Student leaders plan first Week of Engagement

10 Oct 2012

Analise Adams of Blacksburg, Va., a senior majoring in psychology and human development, works with student leaders to coordinate Week of Engagement projects.

The Week of Engagement, a new project from VT Engage: The Community Learning Collaborative will ask students, “What is livability in the New River Valley?”

For the week of Oct. 22 to 26, student leaders will be coordinating innovative programs that will encourage participants to think critically about poverty and social change in our community. Tim Duffy of Andover, Mass., a junior majoring in finance in the Pamplin College of Business, Alasia Washington of Virginia Beach, Va., a sophomore majoring in sociology in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, and other student leaders, have been working with teams to create programs that will involve simulations to familiarize students with the challenges of rural poverty. The goal of the project is for participants to learn, be reflective, and take action.

Events will take place throughout the week giving students the opportunity to take part in service projects or educationally focused events. The timeline will be posted on the VT Engage website one week prior to the Week of Engagement. See below for a sneak peak of projects and opportunities:

Stop by the Week of Engagement booth in Squires Student Center Monday, Oct. 22, through Friday, Oct. 26, from 9 a.m. to noon and learn about issues affecting the New River Valley and participate in an interactive computer program to understand the challenges of living on the brink of homelessness.
Take a tour of Blacksburg on bike to learn first hand about the challenges of getting through a day without a vehicle for transportation.
Participate in VT Engage’s flash service project, "Get on the Bus" to Feeding America of Southwest Virginia to help pack food for local food pantries.