Why were animal lovers from the Humane Society University, a Deputy Police Chief from Alexandria, Virginia, advocates for domestic violence victims, a gay men’s rights activist and a torture survivor from Ethiopia all gathered at TWC the morning of December 18th? They were enjoying a delicious breakfast and celebrating their partnerships with TWC’s Civic Engagement Projects on:
- Animal Welfare [1]
- Domestic Violence [2]
- Homelessness [3]
- Immigrant Rights [4]
- Local Green [5]
- Veterans [6]
- LGBTQA (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, Queer and Ally) Issues [7]
The idea of a “Breakfast Appreciation” event was the idea of Jacki Banks, TWC’s Senior Program Advisor, who has led the Homelessness Project since the summer of 2011. She thought this was a great way to thank people from the National Coalition for the Homeless, SOME (So Others Might Eat) the Torture Abolition and Survivor Coalition (TASSC) and other organizations. “They have done so much to empower students to become change agents and the next generation of civic engagement leaders,” said Jacki.
Almost 70 percent of fall 2012 students participated in one of the seven TWC-guided projects. These projects are led by TWC staff who volunteer their time throughout the semester, building partnerships with national advocacy and direct service organizations. Partners educate students on the issues—from bills such as the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to the history of immigrant communities in the United States. TWC’s Civic Engagement Leaders also arrange for students to volunteer with organizations such as Lucky Dog Animal Rescue; Team Red, White & Blue, a veterans support group, and the National Network to End Domestic Violence.
