On Saturday, June 24, Redbird alumni flocked to campus to give back to the community that supported them as Redbird students through acts of civic engagement across Bloomington-Normal.
Five years ago, the Redbird Engagement and Development (RED) committee, who work to provide leadership and direction for alumni to continue the lifelong responsibility of being informed and engaged global citizens through meaningful opportunities, had an idea to advance civic engagement in the lives of Redbird alumni. Out of that, #RedbirdImpact Month was born.
“We developed this idea of a month-long marketing campaign to encourage alumni networks across the nation to plan something to give back to the community in their area. It’s been interesting to see how each network chooses to get involved and give back to their community through different volunteer efforts,” said Senior Director of Alumni Engagement Stephanie Duquenne ’04, M.S. ’15.
#RedbirdImpact events and service opportunities occurred across the country throughout the month of June, and on June 24, Redbirds in Bloomington-Normal came together to make a difference with the fifth annual #RedbirdImpact Day of Service. This day dedicated to service has become a Redbird tradition for many alumni, family and friends, and faculty and staff who dedicate their time to volunteering at local organizations throughout the Bloomington-Normal community.
This year, Redbirds started the day at the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal, a local non-profit organization that has made a difference in the lives of the community’s children since 1992. Today, the Boys and Girls Club serves more than 1,600 members, families, and youth between the ages of 5-18 in Bloomington-Normal with after-school and summer enrichment programs across four locations.
With their summer programs serving hundreds of children, those in attendance assisted in cleaning the organization’s Clubhouse on Saturday. From disinfecting doorknobs to washing dishes, Redbirds got to work and made their impact to ensure that the community’s children have a safe and clean space to have fun and succeed this summer.
Tyrah Sexton ’23 was one of the 30 Redbird volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club on Saturday morning. As a recent Redbird grad, this was one of her first opportunities to give back and get involved as a Redbird alum.
“Illinois State has given me so many opportunities, and I want to be able to give back in a way that I can to an institution that has already given me so much. Right now, that means I am able to give back with my time,” said Sexton.
Volunteering alongside this recent graduate, was a hopeful, future Redbird, Anna Phillips. Phillips is about to enter her senior year at Normal West High School before she continues her family’s Redbird legacy at Illinois State.
“It’s helping me to be able to see and give back to the community before I am a student. It makes me feel connected to the University and understand what it means to be a Redbird,” said Phillips.
Like many Redbirds in attendance, Phillips and her mom, Mandy Phillips ’00, have volunteered at the #RedbirdImpact Day of Service since its inception. While the acts of service they are taking part in each year may change, giving back during #RedbirdImpact Month has become a tradition for many.
After volunteering their time at the Boys and Girls Club, Redbirds headed to the Bone Student Center for a luncheon to celebrate the impact they made and would continue to make throughout the day and the rest of the month. Members of the President’s Circle, those in the top 12% of the University’s most generous annual contributors, were also celebrated at the luncheon.
“The luncheon provided the perfect opportunity to gather our volunteers and donors and thank them for what they have given back to ISU,” said Duquenne.
During the luncheon, a panel of civically engaged Redbirds, including Interim President Dr. Aondover Tarhule, Co-chair of the Not In our Town Steering Committee Camille Taylor ’78, M.S. ’85, and undergraduate student Laura Sanchez discussed their experiences with civic engagement and what it means to be a civically engaged individual.
In attendance at the luncheon, was Redbird Ben Wright, M.S.’14, an Alternative Breaks alum whose civic engagement has continued to grow since his time as a student.
“I worked in community engagement with universities for about a decade. It was always about trying to get other people to be actively engaged citizens in a way that they can integrate service into everyday life,” said Wright. “It’s always a helpful moment to really understand what the community needs are and how your talents can help support those needs to make the community a better place.”
Following the luncheon, attendees volunteered with the Back 2 School Alliance, an organization dedicated to putting backpacks and school supplies in the hands of children that need it most. Volunteers either headed to the Midwest Food Bank to pack backpacks or they stayed in the Bone Student Center to write handwritten notes of encouragement to go in the backpacks. At the same time, members of the Alumni Board of Directors got civically engaged and volunteered at the ISU Horticulture Center.
With all of the volunteer opportunities available both throughout the month of June and during the #RedbirdImpact Day of Service, Redbird alumni are projected to exceed the University’s goal of 450 service hours for this year’s #RedbirdImpact Month.
“We can say our Redbirds are putting in over 500 volunteer hours in their communities in the year, and that’s what we’ve been able to capture with this campaign,” said Duquenne. “#RedbirdImpact Month is a great effort to advocate, promote, and recognize how our Redbirds are giving back in their communities and being civically engaged.”
As #RedbirdImpact Month comes to a close, Redbirds are encouraged to log their volunteer hours or make a gift through the #RedbirdImpact Month website to help the University reach its impact goal and make a difference in the lives of others.
