Civic Action Week

Civic Action Week 2023 will take place April 10-15!

Civic Action Week is a campus-wide week of events for students, faculty, staff, and the broader community to learn, engage, and encourage collective responses to persistent societal challenges.

Civic Action Week will center around the Pathways for Civic Action and Social Change. We recognize that there are many strategies needed to create change; the Pathways include: Community Engaged Learning & Research, Community Organizing & Activism, Direct Service, Philanthropy, Policy & Governance, and Social Entrepreneurship and Corporate Responsibility.

2023 Civic Action Week Calendar

Monday, April 10

• Kick-off in the Olmsted Breezeway, 8-11am. Stop by to learn about the events of the week, share why you serve, and grab some donut holes and CEL swag! Sponsored by Office of Community Engaged Learning.
• Learn About DUgood, 12-1pm, Olmsted Breezeway. Learn about Drake's new community engagement platform, DUgood, where you can search for, sign up for, or post volunteer opportunities, and log your impact. Hosted by LEAD 190.
• APO Blood Drive, 10am-1:30pm. Pom Stage in Olmsted, in partnership with LifeServe Blood Center. Sign up at a tabling event in the Olmsted Breezeway or on the drakeapo Instagram QR code.  (Pathway - Philanthropy, Direct Service)
• Emmenecker Challenge, 6-8pm. Parents Hall. The Student Alumni Association's "Emmenecker Challenge" is a sandwich-eating competition. This event supports food security initiatives in the Drake Neighborhood, as a portion of proceeds go to local food pantries. Spectators can attend to receive free food and participate in a kahoot game. Entrance fee is $1 dollar or a canned food item. There will also be information about food insecurity at the event. Spectators do not need to register in advance, but competitors do. (Pathway - Philanthropy)

Tuesday, April 11

• Careers in Social Change Virtual Panel. 4-5pm on Zoom. Hear from local professionals on how they have used their career to create change. Panelists include Jacob Nastruz, Coordinator for Volunteer Services and Community Engagement at Children & Family Urban Movement; Elizabeth Talbert, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Drake University; Corey Lewis, Founder of My City My Health.  Register on Handshake. Contact amanda.martin@drake.edu. Sponsored by Office of Community Engaged Learning and Professional and Career Development Services. 

Wednesday, April 12

• Food Security: What do you know? A conversation with Aubrey Alvarez, Executive Director of Eat Greater Des Moines. 4-5pm, Olmsted 310/311. Sponsored by Next Course Food Recovery. Snacks will be provided. (Pathway - Community Engaged Learning & Research,  Community Organizing and Activisim)
  • Food Recovery Volunteer Shifts will be available all week! Collect leftover food from the dining halls and deliver to a local non-profit. (Pathway - direct service) 

Thursday, April 13

• Lunch and Learn: Developing Your Impact Plan. 12-1pm, Olmsted 310.  Take the lunch hour to reflect on how you want to create change over the next few years. Are there certain experiences you'd like to have? What do you want to do on the short-term and long-term? This guided activity will give you a template for coming up with action steps and goals. Pizza will be provided. All are welcome, please register on DUgood. Sponsored by the Office of Community Engaged Learning. 
• Harkin on Wellness Symposium. 9am-4:45pm, Parents Hall or virtual. This year’s Harkin on Wellness (HOW) Symposium will showcase the work being done at state and local levels to improve people’s lives by reimagining the food system from farm to table and everywhere in between. Free to attend. Registration is required. Sponsored by The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement (Pathway - Community Engaged Learning & Research)

Friday, April 14

• Findley Elementary School First-Grade Visit to Drake. Drake has adopted the first grade class at Findley Elementary School and on April 14 the students will visit campus for a morning full of activities. Start your day off the best way! Anyone from the Drake community is invited to welcome the students when they arrive at 9:30am with a "Welcome Tunnel" at the University entrance of Cowles Library. Form a line from the front doors down the sidewalk. Drake students have the opportunity to promote a college-going culture for youth in Des Moines. Contact kirby.nelson@drake.edu for more information.  Hosted by the Office of Community Engaged Learning. (Pathway - Direct Service)
• Sprout Spring Volunteer Day. 1-3pm. Help prepare the beds for spring planting and plant cold-weather crops.

Saturday, April 15

• 2023 Constitutional Law Symposium. 8:30am-1pm. Cartwright Hall Room 213 or Zoom. Speakers will analyze a variety of current issues from multiple viewpoints.  Register in advance. 

All Week 

• Stock the Block - Donate to the Little Free Pantries in the Drake Neighborhood - Drop off your donations of non-perishable goods and personal hygiene items to one of the 9 Little Free Pantries in the Drake Neighborhood. (Pathway - Philanthropy)
• Griff Gives Back - Donate Adult Dog and Cat food to the Griff Gives Back project.  (Pathway - Philanthropy)
• Volunteer! Visit www.drake.edu/dugood for other volunteer opportunities. (Pathway - Direct Service)
• Follow along with @DrakeService on Instagram to see daily challenges you can do to be a more responsible, active citizen and have a chance to earn prizes! 

Share your Impact

Tag us on social media @drakeservice #DrakeServes to let us know how you're participating in the week. For each tag, you'll be entered into a raffle to win prizes such as a Griff #DrakeServes T-shirt!