Civic Engagement Definition

Drexel’s Commitment to Civic Engagement Drexel University President John Fry coined the phrase “Drexel will be the most civically engaged university in the United States” during a speech that took place almost six years ago. Since then, the Drexel community and student body have worked diligently to help successfully achieve the main goal of this mission by giving back to the surrounding community in a variety of ways. Through this ongoing endeavor, many people have benefitted from the programs and initiatives established, whether it be for professional reasons or just a chance to meet and interact with members from Drexel to establish a strong relationship between the members of Drexel University and those who live in the surrounding area.
The six following locations and events demonstrate how Drexel has maintained its status as a civically engaged school and explains the impact each location has on the community. All of these events and partnerships help to strengthen the community as well as provide resources to individuals who are seeking assistance and rely on Drexel to help thrive in Philadelphia.
Drexel’s UConnect Initiative: Community Investment The Drexel UConnect Initiative is a program set up through the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement that works to provide local residents with a way to access basic services such as housing, job training, access to food, and many other opportunities. The program will help train members of the Drexel community to work with these individuals and set them up with various programs that can provide the aforementioned services. I chose this as one example of an example of how Drexel is civically engaged because I believe that this is one of the most pressing issues that faces the surrounding areas around Drexel due to its “Promise Zone” status. This means that the targeted areas receive aid from the government specifically used to help bring the community out of poverty. Through this UConnect program, Drexel has the opportunity to impact the lives of hundreds of individuals by helping them get back on their feet and turn their lives around; I think that this is a great initiative and would be interested in finding out more to get involved so that I could contribute to helping bring this area out of poverty.
Collaboration with PeaceTech Lab: Community Investment The PeaceTech Lab is a global program established by the United Institute of Peace that works to educate engineering students on how to solve humanitarian conflicts. Through the help of engineers, conflict experts, and scientists, the organization plans to train young engineers through online courses on how to positively impact areas such as Kenya, Afghanistan, Nepal, and others. Drexel was the first academic institution to help pilot this new program this past fall through a course called Peace Tech: Conflict Management for Engineers in an attempt to raise awareness for the issue and help bring in students to pursue a career in helping some of the most dangerous places in the world. I actually stumbled across the article regarding this organization by accident but was intrigued by their mission. I feel that this can be a sensational program that could work to help improve the standard of living for millions across the world through the work of Drexel students. I found it very interesting that Drexel was one of the pilots for the program and also thought that this program fulfills the mission that President Fry is looking to continually achieve as a civically engaged university.
Drexel’s Introduction to Civic Engagement Course: Policy/Neighborhood Investment
The Introduction to Civic Engagement is a course required by Drexel that must be taken by each student before graduation.
This course works to help students become engaged in the community and work to fulfill President Fry’s dream. This course pairs each student with an organization that is in the immediate area around Drexel, and the type of service varies from class to class. I felt that it was important to include this course as one of the main ways that Drexel is civically engaged because it helps teach students about the needs of the community and allows them to become a citizen of the surrounding area. I have personal experience with the Wright Recreational Center, one of the partners that works with Drexel. This is an after school program that allows for the students to interact with Drexel student, receive help with homework, and have some fun in the gym. This has been an eye-opening experience for me because it demonstrated the importance of getting involved in the community through the smiles and laughter during my short experience. The kids were ecstatic that Drexel kids would be helping them, showing how much a small gesture could really make on someone else’s
life.
DragonsTeach: Neighborhood Initiative DragonsTeach is a program established by Drexel that allows for students to go into middle schools throughout Philadelphia and help teach the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to children who may not necessarily receive this type of education normally due to budget restrictions.
This program allows the Drexel students to minor in education while providing a service to the community. I feel that DragonsTeach is a beneficial program that really intrigued me. I have listened to many speeches from representatives from DragonsTeach and each time I feel that this program is a great way to give back to the community. Based on stories that the representatives tell, the children are thrilled whenever the DragonsTeach program comes into the school because of the fun science experiments set up to help further their education. I have given serious thought to joining this program because teaching an engineering course was one profession that I could see myself doing, and by getting my education to do this I would be able to help strengthen the minds of young students and provide them with opportunities that they may not have had if DragonsTeach did not provide a strong program for the
children.
America Reads, America Counts Tutoring Program: Neighborhood Initiative The America Reads, America Counts is a program set up through the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement that mentor Drexel students and provides an opportunity for the students to give back to the community. This program sends Drexel students to mathematics and literacy orientated tutoring centers to help provide one-on-one and small group sessions for younger children who need guidance and assistance. This program has had a major impact on the surrounding community based on one quote from a host of the tutors. Dr. Joann Yaworski Usher of the Richard Allen Preparatory Charter School had a very positive outlook on the program: “The Drexel tutors work one-on-one with the students who have the lowest reading levels. The tutors are bright, personable, knowledgeable, energetic, and willing to help out in every way…” This high praise from a reputable source shows how much of an impact the program has had on the surrounding area. It seems as if the children are greatly benefitting from the resources provided and that they love when the Drexel students come. A common theme among all service sites that Drexel collaborates with is that the children really have a positive interaction with each student they meet and make the most of the experience.
Rebuilding Together Philadelphia: Neighborhood Investment Drexel has had a partnership with Rebuilding Together Philadelphia over the past couple of years to help with community projects. This organization is a non-profit organization that works to provided resources to low-income individuals who need assistance. Over one hundred members of the Drexel community have recently helped the Rebuilding Together Philadelphia organization by renovating ten houses in one day to ensure there are no structural damages or other imperfections in the homes of the people in the surrounding area of Mantua. By partnering with an organization that has helped thousands of people every year really shows Drexel’s commitment to being civically engaged and yearning to get involved in the community. I feel that this opportunity not only helps those who have their houses renovated but also all shows the importance to being a citizen to those who volunteered because of the sheer joy on the individual’s faces. This organization really intrigued me and I plan to learn more about what I could do in the future to get involved an help those around me.