Students and staff members from the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement and the Center for Leadership attended the Active Citizens Conference on February 21, 2015 at the College of William and Mary.
The goal of the Active Citizens Conference is to “join students, faculty, and community leaders coming together to learn about the best practices for impacting community and mobilizing social change.” There were approximately 230 attendees from institutions all around the country.
Elon University had a strong presence at the conference and presented three sessions including:
- More than a Trip: The Importance of Language, Perspective, and Reflection in Service Learning by Allison Weiler ‘16 and Josh Kaufman ‘15
- Going Deeper: Using Asset Based Community Development to Enhance Community Partner Relationships by Evan Small and Stacey Rusterholz
- Understanding Communities through Volunteerism and Activism by Emily Haley ‘15 and Evan Small
Drew Adair, first year Leadership Fellows said, “the Active Citizens Conference was a great way to connect and engage with students from around with country with similar interests in leadership, service, and making a difference in this world. I hope we will be able to take what we learned this weekend and apply it here in the Elon community.”
Josh Kaufman, a senior who works in the Kernodle Center, said of his experience, “with each conference I attend, conversation I engage in, and new venture I seek, I hope to continue to grow individually, academically, and professionally. I strongly believe that as students striving to become active citizens in this world we are never finished growing. We are never finished learning. Being an active citizen encompasses a strong mutual engagement of growth, and this conference has contributed to just that.”
Students who are interested in getting involved with the Kernodle Center or the Center for Leadership can find out more by emailing elonvols@elon.edu or lead@elon.edu respectively.