Pathways for Civic Action & Social Change

Community Engaged Learning and Research: Connecting coursework and academic research to community-identified concerns to enrich knowledge and inform action on social issues.

• Take college classes that allow you to connect your field with community issues and see real-world applications of what you are learning (i.e. service learning). At Drake, search for the CEL attribute when searching for classes.
• Conduct research to further investigate how your organization can positively impact the community
• Review existing publications and research, and learn more about the community issues, priorities, and initiatives that you are passionate about
• Participate in a community-engaged internship or research experience
• Partner with local agencies to help survey or interview residents for community-based initiatives or services

Community Organizing and Activism: Involving, educating, and mobilizing individual or collective action to influence or persuade others.

• Join an activism or community organizing committee such as SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) 
• Attend a single-day demonstration or rally (know your rights and stay safe)
• Participate in sustained, long-term protests 
• Create art as a form of protest 
• Avoid a product, company, or service as a form of protest (boycott)
• Lead or spread the word about a boycott of a product, company, or service
• Sign or start a petition about a cause you care about 
• Use social media to promote a cause or pressing community need
• Spark a discussion with people about a form of activism or topic you are passionate about

Direct Service: Working to address the immediate needs of individuals or a community, often involving contact with the people or places being served.

• Volunteer with a non-profit around a cause that you are interested in. Examples include stocking food at a food pantry, serving meals at a homeless shelter, restoring trails at a local park 
• Participate in a sustained volunteer opportunity such as tutoring or mentoring youth 
• Participate in a National Day of Service or another one-time service event 
• Join the board of a non-profit or community agency 
• Participate in a service year program like AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, City Year, etc.
• Join a student organization such as Drake's Habitat for Humanity chapter, Next Course Food Recovery, Community Action Board, APO 
• Find volunteer opportunities at www.drake.edu/volunteer 

Philanthropy: Donating or using private funds or charitable contributions from individuals or institutions to contribute to the public good.

• Show generosity through the gift of your time, talent, and treasure
• Donate personal funds to an organization or cause you care about 
• Run or participate in a fundraising activity for a non-profit organization 
• Collect donations for an organization or cause you care about
• Collect or donate goods, like canned foods or personal hygiene items 
• Use social media platforms and other outlets to raise awareness of philanthropy efforts being spearheaded by other individuals or organizations
• Donate blood
• Join a philanthropic student organization at Drake, such as Student Alumni Association or Dance Marathon. 

Policy and Governance: Participating in political processes, policymaking, and public governance.

• Vote (including in local, off-year elections) 
• Register others to vote 
• Complete the Census 
• Volunteer as a poll worker on Election Day 
• Write to and/or call elected officials to present opinion on public issues (find your legislators at https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials). Tips for reaching out to your legislators on issues you care about.  Email/Letter Template
• Attend a city council or government commission meeting. City Council Meeting Reflection handout. 
• Attend a school board meeting 
• Participate in student government
• Join a government commission or advisory group 
• Join a local school or police advisory group 
• Run for public office 
• Contribute to public, written comments on pending legislation (federal, state, and/or local) 
• Speak directly to legislators at the Capitol 
• Contact media to present your opinion on public issues 
• Write an editorial in your local newspaper like the Drake Political Review or Times Delphic
• Research or learn about policies within a topic of interest or organization you are a member of
• Read up on how to have civic dialogue - Civic Dialogue Resources (articles, podcasts, and documentaries)

Social Entrepreneurship and Corporate Social Responsibility: Using ethical business or private sector approaches to create or expand market-oriented responses to social or environmental problems.

• Join a social entrepreneurship focused group, working on projects like helping teenagers interested in entrepreneurship to start small businesses
• Get involved with the Lorentzen Hatchery at Drake which is aimed at fostering student startups. 
• Only purchase fair trade products and encourage others to do the same, with the goal of pressuring other businesses to also adopt fair trade. 
• Start a student-managed investment fund that invests only in socially responsible businesses. 
• Design a mobile app that helps urban residents donate to services that support people experiencing homelessness, with a small percentage fee. 
• Ask to set up a meeting with the Sustainability Coordinator at Drake, Sophia Seigel, to partner in creating sustainable events and practices within your organization
• Create sustainable partnerships and collaborations with other people and organizations
• Brainstorm new business ideas and road map out your best idea to create change within that sector