Raise Your Voice in your state

Upper Midwest Campus Compact Coalition (UMCCC) Campaign Activities

MINNESOTA, IOWA, WISCONSIN

2004-2005:

2003-2004:

The Upper Midwest Campus Compact Coalition (UMCCC), comprised of Campus Compacts in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa, is already engaged in planning for an exciting year of collaborative activities supporting the Raise Your Voice campaign. There are many ways for students and institutions in the UMCCC region to benefit from Raise Your Voice and to contribute to the regional and national movement. Below is a summary of the key collaborative and individual state efforts in 2003-04:

40 Student Fellows
UMCCC has chosen 40 Student Fellows to provide an anchor for Raise Your Voice efforts in the region. Student Fellows in all three states are a diverse and dynamic group, representing all types of institutions. Each Fellow is required to plan at least one civic engagement activity during the Month of Action (such as a campus dialogue, issue forum, voter registration event, etc.) and is strongly encouraged to participate in numerous other Raise Your Voice opportunities throughout the year (e.g., campus mapping, serving as a mini-grant reviewer, drafting a public statement, etc.). The first activity of the Fellows is to attend a four day Student Civic Leadership Institute in early September 2003 (see below). State Compacts will provide on-going support and ideas to the Student Fellows and the professional staff contacts at their institutions throughout the year. The Student Fellows are catalysts for their own civic engagement passions, as well as the passions of others on their campuses. They also serve as important ambassadors, allies, and challengers of the state Compact offices.

Student Civic Leadership Institute
On September 11-14, 2003, UMCCC will convene its Student Fellows for the first annual Student Civic Leadership Institute (SCLI), a four-day institute designed to prepare students for effective civic leadership. The SCLI will build the capacity of students to be agents of civic change by focusing on topics such as dismantling systems of oppression, fostering change in postsecondary environments, the history of social movements, organizing strategic partnerships, and communicating for change. The SCLI will culminate with an Open Space Technology session, wherein students will be given opportunities to discuss and develop individual or collective plans for civic action, including Month of Action plans. The Institute also invites key professional staff from Fellows' home institutions to join the Institute for its final day for joint planning. A second SCLI will take place in September 2004, with third and fourth Institutes in 2005 and 2006.

Mini-grants for Student and Institutional Efforts
Funding from the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Corporation for National and Community Service will help support student and institutional civic engagement efforts across the entire UMCCC region. We expect all efforts to build the long-term strength of student civic engagement efforts, and therefore will evaluate all applicants on the basis of potential for sustainability and connections to other, long-term efforts. Mini-grants ranging from $250 - $3,000 will support student-led civic engagement activities in the following areas:

• Civic Engagement Grants (up to $500 -- must include student leaders in the planning) for any appropriate civic engagement activity or event. Examples of efforts by students and institutions could include organizing a civic dialogue, voter registration drive, or completing a campus map of civic engagement.
• Grants for the Month of Action (up to $500), targeted at previously uninvolved students and institutions (pending approval). Examples could include Month of Action all-campus forums, launching and recruitment for future civic engagement efforts, or presentation of a public issue statement.
• Multi-institutional grants (up to $2,000) for activities at more than one institution during the Month of Action (pending approval). Examples could include statewide, regional, or multi-state forums, visits to legislators, or activities that engage students in 2004 campaigns.
• "Citizen Scholar" grants (up to $3,000) for undergraduate and graduate students and their campus and community partners to support more intensive, innovative, and sustainable initiatives. Examples include developing a pre-service training program, conducting community-based research, or serving as a liaison between faculty and community organizations.

Iowa Follow-Up Meeting
After Iowa students and at least one IACC staff leader participate in the September Student Civic Leadership Institute, Iowa will hold a follow-up meeting with additional students and staff/faculty to share reflections and information from the Institute and finalize plans for the Raise Your Voice campaign in Iowa. This event is scheduled for mid-October.

Wisconsin’s First PK-16 Service-Learning Conference
WiCC is co-sponsoring Wisconsin’s first PK-16 Service-Learning and Citizenship Conference on September 18, 2003. College students are being recruited to participate in the event, and several students will also serve on a panel to be convened during one of the conference’s major sessions. These students will be given the opportunity to describe their perceptions of civic engagement, service-learning, and citizenship to educators and other conference attendees.

From the Horse’s Mouth: Johnson Foundation Gathering
The Johnson Foundation and Wisconsin Campus Compact are collaborating on a unique opportunity for Wisconsin college students. On November 20, 35 students from around the state will be selected to be part of an audience for a panel discussion entitled, “From the Horse’s Mouth.” This discussion will feature two current and one former member of Congress. Tammy Baldwin (D) and Paul Ryan (R), from the Wisconsin delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives, and J.C. Watts, former Republican representative from Oklahoma, will speak about their understanding of politics as public service and their ability to combine partisanship with civility and compromise. The event will take place at the Wingspread Conference Center in Racine, Wisconsin. The moderator will be E.J. Dionne, columnist for the Washington Post and Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. Wisconsin Public Television will televise the event. Students chosen to participate (based on a one-page essay) will be those who typically have rejected politics as a way of addressing their concerns, and will likely include WiCC Student Fellows.

MNCC's Ten-Year Anniversary Celebration
Minnesota Campus Compact has scheduled its 10-year anniversary celebration event for February 21, 2004, during the Month of Action. The event will feature a visit by Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter to present the first Minnesota Carter Partnership Award for Campus-Community Collaboration. All member presidents and Student Fellows are expected at this event, along with current and former MNCC staff, board members, corporate and foundation leaders, and special invited guests. Student Fellows will play an important role as student leader representatives at the event. The honorary chair of the event is Walter Mondale. Several other prominent Minnesota politicians are involved as well, including former governor Arne Carlson.

Development of a Regional Listserve
UMCCC will create a listserve to support collective problem-solving and the exchange of ideas, information, and resources among students in the region.

Recruitment for 2004-05 Fellows
In the spring of 2004, recruitment will begin to sustain the Student Fellows program into the next year. Students will be recruited from institutions throughout the region.

See 2004 Month of Action events in Minnesota.

2002-2003:

The 2002-3 Minnesota Campus Compact Student Fellows:
• Katie Sue Batten, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
• Mohammed Behlim, Metropolitan State University
• Wendy Terrell Firven, Minnesota State University, Mankato
• Lindsey Fritsch, U of MN, Twin Cities
• Heidi Marie Holmes, St. Mary's University
• Michael King, U of MN, Twin Cities
• Jason Lamote, University of St. Thomas
• Amanda Larson, College of St. Catherine
• Nary Lee, Century College
• Colleen Loney-Adams, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
• Kelly Reich, Carleton College
• Kari Rudd, Hamline University
• Alicia Smith, Hamline University
• Maggie Sventek, U of MN, Twin Cities
• Anthony Tunstall, Metropolitan State University
• May Nhia Vu, Hamline University
• Sarah Wanless, Macalester College
• Kristin White, St. Olaf College
• Amanda J. Willger, U of MN, Crookston

The Minnesota Campus Compact Student Fellows are a diverse group of undergraduate and graduate students representing 12 colleges and universities and committed to a wide range of civic interests. They have already awarded civic engagement mini-grants to student groups across the state. They are in the process of planning activities for Raise Your Voice: A Week of Student Action including the Minnesota Campus Compact Annual Meeting of Presidents. In the coming semester, the Fellows will be presenting at the National Youth Leadership Council Conference, hosting civic dialogues, and creating change on their campuses and communities.

The Minnesota Campus Compact Student Fellows awarded the following civic engagement minigrants to student groups across the state:

• Augsburg College, Coalition for Student Activism and MPIRG: "One Day in May" with civic dialogues and forums on GLBT issues, racism, sustainable environment, and perspectives on peace.
• Fergus Falls Community College, Phi Theta Kappa and CACTUS (Cultural Activities Can Touch US): Mixed Blood Theatre production highlighting the life of Paul Robeson followed by a civic dialogue exploring the meaning of citizenship.
• Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, Human Services Club: Activities for "Sexual Abuse and Physical Violence Week"
• Gustavus Adolphus College, Action Supporting all People: Political advocacy (connecting students to their senators), peace coffee, peace efforts, and film series.
• Hamline University, PRIDE Black Student Alliance: Pan-Afrikan Student Leadership Conference
• Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Phi Theta Kappa: Civic Dialogue and speaker for the PTK regional conference
• Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Somali Student Association and Muslim Student Association: Cultural fashion show, sharing of food, civic dialogue about campus climate
• St. Olaf College, Volunteer Network and Social Work Club: Civic Engagement Teach-in, Globalization and Social Responsibility Conference, and World Wide Service Fair
• University of MN - Crookston, VolunTEAM Club: Community dialogues, Winter Wonderland festivities
• University of MN - Twin Cities, Al-Madinah Cultural Center: Ramadan Iftars, Fast-a-thon, and Civic Dialogues

See 2003 Week of Action Events in Minnesota.

Events

February 14-15, 2003
Peace Prize Forum, "Striving for Peace: A World Without Borders," Concordia College, Moorhead, MN

February 18, 2003
Students lobby at the MN State Capitol with the MN Coalition for the Homeless, St. Paul, MN
"Teach-in on Civic Engagement", St. Olaf College Political Awareness Committee (PAC) Dinner, Northfield, MN

February 20, 2003
Minnesota Campus Compact Annual Meeting of Presidents with featured presentation by the Minnesota Campus Compact Student Fellows

February 21, 2003
Dialogue on Civic Engagement, Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Minneapolis, MN
Civic Dialogue, Hamline University, St. Paul, MN

February 21-22, 2003
Globalization and Social Responsibility Conference, Buntrock Commons, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN

February 25, 2003
World Wide Service Fair, Buntrock Commons, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN

February 26-March 1, 2003
Pan African Student Leadership Conference, Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN

March 8, 2003
Minnesota Campus Compact Student Fellows Meeting

April 23-26, 2003
National Youth Leadership Council Conference, Minneapolis, MN

June 26-29, 2003
Educators for Community Engagement National Gathering, University of MN, Twin Cities

Press:

• The University Register (U. of Minnesota, Moris), February 13, 2003: Letter to the Editor: "Raise Your Voice: Student-led civic dialogues"

• African American and African Studies at Univ. of Minnesota, Feb, 2003: Calendar of Events

• Minnesota Women's Political Caucus E-lert, December 2002: Civic Dialogues and Engagement Activities to be held Feb16-22...

• Metropolitan State University Catalyst, Dec. 16, 2002: Campus Compact Student Fellows selected 

For more information, contact:

JoAnn Campbell
Senior Program Director
Minnesota Campus Compact
2356 University Ave. W. Suite 280
St. Paul, MN 55114
Phone: 651-603-5088
Fax: 651-603-5093
joanncampbell@mncampuscompact.org