Give back at Illinois State

Check out the following community engagement opportunities open to Illinois State students, faculty, and staff.

BRING IT BACK TO NORMAL

WHAT: Since 2008 Bring It Back to Normal has provided opportunities for large groups of students to give back to the community that is home to Illinois State University. Students volunteer to work with local residents and nonprofit agencies to help meet the needs of the community through gardening, landscaping, housework, and other small tasks that make a big difference.
WHEN: Saturday, April 27, 2019
WHERE: Various locations in Bloomington-Normal
ELIGIBILITY: Students who would like to volunteer can begin registering in mid-February.
For more information, visit CommunityEngagement.IllinoisState.edu/Students/Community-Service/Bring-It-Back-To-Normal or contact Paige Buschman, graduate assistant for community service projects for the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning, at vpsapebusc2@IllinoisState.edu or (309) 438-1100.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT CELEBRATION

WHAT: This celebration will highlight civic engagement efforts and recognize faculty, staff, students, registered student organizations, community partners, and campus units for their civic engagement work and activities.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 30, 2019
WHERE: Circus Room, Bone Student Center
ELIGIBILITY: The celebration is open to the public.
For more information, visit AmericanDemocracy.IllinoisState.edu, or contact Dean of Students John Davenport at jmdaven@IllinoisState.edu or Associate Professor Noha Shawki at nohashawki@IllinoisState.edu.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT COURSE REDESIGN

WHAT: Emphasize the value of citizenship, service learning, and civic engagement in your course. Identify civic competencies that connect with your discipline and course content, design a syllabus that includes civic engagement components, and develop a plan for a specific course assessment where students demonstrate some aspect of civic learning. This redesign opportunity can be used to develop a course for possible adoption as a civic engagement minor elective. A $1,000 stipend, provided by the American Democracy Project, is available to eligible participants who complete the program.
WHEN: Four sessions will be held in late May and early June 2018 with a presentation at the Summer Showcase in August.
WHERE: Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology in the Instructional Technology and Development Center
ELIGIBILITY: Applications will be available in February and due in March. Tenured, tenure-track, and nontenure-track faculty, and Administrative/Professional employees with teaching responsibilities are eligible to participate. Eight faculty members will be selected.
For more information, visit CTLT.IllinoisState.edu, or contact Dana Karraker, faculty development coordinator at the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology, at dmkarra@IllinoisState.edu or (309) 438-5110.

SEPTEMBER SERVICE DAYS

WHAT: During September, the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning will host several service projects. Transportation will be provided for those who need it. Credit may be offered by certain classes. Students should ask their professors for details.
WHEN: Weekends, typically Saturdays, in September 2019. Each service project lasts two
to five hours.
WHERE: Various locations in Bloomington-Normal
ELIGIBILITY: Registration is open to Illinois State students in September until spots are filled.
For more information, visit CommunityEngagement.IllinoisState.edu/Students/Community-Service/Saturdays or contact the center at CommunityEngagement@IllinoisState.edu or (309) 438-1100.

HOLIDAY HELPER

WHAT: The Holiday Helper program provides gifts and parties for over 250 children in Bloomington-Normal through partnerships with the Boys and Girls Club, Western Avenue Community Center, Unity Community Center, and the Center for Youth and Family Solutions. Volunteers are needed to sponsor children, to wrap and to pack gifts, and to organize and to help at holiday parties.
WHEN: October to December 2019
WHERE: Various locations in Bloomington-Normal
ELIGIBILITY: Illinois State students, faculty, and staff are eligible to sponsor children, wrap and pack gifts, and assist at the parties.
For more information, visit CommunityEngagement.IllinoisState.edu/Students/Community-Service/Holiday-Helper or contact the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning at CommunityEngagement@IllinoisState.edu or (309) 438-1100.

TRICK OR TREAT FOR CHANGE

WHAT: Trick or Treat for Change is the annual fundraising event hosted as a collaboration between the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning, the McLean County Habitat for Humanity, and the collegiate chapters of Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University Joint Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter. Each year, 300 to 400 students trick or treat in groups of four to six around Bloomington-Normal asking for spare change. These donations go to build a Habitat home in town.
WHEN: October 31, 2019
WHERE: Various locations in Bloomington-Normal
ELIGIBILITY: Preregistration will close October 29. Walk-ins will be accepted. Trick-or-treating is limited to Illinois State and Illinois Wesleyan students. Other individuals are welcome to volunteer in other ways.
For more information, visit CommunityEngagement.IllinoisState.edu/Students/Community-Service/Trick-Or-Treat or contact Annie Weaver, student volunteer opportunities coordinator at the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning, at (309) 438-0708 or amweave@IllinoisState.edu.

SERVING THOSE WHO SERVED

WHAT: The Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning engages in a national day of service in November called Serving Those Who Served. This program seeks to serve veterans in the community and the United States at large.
WHEN: November 2019
WHERE: To be determined
ELIGIBILITY: Additional details will be available in fall 2019.
For more information, visit CommunityEngagement.IllinoisState.edu/Students/Community-Service/Serving or contact the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning at CommunityEngagement@IllinoisState.edu or (309) 438-1100.