and social justice, I am new to advising service programs on a college campus. I can't wait to connect with other college administrators and their students who will no doubt teach and inspire me to be the best advisor I can be. I can't even imagine what the energy will be like and how motivated I will be to come back to Stevens Point, Wisconsin and get to work!
Safe travels, everyone. I'm looking forward to meeting you in Boston!
-Shannon Chronister, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Heather C: Just a few days away!
Just wanted to get the party started...this is my last chance to write something substantial before chaos ensues...future posts won't be *nearly* this long...
We're just a few days away from the start of the IMPACT Conference, and good news continues to trickle in. We passed the 900-registrant mark yesterday, finished up the printed program yesterday, confirmed all of our keynote speakers, assembled an incredible array of workshops, and are honored to be joined by over 40 nonprofit sponsors. This is all great, but the fact that it's all been fueled by the energy of committed volunteers across the country is what's really blowing my mind right now. Let me give a few examples:
- A student and an AmeriCorps*VISTA member led the outreach effort. Neither have ever done outreach on this scale before, yet they managed to lead the way to draw over 900 people together in one place to talk about how we can all build a better and more just world.
- A student has pulled together both issue-based and geographically-based affinity groups for the weekend, finding facilitators, organizing the groups, preparing facilitation guides, and dreaming up how we can help these groups not only stay in touch after the conference, but also create action plans so that IMPACT attendees across the country can stay connected.
- A campus staff member and a nonprofit professional (both long-time participants in this conference) managed the process of reviewing over 100 workshop proposals, notifying people about their workshop status, scheduling those workshops, answering questions from all the presenters, and calling each one individually to make sure they're squared away. In their spare time.
- A graduate student has built a great website for us, set up this blog, thought ahead to how we can help people stay connected through the site after the conference, and volunteered to interview folks at the conference to capture a bit of their experience to share with everyone when we all return home.
- A recent graduate and now DC-area intern has been at the helm of all things related to sponsorship, securing over 40 organizations to help us cover the costs of the conference, organizing those organizations' information and websites and logos and travel plans and questions, and overall been a champion of this conference in every shape and form.
The funny thing is that these few folks are joined by 20 others on the Planning Committee who have pitched in their time, energy, vision, and sweat to make this conference possible. The unifying theme among all of us -- and the reason why we've been willing to volunteer our time -- is that we all fervently believe that young people can change the world. That seems like a cliche thing to say, but it's deeply true...we all believe that, if we just provide the platform and get a wide variety of people in the room together, really good things will happen.
We hope they do, and we hope that you (the reader) will come away from the conference renewed in your work to do just that. We'll have more updates (and more bloggers!) over the next few days, but take some time to think about what you want to get out of the conference, who you want to meet with there, and how you can leave the weekend with a plan for creating real change on your campus and in your community. We're all waiting to see what you come up with!
We're just a few days away from the start of the IMPACT Conference, and good news continues to trickle in. We passed the 900-registrant mark yesterday, finished up the printed program yesterday, confirmed all of our keynote speakers, assembled an incredible array of workshops, and are honored to be joined by over 40 nonprofit sponsors. This is all great, but the fact that it's all been fueled by the energy of committed volunteers across the country is what's really blowing my mind right now. Let me give a few examples:
- A student and an AmeriCorps*VISTA member led the outreach effort. Neither have ever done outreach on this scale before, yet they managed to lead the way to draw over 900 people together in one place to talk about how we can all build a better and more just world.
- A student has pulled together both issue-based and geographically-based affinity groups for the weekend, finding facilitators, organizing the groups, preparing facilitation guides, and dreaming up how we can help these groups not only stay in touch after the conference, but also create action plans so that IMPACT attendees across the country can stay connected.
- A campus staff member and a nonprofit professional (both long-time participants in this conference) managed the process of reviewing over 100 workshop proposals, notifying people about their workshop status, scheduling those workshops, answering questions from all the presenters, and calling each one individually to make sure they're squared away. In their spare time.
- A graduate student has built a great website for us, set up this blog, thought ahead to how we can help people stay connected through the site after the conference, and volunteered to interview folks at the conference to capture a bit of their experience to share with everyone when we all return home.
- A recent graduate and now DC-area intern has been at the helm of all things related to sponsorship, securing over 40 organizations to help us cover the costs of the conference, organizing those organizations' information and websites and logos and travel plans and questions, and overall been a champion of this conference in every shape and form.
The funny thing is that these few folks are joined by 20 others on the Planning Committee who have pitched in their time, energy, vision, and sweat to make this conference possible. The unifying theme among all of us -- and the reason why we've been willing to volunteer our time -- is that we all fervently believe that young people can change the world. That seems like a cliche thing to say, but it's deeply true...we all believe that, if we just provide the platform and get a wide variety of people in the room together, really good things will happen.
We hope they do, and we hope that you (the reader) will come away from the conference renewed in your work to do just that. We'll have more updates (and more bloggers!) over the next few days, but take some time to think about what you want to get out of the conference, who you want to meet with there, and how you can leave the weekend with a plan for creating real change on your campus and in your community. We're all waiting to see what you come up with!
- Heather Cronk, Conference Planning Committee Co-Chair
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