Community Engaged Learning Newsletter May 2024

Quote of the month:

"We don't stop going to school when we graduate."

-Carol Burnett

What's Happening in the Office of Civic Engagement (OCE)

In a collaboration between Bucknell University's Office of Civic Engagement and the BSG Community Committee, we conducted a nomination process in late March to recognize individuals on campus who demonstrate kindness (faculty, staff and students). 32 nominations were received (16 students, 6 faculty and 10 staff), and a Kindness Celebration was held on campus in mid-April to celebrate the nominees and thank them for campus kind acts and positivity with a small gift and certificate. In addition, posters with student appreciation notes were presented to Dining and Facilities departments.

The Office of Civic Engagement (OCE) has hired four Bucknell students for summer internships within our local community to provide experiences in the summer months for community engaged learning. These internships aim to support community partners and collaborate with them on community priorities. Specifically, we are focusing on initiatives related to housing security (DIG Furniture Bank, Transitions of PA) and food security (CAA Food Hub).

Through OCE’s partnership with the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty (SHECP), five Bucknell students were selected to participate in a 9-week summer internship program. Students will be located in cities across the country including DC, Richmond, Louisville, and Greensboro. Each intern will be working with an anti-poverty organization supporting efforts around food security, healthcare, homelessness, and legal support.

The OCE team and some community partners are headed to the International Town-Gown Association (ITGA) National Conference in early June. We will be leading two sessions–one in collaboration with DIG Furniture Bank and one in collaboration with the CAA Food Hub. We are excited to share and learn!

We are excited to be recruiting for an AmeriCorps VISTA through Partners for Campus Community partners (PCCE) who will be working with both our office and with Central Susquehanna Opportunities. This VISTA Project is focusing on Healthy Futures: Food Security. This project will support Food Security capacity building efforts in our region. Please see our graphic for more information and send any interested folks to apply through the AmeriCorps website. Deadline to apply is May 31.

Get Involved:

Join CSO at their upcoming June 24th Golf Tournament Fundraiser at the Bucknell Golf Club. Email cadrian@censop.com or call CSO at 570-644-6575 for more information.

Share your voice in current community needs assessments if you are a Union or Snyder County resident or a Northumberland, Columbia or Montour county resident.

Sign up for one or more volunteer shift(s) at the Lewisburg Community Gardens on Engaged Bucknell on Tues. or Thursday evenings 4-7pm (May-October) or register to help prepare a community meal for distribution on a Monday afternoon at our Community Harvest Milton food program (May-July). Check out the ‘Opportunities’ link on Engaged Bucknell for these and other volunteer shifts!

SEDA-COG wants to hear from local residents on a draft list of priority transportation projects in our region, public comments will be accepted through May 20th, 2024 at 4pm.

Join DIG for their annual fresh start fundraiser: 6/29, 5pm. Learn more and buy tickets here.

Professional Development Opportunities:

Virtual Training: Combating White Saviorism in Mentoring: 5/16: 12-1:30pm. Learn more and register.

2024 DEI PA State Hybrid Summit: Taking Action to End Disparities: 5/16, 10am-3:30pm. Learn more and register.

Free Youth Suicide Prevention Training Opportunities for Educators, First Responders, and Community Members May 29, Noon - 2 p.m., Donald Heiter Community Center, Lewisburg. Register Here.

Webinar: Unlocking Your Board’s Potential with Catalytic Thinking: 5/1, 12-2pm. Learn more & register.

Summer ‘24 Institute on Teaching Social Action: June 12-14, Virtual. Click here to apply.

Local Events:

Library Mini-Golf Fundraiser: Rudy Gelnett Memorial Library: 5/3 & 5/4. Learn more and purchase tickets here.

Selinsgrove Farmers’ Market Opening Day: 5/11, 9am-1pm.

Remake Learning Day in May at local schools, museums, libraries, after-school organizations, childcare centers, tech companies, and more allow youth, families, grandparents, caregivers, and educators to explore creative and fun ways of learning. Build a robot, make an art product, explore the outdoors, and learn to code, or 3D print! Remake Learning Days Northeastern PA

Spring Craft Show: Lewisburg Farmers Market: 5/11, 10am. Learn more here.

Sensory Friendly Family Night: Lewisburg Children’s Museum: 5/9, 4-7pm. Learn more here.

Milton Beer Fest: 6/8 2pm. Learn more here.