#CLDE16 in Review

More than 500 people representing 156 colleges and universities and 44 organizations participated in CLDE 2016 in Indianapolis, Ind. from June 1-4.

Student Engagement at #CLDE16

The CLDE 2016 meeting will kick off, leading to three days of meaningful conversations, networking opportunities, and other engaging and empowering events. We, the student interns, are excited to welcome all of you to Indianapolis and start talking about civic and democratic engagement. To help your conference experience run smoother, we have put together a list of events throughout the conference that are particularly relevant and meaningful for students.

• Student Symposium Pre-Conference: By Students, about Students, for Students- this pre-conference seminar will include table discussions on a wide range of topics including students’ role at the CLDE meeting, fostering community partnerships, and increasing civic participation off campus. Registration is required, but the seminar is free!
• Organizing Breakfasts: Whether your campus is a member of ADP, TDC, or NASPA, there will be a breakfast session for you. During these sessions you can learn more about the work that ADP/TDC/NASPA has completed in the past few years and their goals and vision for the future. Be sure to join one of these conversations on the morning of June 2nd.

 

• CLDE Meeting Orientation: This orientation session will provide an introduction to the purpose of the annual CLDE meeting and the collective goals of ADP, NASPA, and TDC. This session is especially helpful for first-time attendees, as you will learn how to better navigate the conference.

 

• Opening Plenary: The first plenary session of the 2016 CLDE conference will be a twist on the traditional TED talks. Featuring three speakers, the CLDE CivEd talks will dive into the importance of civic engagement while offering perspectives on what a civically engaged and minded community looks like.

 

• Campus and Friends Showcase / Poster Session: The ‘Campus and Friends Showcase / Poster Sessions’ are not only a time to learn about projects across the nation, but also allows you to network with conference participants. There will be a number of exciting projects being showcased, and presenters will be around to answer questions and engage in dialogue. This is also a great opportunity for students to meetup and connect before the conference begins!

 

• Roadtrip National Film Screening: This year, CLDE will be showing a documentary following three young people’s experiences with homelessness. This documentary will not only be an interesting movie, but will also spark interesting conversation afterwards.

 

• Breakfast, Roundtable, and General Sessions: Besides the main events, there will be other small sessions in which you can learn about other universities and their ideas and projects regarding civic engagement, as well as engage in discussions on future options and plans. You can find below a list of a few of the interesting sessions we think are relevant to students!

 

1. “Can You Survive Poverty?”: The NDSU Poverty Simulation Programs Empowering Student Leaders through Campus & Community Relationships
2. Ask Big Questions: A Method for Reflection in Civic Engagement
3. Civic Engagement Leadership & Community Partners: Assessing difference between Leaders and the Community
4. King Day of… Learning?
5. Political Socialization and Campus Civil Society: Student Groups’ Essential Role in Civic and Political Engagement
6. Students Enhancing Democracy

• Friday Morning Plenary: Friday morning plenary session will be another interesting discussion which will focus on the conflict between religious freedom and LGBTQ rights. In the past few months, LGBTQ rights have been featured in numerous legal and policy debates across the country. This session will focus on how this conflict has played a role in Indiana, and will further discuss how students became engaged in this debate in Indiana.

• Democracy Plaza Tour: This new event to the CLDE meetings, the Democracy Plaza, is a location on IUPUI where campus community members can write, listen, and engage in conversations about political issues or ideas. This year, CLDE members will have the opportunity to walk around the Democracy Plaza and engage with existing questions, topics, and ideas, as well as contribute some of their own.

 

• Paws Pantry Donations: Food insecurity is a prevalent issue regardless of the college or community that we live in. To address this issue at #CLDE16 we’re proud to partner with IUPUI’s campus food pantry – Paw’s Pantry – by hosting a food drive throughout the meeting. You can bring non-perishable food and monetary donations to the registration desk for donation.
• Closing Plenary: The closing plenary will feature information from the Institute for Democracy and Higher Education’s (IDHE), a new research center at the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service at Tufts University (Mass.). Its signature initiative, the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) which provides colleges and universities with data on their students’ registration and voting rates. With over 800 colleges and universities nationally in the study – including 214 ADP/TDC/NASPA Lead campuses – and a database of 7.5 million students, NSLVE researchers have completed an analysis of voting based on a broad range of institutional and individual characteristics.

• Student Reflection Session: Following the Democracy Plaza Tour, Join the student interns for a quick reflection session. During this time, the student interns will collect both written and verbal feedback regarding the conference: issues/challenges you encountered, positive feedback, areas of improvement, and any other general comments. Afterwards, we will try to do a fun student outing/meetup!

• Informal Student Meetups: Throughout the conference attendees will be given opportunity to meet with other students for lunch, dinner, or a walk around the city. On Thursday, during our lunch hour, the interns will be leading a conversation by a Mexican War statue on understanding and combating microaggressions. To learn more about these opportunities, download the app and keep checking for student updates!

• #CLDE16 Mentorship Program: We recognize the fact that the Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement (CLDE) meetings have been known to attract some of the best thinkers and doers in civic engagement in higher education around, we’ve challenged our attendees to think globally and act locally on our belief in collective wisdom. As such we invite you to join others who are taking part in this program to meet in the Denver Room at the start of the 2016 CLDE Meeting Opening Reception on Thursday, June 2 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Denver Room.  

There’s a lot going on at this conference, and there are sure to be many meaningful conversations and ideas. For more information on the program, check out the link below. Also, download the NASPA meeting app for updates and announcements throughout the conference or check out our student Facebook page.

Program Link: http://www.aascu.org/meetings/clde16/program.pdf
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/497573360435706/

See you soon,

Angelo Kapp |  angelokapp@delta.edu | Twitter: @AngeloKapp
Maryam Sarhan | sarhanm@go.stockton.edu | Twitter: @MaryamSarhan1
Manisha Vepa | mvepa1@umbc.edu | Twitter: @manisha_vepa
Monica Bustinza | mab334@miami.edu | Twitter: @monicabustinza

#CLDE16: Thank you to our Sponsors!

Thank You to our #CLDE16 Meeting Sponsors and Exhibitors!

As part of your #CLDE16 experience be sure to connect with our meeting sponsors and exhibitors in the Marriott Ballroom Foyer during the hours of registration.  You can also, connect with them during 2016 CLDE Meeting Opening Reception on Thursday, June 2 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Marriott Foyer Ballroom and throughout the entire meeting as they attend, participate in, and present sessions.

 

The All In Campus Democracy Challenge recognizes post-secondary campuses committed to improving democratic engagement and honors those achieving significant student voting participation rates.

For more information visit http://www.allinchallenge.org/

 

Ask Big Questions partners with universities to train students as facilitators who help their peers engage in conversation about vital questions across lines of difference. Since 2011, Ask Big Questions has trained over 1,000 students, faculty and staff at over 100 colleges and universities in North America. Through workshops, partnership programs, and accessible and usable resources, students develop the skills and habits to hold conversations characterized by trust, respect, and deep listening. Ask Big Questions empowers students to use these tools and techniques in their personal and professional lives, and helps university leaders create stronger campus communities, where all students are seen, heard, valued, and connected.

For more information visit http://askbigquestions.org/

 

Campus Vote Project help campuses institutionalize reforms that empower students with the information they need to register and vote.

For more information visit http://campusvoteproject.org/

 

 

Circle K International (CKI) is the premier collegiate and university community service, leadership development, and friendship organization in the world. With nearly 14,000 members on more than 500 campuses in 17 nations, CKI is making a positive impact on the world every day. CKI blends community service and leadership training with the opportunity to meet other college students around the world. Circle K Clubs are self-governing, electing officers, conducting meetings, and determining service projects.

For more information visit http://www.circlek.org/home.aspx

 

Eco Promotional Products, Inc. (EPP) is the only totally “green”, full line promotional products company in the Ad Specialties Industry (ASI). We are dedicated to sustainability, supplying environmentally responsible merchandise and respecting our natural resources. We help our customers project their brand and environmental goals while reducing landfill usage.

For more information visit https://ecopromotionsonline.com/

 

Empowrd Apps is a comprehensive, simple to use technology platform that facilitates all aspects of a value-centered two-way collaboration amongst leaders. Organic and/or elected leaders as well as those they represent can benefit from Empowrd. We are the only platform that provides a holistic approach towards facilitating every aspect of what it means to be a successful leader. Education, campaigning, operational tools, and brand management are all fluidly intertwined. Empowrd University is a component of Empowrd Apps that is especially designed for college and university campuses to make coordinating campus events, emergency alerting, staying in touch with alumni, Having direct contact with elected officials that impact your campus experience, and so much more easier than ever!

For more information visit http://www.empowrd.com/

 

ETS is a team of education experts, researchers and assessment developers who believe that, through learning, people can improve their situations in life and make incredible contributions to the world. We also believe that by designing our assessments with industry-leading insight, rigorous research and a commitment to quality, we can advance equity and help education and workplace communities make informed decisions about people and programs. Above all else, we are passionate about our mission, which serves as both a north star for our strategy and a pulse-check for everything we do. All of our programs and services are evaluated based on how well they help us achieve this purpose. Our Mission: To advance quality and equity in education by providing fair and valid assessments, research and related services. Our products and services measure knowledge and skills, promote learning and performance, and support education and professional development for all people worldwide.

For more information visit https://www.ets.org/

 

GivePulse is a database and management platform to track, measure and report all community engagement, experiential and scholarship activities of students, faculty, staff and alum. Using our analytics and tracking platform, along with its management applications, scholars and decision makers are able to determine student success, community impact, and how to move the need in addressing social issues.

For more information visit https://www.givepulse.com/

 

icitizen is a civic engagement app that connects people with their communities around civic issues to promote meaningful change. Just by tapping their finger, students can use the platform to connect with the news, issues, organizations, and representatives that affect them both on and off of campus. Meanwhile, higher ed institutions can use it to communicate directly with students, find out what they care most about and track the impact of their education on their students’ development as civic leaders.

For more information visit www.icitizen.com/

 

Indiana Campus Compact is a partnership among 35 Indiana colleges and universities, representing 60 campuses, dedicated to preparing college students to advance the public good in their communities. Indiana Campus Compact is an affiliate of National Campus Compact, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

For more information visit http://indianacampuscompact.org/overview/

 

Lyon Software is the world leader in community benefit and engagement software.  Through our exceptional product and personalized training, support and customer service, we work hand-in-hand with heath care facilities, colleges and universities, businesses and other community organizations to report their tremendous impact on the populations they serve.  Our secure, web hosted application provides a streamlined process for collecting, tracking and reporting how your institution is giving back to your community.  We proudly serve over 2,000 organizations with CBISA™, and we have been providing this excellent service for more than 30 years.  Our promise at Lyon Software, and our passionate commitment, is to continue to provide the best possible community benefit software and service.

For more information visit www.lyonsoftware.com

 

TurboVote is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that helps students engage successfully in their democracy. Institutions nationwide use TurboVote to strategically – and easily – promote and monitor voter engagement. Through TurboVote, students can register to vote, request an absentee ballot, and receive reminders with important election information, dates and deadlines.

For more information visit www.turbovote.org

#CLDE16: 5 Reasons NOT to miss the icitizen Political Engagement Pre-Con

Excited for #CLDE16!? Ready to make leaps and strides while collaborating with colleagues and partners from across the country?! We are too! In fact, we are so excited that we’re arriving a whole day early for this amazing icitizen pre-conference. [Register Here]

Wed. June 1 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Electoral & Political Engagement Institute with icitizen (includes lunch)
Cost: $150/person with a discounted rate of $85/person if you register as part of a campus team of two or more.
Join us for a conversation designed to introduce participants and their campuses to emergent research, tools, technology and promising practices for promoting nonpartisan student political engagement in this year’s presidential election and beyond! Come and share your ideas and strategies for engaging students inside and outside the classroom as they register to vote, consider policies and candidates to support, and turn out to vote. A variety of nonprofit partners will join this important conversation.
Organizers:  Gabriel Arteaga, TDC National Manager, AASCU and Alex Schreiner, Citizen Engagement Manager, icitizen

Here are 5 reasons not to miss The Electoral & Political Engagement Institute with icitizen:

1. Awesome partners

This pre-conference represents an unprecedented opportunity to talk to organizations paving the way for the future of political engagement on campus. Come join icitizen, Fair Elections Legal Network, TurboVote, CIRCLE, Young Invincibles, NASPA, ADP, TDC, Text-Talk-Vote, Andrew Goodman Foundation, College Debate 16, Voto Latino, and Civic Nation as we combine forces to tackle today’s most pressing student engagement issues.

1. Panels, games, discussions, and FUN!

The pre-conference will feature awesome panelists, interactive games and in-depth discussion so that you’ll walk away with a clear plan of action for the remainder of the conference and the upcoming school year.  We love democratic engagement! The morning and afternoon will be full of energizing and exciting activities to get you rocking-and-rolling for some great days in Indianapolis. Did we mention there will be food?

1. Be Strategic

Develop strategies for increasing your NSLVE numbers, for increasing your campus voter registration and for ensuring your students are informed voters — know where they stand on issues, where candidates stand on issues and how to activate your community.

1. Get a jump-start on #CLDE16

If you cannot wait to get down to business on all things political/electoral engagement on campus, this pre-conference is for you. This entire day will be covering innovative practices that will kick start your 2016-2017 school year and the rest of your CLDE experience.

1. Explore Indy

Join us after the pre-conference as we take on the city of Indianapolis. Whether this is your first time to the city or you are an expert in all things Indy, take the afternoon and evening to enjoy The Railroad City!

---

Questions? Contact Alex Schreiner, icitizen’s Partnerships and Outreach Manager
Email: alex@icitizen.com
Phone: 650-823-2321

Register for the pre conference here!
If you have already registered for the CLDE meeting, just modify your registration and select the pre-conference to sign up!

See you there!

#CLDE16: Welcome Roadtrip Nation!

In today’s world, when it comes to choosing a career, it seems as if anything you could ever need to know is readily available at your fingertips. Yet, despite this modern wealth of access and information, young adults still find themselves siloed by narrow ideas of career success, and are struggling to find jobs that accurately reflect their beliefs, align with their ethics, and keep them engaged and enthused about their work—why?

In 2001, three recent Pepperdine University graduates found themselves struggling with this same misalignment between their career expectations and the job opportunities offered to them. Despite knowing that there were thousands of options out there, these three friends—Mike, Nate, and Brian—kept getting put into standardized boxes marked “doctor,” “lawyer,” and “businessman.”

They figured that the best way to see what else was out there was by putting old-school interpersonal connections back into the job search. They decided to buy an RV, paint it bright green for no good reason, and hit the road to talk to people who did what they loved and ask them how they got to where they were.

On that first road trip, the three future Roadtrip Nation founders traveled all over the country and talked to over 80 individuals. What they found was that the people who were happiest in their jobs—whether that job was designing apparel for Nike or fishing for lobsters off the coast of Maine—were the people who had combined their unique interests and skills to create innovative and meaningful careers.

The insights gained from these conversations left an indelible mark, and it was clear that the wisdom they’d accrued was well-worth sharing. What started as a simple road trip evolved into a documentary series on public television, bestselling books, online tools, and student networks on campuses across the country—a movement they called “Roadtrip Nation,” which was dedicated to helping individuals explore their identities and build fulfilling lives and careers around their interests, with a special emphasis on self-reflection and real-world exposure.

At #CLDE16, Roadtrip Nation will be screening its latest project, documentary film Ready to Rise, which follows the journeys of Michael, Ryan, and Summer—three young people who are part of the 5.6 million youth in America currently out of work, out of school, and struggling with challenges as extreme as gang violence and homelessness.

As Michael, Ryan, and Summer traveled the country in Roadtrip Nation’s green RV, they met people who’d been in their shoes—people who showed them it’s possible to not only rise above adversity, but to harness it for success. The documentary features interviews with St. Louis alderman and advocate Antonio French, and New York Times best-selling author and entrepreneur Chris Gardner, whose life served as the inspiration for the Will Smith film, The Pursuit of Happyness—both of whom stressed the importance of fostering change through community engagement.

The themes and lessons from Ready to Rise will be echoed and built upon in an interactive breakout session the following day, led by Roadtrip Nation employees Aaron Farley and Jenny Pham. The workshop will provide an introduction to the philosophy of Roadtrip Nation, explore the impacts of the documentary, and examine how we can expand our efforts to continue to foster a sense of community within the career exploration space.

Roadtrip Nation is incredibly excited to take part in CLDE 2016—we can’t wait to hear the new and innovative ways in which our fellow partners and presenters are working to strengthen the bonds between classrooms and communities.