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Civic & Community Engagement Center (CCEC)/ American Democracy Project: Accomplishments
2011
- 04/05/2011 - "Protesting for Workers' Rights in Wisconsin and Beyond and Protesting for Democratic Reforms in Egypt and Beyond: Are There Parallels?" - The Cafe Demos was moderated by Prof. Christina Smith and there were presentations by Prof. Peter Scheckner and Prof. Sabrin. Each provided their own insight on the structure of governments today, and the subsequent effects on the economy and political activities.
- 02/22/2011 - "Current Uprisings in the Middle East: Focus on Egypt" - This program was moderated by Rick Brown. Dr. Hassan Nejad, Dean of the AIS, presented his views and discussed the current situation arising in the Middle East. He discussed why the uprisings were happening, and the ground-breaking headway Egypt had made and how it acts as an example to other countries in the Middle East.
Past Accomplishments
2010
- 11/16/2010 - "Civic Engagement - Student Perspectives" - This program, moderated by Dr. Ellen Kaiden, explores how students who are currently enrolled in college are still able to be civically engaged in their communities. Four of Ramapo College of New Jersey's students, Sarah Cipolli, Brianna D'Amato, Laura Hahn, and Irene Zampetoulas, talked about their various experiences in civic engagement and urged students to become more active.
- 09/25/2010 - "Naturalization Ceremony" - Held on Constitution Day, Ramapo College was able to hold a ceremony to allow immigrants to become naturalized citizens of the United States of America.
- 4/30/10 - Learning to End Hunger Campaign - This program explored how Ramapo can work more collaboratively and effectively on anti-hunger and sustainable food initiatives.
- 4/29/10 - Webinar "Preparing for Citizenship or a Career - A False Choice" - Harry Boyte moderated on exploring the connections between developing career and civic skills.
- 4/8/10 - "Orphans, Hunger, and Poupelard Street: Photographs of Haiti after the January 12th Earthquake" - a presentation by award-winning New York Times staff photographer, Ozier Muhammad. ADP co-sponsored in collaboration with lead sponsor, Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc., the Diversity Action Committee (DAC) and the Haiti Relief Committee.
- 2/22/10 - Cafe Demos: Engaged Leadership in Challenging Times - Mr. A.J. Sabath, Chair, Ramapo College Board of Trustees, presented and Dr. Hassan Nejad, Dean, School of American and International Studies, moderated. Students and other attendees engaged in lively conversation on the topic following Mr. Sabath's presentation.
2009
- 9/25/2009 - "Naturalization Ceremony" - Held on Constitution Day, Ramapo College was able to hold a ceremony to allow immigrants to become naturalized citizens of the United States of America.
2008
- 5/1/08 - Civic Engagement and Career Development -
Held on various dates in April and May- Service-Learning and Cooperative Education students attended joint orientation and reflection sessions to outline and reflect upon intentional civic and career development learning goals and outcomes. Students identified what their role in each program was in solving public problems and the civic skills they developed or acquired in the process. - 4/30/08 - Cafe Demos - "The Economy and the Job Market"
Martin Kohli, Regional Economist from the US Department of Labor and Professor Alex Olbrecht from the Anisfield School of Business joined the campus discussion at the second Cafe Demos at Ramapo College. Over fifty students, faculty, staff and administrators participated in this lively conversation. - 4/8/08 - SGA Elections - Getting the feel for it.
ADP secured a real voting machine from the Bergen County Board of Elections office to be used for demonstration purposes during the Student Government Elections. Virgin Voters had the opportunity to "vote" for the right SGA candidate on the pre-programmed voting machine. This eradicated the initial fear many first time voters have when going to the polls for the first time. - 3/25/08 - Cafe Demos - "Delegates, Superdelegates: Does Your Vote Count?"
State Senator Loretta Weinberg joined the campus discussion at the first Cafe Demos at Ramapo College. Professors Chuck Carreras and Michael Unger provided some historical and personal information about the role of delegates and superdelegates in our democracy. A lively conversation ensued. - 3/11/08 -Karen Booth and Donna Kauder developed and co-presented a workshop, “An Interdisciplinary Commitment to Civic Engagement: Joining Cooperative Education/Internship and Service-Learning Orientation and Reflection Sessions” at the Cooperative Education and Internship Association national conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
- 3/10/08 - Amy Bravo developed and co-presented a workshop, “Can We Develop Employee Citizens? Identifying Relationships between Co-op/Internship Programs and the Public Good” with Victoria Nauta of Seton Hall University and Laszlo Pokorny of Rutgers University at the Cooperative Education and Internship Association national conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
- 2/6/08 - Diane Wilson, author of An Unreasonable Woman presented her experience of becoming an "accidental citizen" to an audience of over one hundred guests.
2007
- 9/4/07- Platinum Series Event - Innovators in Social Responsibility Awards Gala
Supported by Americans for Informed Democracy
Pace University - 6:30 PM - 9/16, 9/17, 9/18, 9/19 - Sierra Leone Refugee Allstars
One of the most celebrated documentaries of the past year, SIERRA LEONE'S REFUGEE ALLSTARS tells the remarkable story of an inspiring group of musicians who form a band while living in a West African refugee camp. Set against the backdrop of a brutal civil war, the film details the group's heroic stories of survival and their daily struggle to keep hope and music alive. SIERRA LEONE’S REFUGEE ALL STARS is a unique tribute to the transcendent power of music and a triumphant celebration of the human spirit. http://www.refugeeallstars.org/ (see disclaimer below)
Facilitated discussions and refreshments followed both screenings.
Certificate of Attendance awarded to those who stayed and participated for the whole event. - 9/17 - CONSTITUTION DAY - Timely Constitutional Conversations
An enriching and important Ramapo faculty led information session and discussion on the recent education-related U.S. Supreme Court decisions:
1. Morse v. Frederick (aka Bong Hits 4 Jesus) and
2. Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District 1 & Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education (decision limiting race in assigning students to schools often mentioned in connection with Brown v Board of Ed.).
Presenters: Professors Alex Urbial and Gerry Brennan - 9/17 - 9/28/2007 - Voter Registration Drive - Over 300 students registered to vote or completed absentee ballot applications.
- 10/4/07 - Navajo Day - A program of music and culture from Navajo guests visiting from Monument Valley, Utah.
- 10/24/07 - Platinum Series Event - A Celebration of the Short Story - Symphony Space
Broadway and 95th Street, NYC, NY - 11/30/07 - GREEN MEETS GREEN: Transitioning from "We can't afford to be green" to "We can't afford NOT to be green." - This event integrated various themes of our tumultuous time---global climate change, the shift to renewable energy, peak oil, and the mainstreaming of green building and other elements of a sustainable society. With all the attention captured by the climate crisis, there has not been a clear discussion about what needs to be done to address it. The public, aroused over the climate crisis, is being misled into thinking that token technical changes will solve the problem (what I call "the compact florescent fallacy") rather than being prepared for the degree of social transformation required. Moreover, some climate and energy solutions proposed are not sustainable. The conference offers a coherent framework for sorting out these contradictions and advancing the transition toward a sustainable state and region, and by extension, nation and world.
- 3/7 - Pillar Talk - Co-sponsored and facilitated by the Office of the Provost a campus conversation about the relationship between the College’s pillars and the concepts and practices of civic engagement. Faculty and administrative members of the Pillar taskforces discussed their progress in the reexamination of the College’s mission. Engaged in this discussion were faculty, staff, students and administration.
- 4/6 - “So, What AM I Doing Here?” ADP Essay Contest - Students were invited to consider their purpose in college by answering one of two predefined questions related to civic engagement. At the end of the academic semester three winners and two honorable mentions were selected by a volunteer committee of faculty, staff and students. The first place winner, Steve Pardalis, won a cash prize and publication in the ADP national newsletter and will have his essay published on the NY Times Knowledge Network.
"So, What AM I Doing Here?" Essay Contest
Read the winning essay written by Steven Pardalis (PDF) - May - Civic Engagement and Career Development - Service-Learning and Cooperative Education students attended joint orientation and reflection sessions to outline and reflect upon intentional civic and career development learning goals and outcomes.
- 6/7 - ADP Annual Conference in Philadelphia - Several Ramapo College representatives attended the annual conference held in Philadelphia year and connected with ADP members of other NJ colleges and universities to discuss collaborating on intercollegiate events, programs and initiatives.
2006
- 9/11 - Lifelong Service Pledge - To commemorate 5th anniversary of September 11 and building community, students signed a pledge to lifelong service.
- 9/11 - Memorial Walk - SGA cosponsored a campus memorial walk in honor of those we lost on September 11, 2001 and the sense of unity we developed to rebuild and repair communities afterward.
- 9/18 - Constitution Day Ben Franklin and the US Constitution - Professor Mike Edelstein became Ben Franklin to discuss the US Constitution where he distributed pocket constitutions.
- 9/18- Constitution Day Fair - 20 On and Off campus clubs and organizations provided RCNJ students information on public policy, grassroots organizing, voting, volunteering and newspaper readership.
- 9/18- Democracy Matters - Matt Edge from this non-partisan organization for campaign reform presented to several campus groups, classes and offices about service and internship opportunities to promote fair campaign practices.
- 9/18 - 9/22 - Voter Registration Drive - NJ and NY Voter Registration forms and Absentee Ballot applications were provided at over 20 campus locations and online. Election information was provided, including candidate and party information.
- 9/20 - Voter Registration Dorm Storm - The Community Service Center coordinated this voter registration dorm storm and secured over 50 new registration applicants.
- 9/21- Constitutional Law presentation - The Constitution at Work: Rutgers Professor and Civil Rights Attorney Penny Venetis discussed civil and human rights cases she and law students brought before various courts including the Supreme Court. The Constitutional Litigation Clinic is the oldest continuous law school public interest law firm in the country in its 36th year.
- 10/5 - Navajo Day - ADP cosponsored this event where a Navajo tribe presented its culture and customs. Presenters shared tribal traditions of community respect and development.
- 10/8 - "Law and Order" and the Constitution on TV - ADP and Platinum Series hosted a trip to the Philadelphia National Constitution Center where two writers from the “Law and Order” franchise of crime shows explored how crime writers deal with Constitutional issues. The program included excerpts of the shows which implicate constitutional issues.
- 11/1 - Conversation on Civic Engagement - first in a series - Professor Suzanne Samuels from SSHS led a campus discussion on civic engagement. We answered the following questions: What is civic engagement? Do we as individuals need to be civically engaged? Do we as a higher education institution need to be civically engaged? Are we? What are the hallmarks of sound civic engagement? Participants included faculty, staff, students and administration.
- 11/1 - Does Voting Matter? - Participated in this Ethics Society sponsored roundtable discussion.
- 11/7 - Election Watch - Cosponsored Ramapo's Political Forum as they gathered to watch election results, learn about the election process and discuss what results would mean.
- 11/20- We the Young People - Student designed and facilitated workshop developed to address lack of political awareness and engagement on campus. Students identified 5 problems faced on campus, divided into five separate teams and came up with a group solution to each problem.
- 12/06 - Civic Engagement and Career Development - Held on various dates in September and December - Service-Learning and Cooperative Education students attended joint orientation and reflection sessions to outline and reflect upon intentional civic and career development learning goals and outcomes. Students identified what their role in each program was in solving public problems and the civic skills they developed or acquired in the process.
- 12/21 - Five Ways to Change the World FYS - This day concluded this Fall 2006 First Year Seminar which was designed to engage first year students in finding solutions to public problems. 25 students were enrolled in this course and 22 of these students completed over 330 hours of service to the local and campus communities. In addition, the class participated in many of the ADP sponsored initiatives over the course of the semester.
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