Kansas:

Statewide events

New Student Politics Forum – National Teleconference
February 19
1:00-2:30 p.m. (CST)
KsCC is co-sponsoring 5 concurrent public dialogues in various regions across the state as part of the National Teleconference on The New Student Politics. Cloud County Community College, Fort Hays State University, Garden City Community College, Independence Community College, and the Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas are each sponsoring a local forum, dialogue or discussion with students and others about the politics of campus, the area, state or other public issues of general interest. All five events are free and open to the public.
For details see: www.ksu.edu/kscc/news

Statewide Voter Registration Drive and Contest
February 15th - March 20th
Eighteen participating campuses
Each of the eighteen campuses participating in the Student Civic Leadership Initiative will hold a week-long voter registration drive during the Month of Action. As part of a statewide challenge, results of the drive will be compared and recognition given to the most successful drives.

State Education Day
Feb. 23
In conjunction with the Kansas Board of Regents' Student Advisory Committee, students from across the state of Kansas will meet with legislators and media outlets regarding the state of higher education. Students will discuss the role of higher education in the state of Kansas, the Governor's budget, and its impacts on higher education.

Raise Your Voice at the Capitol!
March 25
Students from 18 colleges across Kansas will spend a day at the statehouse, meet with legislators and their staff – sharing the ideas and results of their RYV activities, host a sandwich luncheon, have a resolution/statement of student civic values introduced, and will seek a Governor’s proclamation acknowledging the importance of students raising their voice in a participatory democracy.


Fort Hays State University

Campus Survey
February 16th -20th
Raise Your Voice student volunteers will survey the campus community regarding student apathy/student civic engagement.

Student Focus Groups/Discussion
March 8th-12th
Following up on the results of the campus survey, Raise Your Voice student volunteers will hold focus groups/discussions with groups of students ranging from the extremely engaged to the completely unengaged. These discussions will culminate with a public campus dialogue at the close of Raise Your Voice – Month of Action.


Hutchinson Community College

Student Communication Proposal
February 5th
Students address communication policy with proposal to HCC administrative council.

Leadership Panel
February 16th


Independence Community College

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
February 28th
Phi Theta Kappa and the Multicultural Student Organization at Independence Community College will host “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,” an original work by Jon Sidoli, Theater Arts instructor. Guest artist and scholar, Tamiko Washington, of Los Angeles, will perform the piece. Following the monologue, there will be an open discussion about Race and Racism in America facilitated by Ms. Washington. Members of the community are invited to attend and participate in the open discussion, to be held at William Inge Theatre on the campus of Independence Community College. The event is free and open to the public.


Johnson County Community College

Special Olympics
February 27th -28th
Volunteers will assist with Special Olympics basketball and cheerleading events on Saturday, and bowling on Friday evening, at College Lanes.

Students Issues Forum
March 11th
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., CC107
Partners: Phi Theta Kappa, Student Senate, Psi Beta


Kansas State University

Cats in the Capitol
March
At this event, students from Kansas State University's Student Governing Association and Agriculture College will participate in a day of meeting, greeting, and lobbying state legislators. Students will hand out information on higher education, civic engagement, and voter issues for the November elections, as well as provide refreshments to all who attend. This event intends to demonstrate K-State students' dedication to the legislative process specifically relating to higher education.


Labette Community College

Voter Registration-Movie Night
February 17th
A few times a month LCC provides students $2.00 movies at the local theater. For students to get in on the 17th, they must register to vote or supply proof of voter registration.

Students of 1954
February 25th
In Parsons, Kansas, a large population of African-Americans were upset by the Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education decision, because their schools were better funded and offered a better education than the town’s white schools, causing turmoil within the town. Students from the class of 1954 will address the town’s history with educational integration.

Recycle Drive
February 28th
LCC is having a campus-wide recycling drive, with allocation rewards for the club/team bringing in the most pounds of recyclable products.

Bowl for Kids’ Sake
March 13th
Teams from LCC will raise money for the local Big Brothers and Big Sisters Chapter by participating in the Bowl-a-Thon.


University of Kansas

State Capitol Visit
February 16th
3:30pm – 5:00pm Topeka, KS
In conjunction with KU’s SLAB (Student Legislative Awareness Board), students will travel to the Capitol to encourage Legislators to increase support for Higher Education.

Guest Speaker: Michael Stoops
February 26th
8:00 pm Alderson Auditorium
This event will engage students in a civic forum where they will focus on contemporary problems relating to homelessness and the government’s efforts to address those issues. Partners: Alternative Breaks and Center for Community Outreach.

Super Tuesday Watch Party
March 2nd
Time and Location TBA
March 2nd marks the day the largest assignment of delegates to the National Democratic Convention to choose the Democratic Presidential Candidates. Students from campus political parties will be hosting an activity surrounding this event. Partner: SLAB (Student Legislative Awareness Board).

State Capitol Visit
March 3rd, 8th, and 17th
1:30pm – 5:00pm Topeka, KS
Students will travel to the Capitol to encourage Legislators to increase support for Higher Education. Partner: SLAB (Student Legislative Awareness Board).

Into the Streets Week
March 1st- 6th
Into the Streets is an annual week-long event in the spring that highlights volunteer activities in throughout the community, sponsored by KU’s Center for Community Outreach. Events follow:

Recycling Bin Distribution
March 1st -5th
Volunteers distribute recycling bins around campus and to local area businesses to increase awareness about pollution to our environment. Partners: EARTH (Environmental Action to Revitalize The Heartland), Center for Community Outreach.

Community Garden Project
March 1st – 2nd
4:00-5:00pm, New York Elementary
Volunteers work with youth participating in after-school programs at the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club to tend small organic gardens. Goals include learning about teamwork, horticulture, nutrition and environmental awareness. Partners: GROW, Center for Community Outreach.

Speaker: Judy Shepard
March 1st
8:00pm Lied Center
Lecture addressing the issues surrounding Hate Crimes. Partners: Center for Community Outreach and SUA (Student Union Activities).

Jubilee Café
March 2nd, March 5th
6:00-9:00am First United Methodist Church
Volunteers cook and serve breakfast for in-need community members in a restaurant-style environment. Partner: Center for Community Outreach.

Dine Out for Homelessness
March 2nd
5:00-9:00pm 23rd and Louisiana
Participants can eat at Pizza Hut on 23rd & Louisiana with portions of the proceeds going to Jubilee Café.

Hunger Banquet
March 2nd
6:30pm Ecumenical Christian Ministries (tentative)
Volunteers experience the inequality surrounding world hunger by being exposed to a variety of different food and dining options. Partners: CAAS (Concerned Active and Aware Students), Center for Community Outreach

Empty Bowls Project
March 3rd
11:00am – 1:00pm Stauffer-Flint Lawn
We encourage volunteers to paint and donate bowls from Sun Fire Ceramics, which we will then sell with soup or chili on campus. Proceeds from this fundraiser will go towards Jubilee Café. Partners: Jubilee Café, CREATE (Community Resources Engaging in Arts Through Education), Center for Community Outreach.

Read Out
March 3rd
2:00pm – 5:00pm Boys and Girls Club After-School Program Sites
Volunteers read to participants from MILK’s after school program. Donated books will be distributed to the participating children. Partners: MILK (Mentors In the Lives of Kids), STL (Students Tutoring for Literacy), and Lifeline, Center for Community Outreach.

Bowling Outing
March 3rd
6:00pm JayBowl, Kansas Union
This program facilitates activities and establishes friendships between KU students and individuals with developmental disabilities through a bowling outing in the Jaybowl. Partners: Natural Ties and Best Buddies, Center for Community Outreach.

Senior Prom
March 3rd
6:30pm Alumni Center
Volunteers build relationships with older members of the community by coming out for a night of dancing and good music with residents from the Brandenwoods Retirement Center. The dance will also feature the talented musical styles of the Center for Community Outreach’s Music Mentor program. Partners: HUG (Helping Unite Generations) and Music Mentors, Center for Community Outreach.

Kansas Art
March 4th
3:30 – 5:00pm Ballard Community Center (tentative)
Volunteers educate preschoolers about the beautiful agriculture in Kansas through an interactive project. They will assist the children in planting sunflowers in egg cartons, which will then be decorated and placed around Ballard Community Center. Parnters: EARTH (Environmental Action to Revitalize the Heartland), GROW and CREATE (Community Resources Engaging in Arts Through Education), Center for Community Outreach.

Sleepout for Homelessness
March 5th – 6th
8:00pm – 8:00am Burcham Park (tentative)
The aim of the Sleepout is to raise awareness of the homeless community in Lawrence and rally support for those individuals through firsthand testimonials and open forums. In addition to speakers from the homeless community, there will also be free food and live music. Sleepout participants are asked to secure pledges, which will benefit the Jubilee Café. Partners: Jubilee Café, Center for Community Outreach.

Alternative Weekend Break
March 5th-6th
Lord's Diner, Wichita, Kansas
[Applications Due: February 27th at 5 PM in Alternative Breaks Office; Orientation: Sunday, February 29th 6-8 PM]
Alternative Weekend Breaks sends groups of approximately seven KU students to locations near Lawrence for a weekend of service work. The overall goal is to provide KU students with a unique opportunity to volunteer and grow on a personal level. The Lord's Diner is a non-profit charity that provides an evening meal 365 days a year for any person who walks in the door. It is dedicated to improving the health of the community by ensuring that anyone in need receives daily nutrition in a dignified and caring environment. During this weekend break, we will be eating at the diner on Friday night and then helping clean the diner on Saturday.

Student Olympics
March 6th
11:00am – 3:00pm (tentative) Student Recreation Center
Volunteers compete in events like Twister and Jenga as well as an obstacle course. Teams representing living organizations and students groups will be entered and competing against each other. The proceeds will go towards providing free HIV testing at Watkins, the Student Health Center. Partners: Hawks for Health, Center for Community Outreach.