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Are you passionate about community service? Interested in learning more about the social issues such as poverty, hunger, and education that impact local communities? Then EMPOWER is for you!

EMPOWER is a nine week discussion series open to all students that wish to explore, through discussion and service, how social justice issues impact local communities. EMPOWER consists of weekly one hour meetings that address specific social justice issues through facilitated discussion, optional readings, and service. Service Guides help support the Community Partnerships Coordinator in facilitating discussions as well as present information about community agencies that relate to the discussion. At the end of each meeting, students are able to sign up for service opportunities that are focused on addressing that week’s social justice issue.

The schedule below provides the specific topic of discussion for each week, along with optional readings that introduce and address the topic before attending meetings. All students can attend meetings as they choose, and can begin attending meetings at any time without commitment. In addition to discussing specific social justice issues, EMPOWER aims to create a deeper understanding of service and promote meaningful reflections of service experiences throughout the semester.

Meeting time: Wednesdays 7:00–8:00pm in the Social Action Center at the Office of Community Engagement & Service

(Located in the Hanna House between the CAB and Wells Hall on Spring St)

February 16 – Defining Service: Helping, Fixing, Serving

February 23 – Coalition for the Homeless: GCCH, FRC, Drop Inn Center

March 2 – Fighting Educational Inequality: LWM, BTW, Peaslee

March 16 – Campaign against Hunger: Serve City, OCCP, Freestore Foodbank

March 23 – Promoting Animal Welfare: Animal Adoption Foundation

March 30 – Managing Gentrification: Over the Rhine Community Housing

April 6 – Serving Older Adults: The Knolls of Oxford, Oxford Senior Citizens

April 13 – Preserving our Environment: Three Valley Conservation Trust, Hueston Woods Nature Center

April 20 – Educating Students with Disabilities: Abilities First, Bridge Riding