Changemaker Week Seeks To Fire Up Civic Engagement At MDC
Changemaker Week, a college-wide campaign aimed at galvanizing community engagement, is gearing up for its second year at Miami Dade College.
The week-long initiative—which will run from Sep. 16-22—features more than 100 events across MDC’s eight campuses, such as workshops, service opportunities and civic engagement expositions.
Activities will spotlight the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, including health and wellness, quality education and climate action.
“MDC has really embraced and doubled down on our commitment to being a changemaker institution,” said Sandra Louk LaFleur, director of changemaker education. “It’s part of our identity. We don’t just sit by. We want to change the world and change workplaces and change our neighborhoods, all for the better.”
Festivities will kick off on Monday, Sept. 16 with a keynote presentation by Harry Nathan Gottlieb, founder of Unify America, a nonprofit organization that strives to connect people with different beliefs, at 10 a.m. at Wolfson Campus. The event will be live-streamed and broadcast to each campus.
Tuesday will revolve around National Voter Registration Day. Students will have opportunities to register to vote and participate in activities such as civic jeopardy games, a mock debate on the electoral college and a discussion panel with local officials.
Changemaker Week will also feature the Send Silence Packing Traveling Exhibit.
The exhibition, created by Active Minds—a non-profit organization that promotes mental health awareness among young adults—will showcase more than 100 backpacks, each representing a life lost to suicide, to stimulate conversations about mental health struggles.
It will be showcased at North, Homestead, Hialeah campuses on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, respectively, LaFleur said.
Wednesday and Thursday will focus on promoting health, environmental sustainability and religious diversity. Activities will include meditation, yoga, garden tours, interfaith discussions and clothing exchanges.
Friday will be a day of service, featuring a food drive at North Campus, a neighborhood cleanup at Eduardo J. Padrón Campus and gardening at Kendall and Wolfson campuses.
“It feels good to do good for others; I think it always pays off in the future,” said Arianna Aragon, 19, a student assistant at the Institute for Civic Engagement and Democracy at Kendall Campus.
On Sept. 21, Homestead Campus will lead an offshore beach cleanup at Biscayne National Park. Wolfson Campus will also host a civic engagement summit, giving students an opportunity to meet representatives from the Department of Elections and learn about issues such as affordable housing, climate change and transportation.
The week-long initiative will conclude on Sep. 22 with the Women’s Breast & Health Initiative 5K Pink Walk at North Campus from 6-11 a.m.
“Changemaking to me is recognizing we all have a responsibility for the common good,” said Josh Young, director of MDC’s Institute for Civic Engagement and Democracy. “We have to take responsibility for the well being of other people, and use our skills, knowledge, abilities [and] talents, to make life better for ourselves, but also for everyone.”
To register for events, volunteer or see the full agenda, visit the MDC Changemaker Hub.
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