A Note FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DR. MARIANNE MAGJUKA
Congratulations to our graduating seniors and graduate students! Collectively, we overcame challenges and adapted to unusual circumstances during our second spring in a remote environment. Some of our most beloved traditions were canceled, while others, like Wake ‘N Shake, adjusted to a new format. Student leadership teams found creative ways to complete capstone projects for Civic Scholars and Dash Corps, and engage community organizations through Campus Kitchen, MLK Day Read-In, and D.E.S.K. The OCCE partnered with faculty to operate two community clinics in the spring and celebrate ACE Fellows as they completed their projects.
This summer, the OCCE will be busy hosting the Summer Nonprofit Immersion Program, partnering to host Freedom School, and preparing for pre-orientation programs for new students. We look forward to seeing many of you in person in the fall; stop by and see us in the Benson University Center!
Wake Forest nationally recognized as a "Voter Friendly" Campus
In March, Wake Forest was named one of over 231 campuses in 37 states and the District of Columbia to be designated as a “Voter Friendly Campus.” The initiative, led by national nonpartisan organizations Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project (CVP) and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, held participating institutions accountable for planning and implementing practices that encourage students to register and vote in the 2020 elections.
The mission of the Voter Friendly Campus designation is to bolster efforts that help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process. Led by Deacs Decide, a highly collaborative, campus-wide political engagement project coordinated by the OCCE, Wake Forest was evaluated based on a campus plan to register, educate, and turnout student voters in 2020. CVP analyzed campus programming, engagement, and turnout, paying particular attention to the ways in which campuses adapted during the global pandemic. The designation is valid through December 2022.
It is the first time that Wake Forest has been recognized as a Voter Friendly Campus; WFU joins 14 other campuses in the state of North Carolina to receive the designation for the 2021-22 year. WFU has also been recognized by the ALL IN Democracy Campus Challenge and DemocrACCy Challenge for its election engagement work.
D.E.S.K. inspires learning with creative spaces
On April 22, over 100 Wake Forest students gathered, masked and socially distanced, on Poteat Field for Discovering Education through Student Knowledge (D.E.S.K.). The event returned to campus for the 22nd time this year, after being cancelled last spring due to COVID-19.
Traditionally, Wake students go to Old Town Elementary School to meet their designated student and design their desks. Then, the children come to campus for several hours to paint their desks and enjoy fun, spring activities. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, children met with Wake students via Zoom, where they helped to create the blueprint for their desk designs ahead of time.
Due to the virtual nature of the event, other local elementary schools were able to participate in the festivities for the first time ever. In partnership with the Forsyth Promise and the Inspire340 schools, a total of 37 desks were customized and provided to children from eight different schools throughout Winston-Salem.
A Recipe for Success: KIDS COOKING COALITION GOES VIRTUAL
Despite the challenges introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kids’ Cooking Coalition (KCC) was determined to return for its fourth year of programming. Together, organizers reimagined the delivery of its curriculum to flourish virtually, which allowed the program to interact with children and families like never before.
Over the span of four weeks, 18 families joined virtual cooking lessons taught by local chefs including, Josh McGee (Y’all Company), Terrell Anistead, Shanta Faison (Twin City Catering Co.), and N’Gai Dickerson (Homegrown Heroes). Chefs filmed from the Enterprise Center while children participated safely from their homes. Each class gave children the unique opportunity to put on their chef’s hat, while supervising family members fulfilled the role of sous chefs during the meal-making process.
The curriculum began with a chicken and broccoli stir fry from McGee, followed by shrimp and grits from Anistead, spaghetti squash with turkey and a tomato sauce courtesy of Faison, and concluded with an Ethiopian stew taught by Dickerson.
MLK Read-In continues for 12th-straight year over zoom
On January 23, 138 local Winston-Salem children logged onto their computers to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for the 12th annual MLK Day Read-In. Organized by Wake Forest (WFU), Winston-Salem State (WSSU) and HandsOn Northwest North Carolina, the annual event promotes Dr. King’s legacy of service, literacy and community empowerment through hands-on activities and reading.
Typically held in person, this year’s Read-In was held virtually for the safety of the children, their parents and the volunteers – also known as “reading buddies.” Children who participated received MLK Read-In kits featuring two children’s books, school supplies, and healthy snacks.
Throughout the event, children were placed into small breakout rooms where they were guided by their reading buddy - a WFU or WSSU student - through three themed activities: “Gratitude,” where they wrote a letter to someone they’re grateful for; “Advocacy,” where they supported a special cause and created a sign; and “I Have A Dream,” where they wrote a collective poem around their own personal dreams as well as those they have for their community.
a year later, virtual education programs continue to impact local children
Last year, as kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms replaced the traditional classroom, the Office of Civic & Community Engagement re-imagined some of its existing programs and launched new, innovative opportunities to connect with local K-12 students. This semester, the OCCE has continued to make an impact in the lives of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School (WSFCS) students with its programming.
- Virtual Tutoring: This spring, 293 Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School students were matched with WFU tutors for a free, one-hour tutoring session each week.
- Virtual Music Mentoring: In partnership with the Wake Forest Music Department, 10 local K-12 students continued their weekly, one-hour mentoring sessions with WFU students for virtual vocal and/or instrumental lessons.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters Virtual Mentoring: In partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Forsyth and Davie Counties (BBBS) 20 WFU students continued to mentor the BBBS Littles they were paired with in the fall, conducting weekly mentoring sessions to help with homework, play virtual games, or simply have a conversation.
- Wake Forest Tutoring Reserves: Wake Forest students have provided weekly homework support to 56 WSFCS K-12 students enrolled in Winston-Salem State's Mathematics and Science Education Network Program.
- Skip Prosser Read Challenge: Each year, in partnership with Wake Forest Athletics, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, WFU Department of Education, the OCCE, WSFCS and Bookmarks NC, Demon Deacon student athletes challenge fourth-grade students to read 1,500 or more minutes before winter break. This year, 346 fourth graders from 12 different schools read over 399,000 minutes, with 215 reaching the All-American status (1,5000 minutes) or higher.
mini-grants pave the way for local youth service
Through funding from Youth Service America, an organization with a “mission to activate young people ages 5 to 25 to find their voice, take action and acquire powerful civic and 21st Century skills,” the OCCE supported eight youth-led, community-based projects in Winston-Salem.
Proposals were reviewed and winners were selected by a collaborative team from the OCCE, HandsOn NWNC, and youth from Forsyth County Young Leaders Program, which aims to increase youth service engagement in Winston-Salem.
Seven local high school students and WFU student Jenna Mayer ('21) were awarded the mini-grants. See the full list of the grant recipients and learn more about their respective projects, here.
WAKE 'N SHAKE celebrates 16th year with return to campus
After a day-long virtual event replaced the annual 12-hour dance marathon in 2020, Wake 'N Shake returned to campus this spring for its 16th year, raising $186,791.82 for the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund. Usually a day-long event held in the Sutton Center, Wake 'N Shake took place over the course of five days this year from March 22-27. Throughout the week, 739 Wake Forest students participated in a mix of in-person and hybrid events all over campus.
This year's theme was "Togetherness." Each individual day was centered around an aspect of togetherness, including "dance together," which challenged students to share a dance on TikTok; "stand together," which asked students to complete a 1.6 mile walk in honor of the events 16th anniversary; "laugh together," which invited students to pie themselves in the face for donations; and "remember together," which was highlighted by the closing ceremony.
social justice book club creates space to learn and grow
In an effort to engage students around issues of social justice, Deb Marke, Assistant Director of Social Justice & Advocacy, created the Social Justice Book Club as a means to explore issues like race, gender, immigration, poverty and criminal justice issues through books, community, and guided conversation.
Since it first began, nearly 60 members of the Wake Forest community - including faculty, staff, students and alumni - have logged onto Zoom every-other-week to discuss the book of the moment.
Participants in the Book Club range from those just beginning to explore social justice work to individuals looking to build upon their existing knowledge. For many, these conversations can be difficult and intimidating. However, through guided facilitation from Marke the goal is to have a designated space for engaging, eye-opening conversations.
OCCE STAFF RECOGNIZED AT STATE & LOCAL LEVEL
This year, two OCCE staff members were recognized for the work they do both on campus and in the greater Winston-Salem Community.
Marianne Magjuka, Ed.D., Assistant Dean of Students and Executive Director of the Office of Civic and Community Engagement, was named the Civic Engagement Professional of the Year at the 2021 Pathways to Achieving Civic Engagement (PACE) Conference. Deb Marke, Assistant Director for Advocacy and Social Justice Education, was a recipient of the 2021 Martin Luther King Jr. "Building the Dream" Award.
The Civic Engagement Professional of the Year Award recognizes a higher education administrator in the state who works to realize a campus-wide vision of service, supports the engagement of faculty and students, and forms innovative campus-community partnerships. Magjuka’s recognition marks the first time a member of the Wake Forest community has received the award since its inception in 2006.
In addition to Magjuka's recognition, Steve Virgil, J.D., Executive Director of Experiential Education and Clinical Professor of Law at Wake Forest, was named the 2021 recipient of the Engaged Faculty Award.
Each year, members of the Wake Forest and Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) communities are recognized at a joint celebration honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year, Marke was selected for her work with Deacs Decide, the highly collaborative, campus-wide election engagement project. She joined Maj. Derri Stormer and WFU senior Rue Cooper as Wake Forest's 2021 recipients.
OCCE Celebrates End of 2020-21 Academic Year
The OCCE celebrated its annual Service Awards virtually. Congratulations to all award recipients for their impact in the campus and local community!
2021 SERVICE AWARD WINNERS
- Christman Award: Savarni Sanka
- Change-Maker Award: Leilani Fletcher
- Junior Service Excellence Award: Zoe Chamberlin and Ben Raiford
- Sophomore Service Excellence Award: Drew Skilton
- First-Year Service Excellence Award: Sid Subramanian
- Student Organization Service Excellence Award: Ocean & Marine Conservation Club
- Faculty Service Excellence Award: Justin Green
- Michael G. Ford Servant Leadership Award: Kelia Hubbard
- Community Partner Service Award: HandsOn NWNC
Additionally, the 2021 Dash Corps cohort presented their capstone projects virtually, while this year's graduating class of Civic Scholars completed project-based capstones. Learn more about the projects and honorees below.
Deacs makING a difference
As the hub of community-based activity at Wake Forest University, the Office of Civic & Community engagement is happy to highlight the work of WFU faculty, staff, students, alumni and departments in the local and greater community.
- Visiting WFU Professor Thomas Southerland to premiere documentary about local shelter at RiverRun International Film Festival
- Energy Explorers Program helps 7th graders become environmentally sound
- Defending Democracy Series examines the insurrection of the U.S. Capitol, the beginning of the Biden era and how individuals can engage with our democracy
- Unity Wellness Center provides essential supplies to Winston-Salem community at first-ever Winter Palooza
- 'Get Connected' explores how local organizations and community members can get involved with Wake Forest
- From the Heart: Wake Forest alumni tutor Charlotte school students
Credits:
WFU Photo