Civic Engagement Blog and Newsletter

The ENGAGE blog (engage.wesleyan.edu) is the home of civic engagement activity at Wesleyan University. On the blog, you can subscribe to the weekly ENGAGE newsletter, which contains information about upcoming events, funding, internships and volunteer opportunities, and other content related to civic engagement and social entrepreneurship. You can also follow Engage on Facebook (Engage at the Allbritton Center) and on Twitter (@Wes_engage).

 

Allbritton Events!!!: “Legal Structures/Social Enterprise,” “Talking About Race,” “Solidarity Organizing on Campus,” “Civic Engagement Certificate Info” — Dec. 2-5

Ownership Matters: Legal Structures for Social Enterprise

On Wednesday, December 2nd, you will have the opportunity to hear from Jim Steiker ’81 in Usdan 108 from 4-5pm. Jim Steiker ’81 will speak about his experience in the financial and legal sector, specifically the options for legal structure and ownership of social ventures. Jim was a legal representative for Ben Cohen in the sale of Ben & Jerry’s where Ben tried to take the company private in a mission based transaction rather than sell to Unilever

​Talking about Race with Jelani Cobb 

On Wednesday, December 2nd at 7, we are welcoming Jelani Cobb, PhD, Director of the Africana Studies Institute at UConn and Staff Writer of the New Yorker to speak in CFA Hall. His book, the Substance of Hope: Barack Obama and the Paradox of Progress, was published in 2010 through Bloomsbury Publishing.  His post recent published pieces include:

What Divides Us?: An Interview with Yale College Dean Jonathan Holloway 11/15/15

Race and the Free-Speech Diversion 11/05/15

Ben Carson’s Exonerating Racism 9/22/15

Allbritton Talks: Effective Solidarity Organizing on Campus

When student, frontline communities, and organizers call for solidarity actions, how can we respond most effectively? What tactics do students have at their disposal to raise awareness, change policies, communicate support, or raise funds? How can work done here at Wesleyan affect change elsewhere? How is solidarity organizing different? We welcome all viewpoints- no background knowledge required.

Thursday, December 3rd, 12-1pm.    Allbritton 311, lunch provided.

Civic Engagement Certificate Information Session

Students in the CEC program participate in a wide variety of formal and informal civic activities in Middletown and around the world. These include volunteer work, practica, activism, and service-learning courses. The certificate is designed for students interested in reflecting upon these activities and integrating their civic and academic efforts.

Friday, December 4th, 12-1pm

Grants and Workshop Opportunities at the Patricelli Center and elsewhere: Deadlines Soon!!

Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship Seed Grant Competition – application deadline January 26 – http://www.wesleyan.edu/patricelli/grants/seedgrantinfo.html

Three $5,000 grants to fund the launch or early stage growth of a Wesleyan-connected social enterprise, project, program, or venture.   

Davis Projects for Peace – application deadline January 26 –http://www.wesleyan.edu/ocs/peace/index.html

thumbnailCADLW1ZF$10,000 grants for grassroots summer projects anywhere in the world which promote peace and address the root causes of conflict among parties.  A wide variety of project types will qualify, including many which do not directly focus on conflict resolution or promotion of peace. 

Digital Wesleyan Startup 101 Workshop Series – apply by February 1 –http://engageduniversity.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2014/01/13/digital-wesleyan-startup-101-free-workshop-series-saturdays-starting-215-apply-now/

A free six-session course held on campus Saturdays 10 a.m.  to 1 p.m. starting February 15. The curriculum includes introductions to computer science and application design, alumni in the startup industry, and startup business basics. Participants will be considered for ten Digital Wesleyan Internships in New York and San Francisco during summer 2014. 

If students have any questions about any of these opportunities, they should feel free to contact Makaela Kingsley (mjkingsley@wesleyan.edu)