2019 Continuums of Service Conference

This interactive session will draw on the knowledge and experience of attendees, featured staff, student leaders and community partners connected to the USF McCarthy Center. Participants will discuss strategies for implementing programs to increase students’ participation in activities like voting and grassroots organizing. We will explore questions such as: What is your vision for student engagement in justice work on/off campus? How do you create space for student activism and launch formal programs? Who are your allies and partners and how will you overcome institutional resistance? What are some challenges and opportunities you face in achieving goals? To transition the discussion from vision to action, we will highlight two programs and share the mechanics of launching them, including challenges and opportunities inherent to the process. The case studies will include USF Votes, a voter engagement initiative, and the Community Empowerment Activist program, which connects students with grassroots advocacy organizations. This dialogical workshop is designed to be participatory--part story session, part power mapping. Attendees will acquire concrete examples on how to forge partnerships and build capacity to develop similar programs to strengthen our collective work to foster leadership and engagement for a more just, equitable, and sustainable future.