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Redbird Impact cover Fall 2018 no text image of Mississippi River with a bridge in the background and a pile of trash in the foreground
Spring cleaning: ISU students removed 25,000 pounds of trash from the Mississippi River during Alternative Spring Break.

Volume 1 • Number 2 • Fall 2018

Illinois State student Kaitlyn Remian loads a discarded tire onto a boat on the Mississippi River as part of a cleanup during an Alternative Breaks trip to Grafton, Illinois.

Living waters: ISU spring breakers work with nonprofit to restore Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is indeed mighty. It flows south for over 2,300 miles from Lake Itasca, in northern Minnesota, to the Gulf of Mexico, making the ancient waterway one of the longest rivers in the world.

Last April, more than 170 students spread out across Bloomington-Normal to lend a hand to residents and community organizations for the 10th annual Bring It Back to Normal. Students raking and do outside chores at a home.

Bringing goodwill back to Normal

You can’t say Illinois State students don’t give back to their college town.

Children playing stringed instruments in ISU class at Western Avenue Community Center in Bloomington.

Heart strings: ISU music program reaches out to Bloomington-Normal youth

When the fourth grader was told she would have to turn in her cello at the end of the semester, she hugged her instrument.

Juan Zamarripa, Frank Beck, and Austin Moser

Numbers crunch: ISU researchers leverage big data to help jail

Through the Stevenson Center for Community and Economic Development, researchers have been leveraging big data to explore ways the McLean County jail can improve and better deploy its resources.

American Democracy Project debate watch party

Spotlight Q&A: American Democracy Project encourages political engagement on campus

Students navigating the voting process in the run-up to the midterm elections have an ally at Illinois State University.

Students with art exhibition.

Milner Library exhibit captures the lives of English language learners through visuals

An eye-catching exhibit in Milner Library is a perfect synthesis of interdisciplinary collaboration and civic engagement. 

Award recipients at the third annual Civic Engagement Celebration: Jade Surface (left) and Zoe McGrath, representing the student chapter of Habitat for Humanity; Beverly Beyer, senior associate director of the Stevenson Center; Mary Ann Pullin, executive director of Home Sweet Home Ministries; Missy Nergard, director of the Office of Sustainability; Kaitlyn Remian, Alternative Spring Break coordinator; and Lauren Lacy, director of development for the McLean County Museum of History.

Groups, individuals honored at 3rd annual Civic Engagement Celebration

Students and groups engaged in helping the community were honored last spring at the third annual Civic Engagement Celebration.

Illinois State students wash windows at a Normal home last April as part of Bring It Back to Normal.

Give back at Illinois State

Here are some upcoming community engagement events and opportunities available through Illinois State University.