Center for Community Engagement and Social Change

Black Lives Matter
We stand in solidarity with the Black community.

Lawrence University is committed to preparing “students for lives of achievement, responsible and meaningful citizenship, lifelong learning, and personal fulfillment.”

The Center for Community Engagement and Social Change (CCE) aims to support this commitment by meeting and working with students to encourage critical thought and reflection on the purpose, responsibility, and potential for lifelong learning through service and engagement within the context of a Lawrence University education.

Complete our social justice interests form so we can curate our communications to you.
To search for volunteer opportunities and track your service log into Give Pulse and find virtual volunteer opportunities.

CCE 2019 Staff Photo

Life After Lawrence

Lawrentians enjoy careers in...

AmeriCorps, education, social work, community organizing, data analyst, dentistry, dog training

Recent employers include...

AmeriCorps, NAMI Fox Valley, Boys and Girls Club, Muchin College Prep, Fox Valley Literacy, Habitat for Humanity, Kimberly High School, St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor

The CCE teaches skills like...

Communication, education, ethical volunteering, organization, responsibility, problem solving, community engagment, social activism, managing interpersonal relationships, leadership, teamwork

Post-Lawrence Service Opportunities

AmeriCorps, Habitat for Humanity, Teach for America, Peace Corps, WorldTeach, City Year

Visit our GivePulse page.
GivePulse is the website Lawrence uses to set up volunteer opportunities, record volunteer hours, and register students for volunteer events. By keeping a log of your volunteer hours on GivePulse, Lawrence is able to put these hours on your co-curricular record, which looks good when applying for a job or internship. Recording your hours is easy, just log in with your LU ID, click the big green 'Add Impact' button, and fill out the form. If you are interested in learning how GivePulse can benefit your organization or just want to know more about how to use this website, please contact us.

Viking Ambassadors in Service and Engagement (VASE)

Viking Ambassadors in Service and Engagement (VASE) aims to get first year students volunteering, making connections, and learning about issues in the Fox Valley community. Each of our six issue areas will run a version of this program in Winter and Spring terms 2020-21. Reach out to community.engagement@lawrence.edu for more information.

VASE Requirements

• Volunteers will commit to volunteer 1-4 hours weekly for the duration of the program
• Volunteers will attend a training and orientation session before volunteering begins
• Volunteers will attend an education session on their area of interest
• Volunteers will attend a recognition/celebration event at the end of the term
• Volunteers will be present for all scheduled volunteer opportunities unless communicated with their program leader at least 48 hours in advance with a valid reason. Sudden illness is, of course, excused but should still be communicated in advance when possible.

On-Campus Service Organizations

Interested in finding an organization with similar volunteer interests to you? Visit the campus organization directory and click "community service," "social justice," or something more specific like "environmental" to learn about students interested in working together to serve the community.

Arts Advocacy

The Arts Advocacy program forms relationships with the community to develop an understanding of how the arts can benefit the Fox Cities community with the help of Lawrence University. Through Artists Building Bridges in Appleton (ABBA) we form partnerships that help enrich the lives of the people around us and support local organizations.

Animal Welfare

The Animal Welfare program connects Lawrentians with a passion for animal care and wellbeing with like-minded organizations in the Fox Valley. By volunteering and collaborating with numerous organizations in Appleton, we provide volunteers with knowledge and opportunities to help further themselves and to become an advocate for animal welfare.

Equal Access to Education

The Equal Access to Education program provides students with an understanding of the issues affecting access to education at all ages in the Fox Cities. Our mission is to provide opportunities for Lawrentians and the greater Fox Cities to work together in combating matters that hinder access to education.

Child Advocacy

The Child Advocacy program partners with community organizations devoted to children in order to address issues facing children in the Fox Valley. Our LARY Buddy mentoring program is our longest standing program and provides one on one mentoring to youth at a local elementary school.

Environment and Sustainability

The Environment and Sustainability Program takes the joys of the outdoors and a clean environment and shares them with the community. Riverview Gardens, Heckrodt Wetland Reserve, and Bubolz Nature Preserve are great community partners to learn from. Through this program volunteers will become more aware of the environment in their everyday lives and take action in the community and personally to protect it.

Fair Housing & Hunger

The Fair Housing program connects Lawrence University and the Fox Valley community through outreach and volunteerism to ensure that stable and affordable housing, emergency assistance, and transitional housing are accessible to all. We partner with four organizations (COTS, Habitat for Humanity, Harbor House, Homeless Connections, Warming Shelter) that intercept different stages of the homeless continuum, serving families, women, men, and children.

Volunteer of Note

Hunter Dowds

"In our intense academic environment at Lawrence, volunteering provides students with the opportunity to serve their community while also taking a break from their studies. I have met some of my closest friends while volunteering, who have continued to support and encourage me throughout my undergraduate career."

Hunter has had the opportunity to volunteer both locally and abroad; a majority of his work has been in the areas of scientific literacy and disease prevention.

Experiential Learning

Experiential Learning is a program designed for students who are interested in exploring work in civic engagement.

Visit this page for more information.

Recent projects include:

Internship at Appleton Health Department

Working at Sustainable Lawrence University Garden

Working at MEDEP in the Management Information System and the Media Sector

Interning at the Public Health Delivery Innovations and Community Medicine program in Delhi, India

Volunteering for Health Development Initiative in Kigali, Rwanda

Contact Us

Come visit us! The CCE is located in the back of the Mudd Library across from the Wriston Art Center at the Lawe St. & Alton St. intersection. However, our physical building is closed at this time but we are virtually open!

Get in touch with us via email or calling at 920-832-6644.
Follow us on Facebook or Instagram (lucareersandcommunity)
Visit our Virtual Volunteer Opportunities page.
Learn more about us via our 2019-20 End of Year Report.

CCE Professional Staff

Kristi Hill

Director, Community Engagement and Social Change

kristi.hill@lawrence.edu

Michelle Buchinger

CCE Administrative Assistant

michelle.m.buchinger@lawrence.edu

TBD, Volunteer Programs Coordinator

CCE Student Staff

Papo (Carlos A) Morales, Resource and Outreach Office Manager

Hello! My name is Papo (Carlos A.) Morales and I am currently a Senior at Lawrence University. I am a History major with a Latin American Studies minor and am from Brooklyn, New York. Some of my favorite things to do include binge watching shows, public speaking , playing UNO and spending time with family and friends! I am currently involved with a couple of organizations on campus which include the Black Student Union, Men of Color Alliance and RISEUP, which is an college access organization that I am the Co-President of. I look forward to helping local Appleton students from kindergarten to the 12th grade with accessing the education and college that they deserve.

Lili Xu, Service Corps Fair Housing & Hunger Program Coordinator

Hey! My name is Lili(Shirley) Xu and I am a sophomore from Korla, China. I plan to pursue a double degree in Piano Performance and English. I am also a Community Advisor in Colman Hall, a member of Chinese Student Association, Lawrence International and the Women’s Tennis team. When I am not practicing the piano, I love making crafts, watching TwoSet Violin on YouTube, hanging out with friends and talking with my families. I am excited to work in CCE and connect a lot of you with nonprofit communities around Appleton.

Morgan Fisher, Child Advocacy Program Coordinator

Hey there! I’m Morgan, a junior on the Pre-Medicine track from the Chicagoland area. This year I will be the chair of the Committee on Community Service and Engagement (CCSE), a member of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), a LARY buddy, a member of the women’s varsity tennis team, and a member of the sorority Kappa Alpha Theta. In my free time, I like to hang out with friends, read biographies of powerful women, and watch New Girl and Brooklyn 99. I am excited to enter my second year at the CCE and I am looking forward to working with you!

L exie Livingood, Access to the Arts Program Coordinator

My name is Lexie Livingood, and I’m a third-year student from Houston, Texas. I’m planning on pursuing a dual degree in Viola Performance and Economics. When I’m not making music in the conservatory, I like to hang out with friends, try new restaurants, and spend time outside. I’m super excited to work to make a difference within the Lawrence community!

Sections

Community Engagement and Social Change

Black Lives Matter
We stand in solidarity with the Black community.