What is a Civic Engagement Project?

To promote positive social change in our community, the Civic Engagement Project encourages CLU clubs to engage in a variety of forms of service as a group. To help guide what a Civic Engagement Project can be, Civic Engagement & Leadership (CEL) uses the Pathways of Public Service & Civic Engagement, which describe a range of possibilities to engage in and advance the common good through six areas. This outlines the different forms that civic engagement and service can take on, including Community Engaged Learning & Research, Community Organizing & Activism, Direct Service, Philanthropy, Policy & Governance, and Social Entrepreneurship & Corporate Social Responsibility. For the purposes of the Clubs Civic Engagement Project Requirement, we are focusing on four areas of the Guided Pathways. Below briefly describes the four pathways and provides examples of different options for the club's civic engagement project. Please note, clubs are not limited to these examples. 

We encourage students to explore the CEL’s website to learn more about the Pathways of Public Service and Civic Engagement. CEL also offers civic engagement advising appointments to help students and clubs learn more about what pathways and civic engagement activities that best align with their interests. Please contact cel@callutheran.eduschedule a civic engagement advising appointment.

Examples of Civic Engagement Projects 

Community Organizing & Activism

Involving, educating, and mobilizing individual or collective action to influence or persuade others.

Examples:

• Bring awareness about a social justice issue that connects with the population and/or cause the club serves, such as planning weekly tabling for one month and raising awareness and engaging students in learning about immigration justice issues in the U.S.
• Partnering with a community health center in their legislative advocacy efforts in Sacramento to ensure that mental health services continue to be funded in our safety net clinics

Direct Service

Working to address the immediate needs of individuals or a community, often involving contact with the people or places being served.

Examples:

• Partner with Ventura County Big Brothers Big Sister to provide mentorship opportunities where CLU club members serve as one-on-one mentors to local high school students.
• Program a group beach clean up day and invite the CLU community to engage and raise awareness about marine pollution and how we can reduce garbage and plastic waste in the ocean.

Philanthropy

Donating or using private funds or charitable contributions from individuals or institutions to contribute to the public good. 

Examples:

• Program a Candy Gram fundraiser and donate funds to an organization of your choosing that connects with the population and/or cause your club serves.
• Partner with Toys for Tots to program a toy donation drive on campus.

Policy & Governance

Participating in political processes, policymaking, and public governance.

Examples:

• Program a lobbying campaign for students to call their local representatives/ ASCLUG on a cause that connects back the population and/or cause the club serves.
• Partner with ASCLUG to program a student town hall that is focused on a specific topic relating to the population and/or cause the club serves.