Engaged Scholarship Mandela Washington Fellowship Research Service-Learning and Civic Engagement

Category: Service-Learning and Civic Engagement

2022 Mandela Washington Fellows: Youth development changemakers

Posted on September 8, 2023September 12, 2023 by Staley School of Leadership

The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a flagship program of the U.S. department of state to support young African leaders. The program includes Entrepreneurship, and Public Administration tracks, the Staley School hosts a Civic Leadership Institute.

The Fellows come from diverse backgrounds and are doing incredible work to impact lives and transform their communities. In this series, former Fellow and now Staley School graduate research assistant, Chibuzor Azubuike, reflects on 2022 Fellows that share common work in education – a critical area of focus for Sub-Saharan Africa.

According to the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), over one-fifth of African children between the ages of 6 and 11 are not in school, while nearly 60% of youth between the ages of 15 and 17 are not enrolled. (Kaledzi 2022) It is this challenge that Sustainable Development Goal 4 addresses, which is quality education.

Time out with youth development changemakers from Sub-Saharan Africa

The Mandela Washington Fellowship focuses on empowering young African leaders. Amongst the fellows hosted at Kansas State University Youth Development is a focus of their work. According to the United Nations, Africa has the youngest population in the world, with 70% of sub-Saharan Africa under the age of 30. Such a high population of youth is an opportunity for the continent’s growth and development if and when the youth are empowered. (Mulikita 2021) Leadership development and civic engagement strategies focus on the importance of including youth in decision-making and building opportunities for youth to work and to innovate. Below we profile some of the work these 2022 Mandela Washington Fellows are doing in the area of Youth Development.

Kiala Pedro Vata from Angola founded an initiative called “Juventude em acção” that drives youth empowerment, civic engagement and youth participation in governance. His goal is to achieve a community where youth are empowered and play an active role in community life and in solving community challenges. His aim is to build a community where public policies are concerted to be more effective to the citizen’s needs and desires. Continue reading “2022 Mandela Washington Fellows: Youth development changemakers” →

What is service-learning?

Posted on September 6, 2023October 9, 2023 by Staley School of Leadership

As Kansas State University puts forward its strategic plan with emphasis on applied learning, how can our faculty prepare to engage with community and create stronger, efficient, mutually-beneficial relationships that enhance the student experience and fulfill a community need? One way is through service-learning.

In spring 2023, the Staley School of Leadership welcomed Lori Kniffin, former K-State instructor, to campus for a guest lecture on engaged learning experiences. Here, we asked Lori to reflect on her personal experiences a little more in depth, and share more examples of service-learning.

This is the first blog in a series about service-learning, its origins, and how to incorporate service-learning into classrooms and programs. Read more posts from this series: What is service-learning?

What is service-learning?

In junior high and high school, I volunteered many hours through student organizations and my church (as lots of students do). I cleaned parks, served food, visited with the elderly and did many other activities that I can’t recall today. I logged many hours and made a difference in my community. Volunteering is a vital aspect of civic life; yet, it is often separate from one’s academic life.

The first time I connected service to my academic life was in my undergraduate education at K-State through service-learning. “Service-learning can be defined as both a pedagogy and change strategy that engages students, community members, and instructors/staff in co-creating relationships that integrate academic material, community-engaged activities, and critical reflection to advance public purposes and to achieve clearly articulated academic learning, civic learning, and personal growth goals” (Kniffin et al., in press). These Venn diagrams can be helpful in breaking down the major components of service-learning and categories of learning goals.

Venn diagram. Three circles. Circle one shows academic material. Circle two shoes relevant engagement. Circle three shows critical reflection. Continue reading “What is service-learning? “ →

K-State Strengths and Blue Key Senior Honorary hosting “Spotlight on Strengths”

Posted on September 5, 2023September 25, 2023 by Staley School of Leadership

Spotlight on Strengths is an annual event hosted by the K-State Strengths Initiative in partnership with Blue Key Senior Honorary. This event’s aim is to increase student engagement and well-being across campus so Wildcats can thrive. Building a community where all students move from strengths identification to strengths development as they navigate their journey as a Wildcat is the mission of the K-State Strengths Initiative.

The Spotlight on Strengths event will take place 4:30 to 5:45 p.m., Monday, Oct. 2, in Forum Hall at the K-State Student Union. Attendees will have the opportunity to listen to empowering student stories and connect with peers in breakout conversations centered on improving your personal and community well-being as a Wildcat. Please RSVP online here.

The 2023 Spotlight on Strengths theme is Well-being as a Wildcat. K-State outlines six pillars of well-being: Purpose, emotional, physical, financial, spiritual, and social.

We hope you take time to assess your well-being today, think of ways to make a positive difference in the life of those with whom you interact, and make everyday a great day to be a K-State Wildcat!

HandsOn Kansas State to host mobile food distributions this fall

Posted on September 5, 2023October 9, 2023 by Staley School of Leadership

HandsOn Kansas State, in conjunction with Harvesters Community Food Network of Topeka, will host mobile food distributions during the spring 2023 semester:

Friday, Oct. 13
Friday, Nov. 3

The events start at 4 p.m. in parking lot C-1 of the Chester E. Peters Recreation Complex.

The mobile food distributions are open to all members of the K-State and Manhattan community with fresh fruits and vegetables offered at no cost, while supplies last.

Individuals who plan to walk up are encouraged to bring reusable bags to make it easier to carry food.

Below are friendly reminders to help the event run smoothly and efficiently.

The C-1 lot will open at 3:30 p.m.
Vehicles may line up from the entrance of the C-1 parking lot in the eastbound lane of Kimball Avenue.
Participants should plan to help open vehicle doors as needed

Volunteers place boxed food into a vehicle trunk

HandsOn Kansas State is a program housed within the Staley School of Leadership that promotes civic learning and leadership through meaningful volunteer and service opportunities between campus and community. HandsOn strives to develop socially-responsible citizens, knowledgeably equipped for active participation. For more information or questions about mobile food distributions, contact HandsOn Kansas State at handson@k-state.edu.

Mandela Washington Fellows’ reflections: Young African leaders driving change via education

Posted on August 28, 2023 by Staley School of Leadership

Educators as Fellows

In this vein, Jonathan Maka from Kinshasa, DRC has been teaching for seven years now, and he is currently working at the Academy of Science and Technology as an English teacher and coach. He spends time coaching and mentoring the youth in his community, especially those who are homeless or those whose families are unable to afford quality education. So far, he has motivated students who have dropped out of school to resume their education He is involved in an NGO named Silent Cry that supports orphans, girls especially, in coaching, and educational interventions focused on skill development including English language, sewing, arts, crafts, sports, and skill development to contribute to their future capacity for finding job opportunities.

Maka has been engaged throughout the Mandela Washington Fellowship experience, he stated, “The Mandela Washington Fellowship has influenced the way I approach my work in providing me with proper leadership skills and also in teaching me that I have to work on statistics and not only having a general view of the challenge that my community is facing.” Continue reading “Mandela Washington Fellows’ reflections: Young African leaders driving change via education “ →

Staley School Block Party welcomes all Wildcats

Posted on August 22, 2023 by Staley School of Leadership

students at out door tables and tents

All Wildcats are invited to the Staley School Block Party outside of the Leadership Studies Building from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30. Free food (cold drinks, shaved ice, chips and salsa, fruit cups, ice pops and more), prize giveaways, handouts and more!

Why attend?

Get to know the Staley School
Discover new ways to meet people on campus
Sign up for programs
Find out how leadership development can benefit you
Get involved in the local community
Learn about our travel programs – Service Teams

Featured programs include:

Service Teams
‘Cats Connect
Wildcat Dialogues
University Honors Program
Office of Nationally Competitive Scholarships
Staley School Ambassadors
LEAD 212 Class Leaders
Food Security Scholars
HandsOn Kansas State
K-State Strengths
Nonprofit Leadership
Snyder Leadership Legacy Fellows

See who’s going on Facebook.

Mandela Fellows Graduation Ceremony open to public

Posted on July 21, 2023July 21, 2023 by Staley School of Leadership

Mandela Washington Fellows Graduation Ceremony

The Staley School of Leadership at Kansas State University invites the public to the Mandela Washington Fellowship Graduation Ceremony. Join us 4-6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 27, at the Leadership Studies building (1300 Mid-Campus Drive N. Manhattan, KS, 66506). Please RSVP here.

Guests will enjoy brief reflections of each Fellow’s work and their experiences during their six weeks at K-State and in Kansas. After the program, cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served in the lobby, with time to mingle and connect one last time before they return home.

We encourage the community to attend to gain understanding of the impact of this program on both the Fellows and our surrounding communities, as well as what the relationships and partnerships the Fellows have made will continue to foster positive global impacts.

K-State and the Staley School are hosting 25 Mandela Washington Fellows for a Civic Leadership Institute. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the U.S. Department of State’s Young African Leaders Initiative. Fellows come from more than 20 different Sub-Saharan African nations and were selected for the program because of their civic leadership work.

See who’s going on Facebook.

Furniture Amnesty Day to take place July 28

Posted on July 18, 2023July 27, 2023 by Staley School of Leadership

July 27 update: This event will end at 3 p.m. instead of 4 p.m. due to extreme heat predictions.

This year’s Furniture Amnesty Day will take place Friday, July 28, starting at 8 a.m. in City Park. Furniture Amnesty Day is a community event that gives people the opportunity to donate or pick up used furniture at no cost.

Anyone can participate. There are no income requirements or forms to fill out to select donated items. Registration for furniture shopping begins at City Park starting at 8 a.m. on the day of the event.

Free shopping will be scheduled in 15-minute timeslots from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants can return to the park at their scheduled time and take home up to five furniture items at no cost. Items in a set, such as a table and chairs, will only count as one item. No additional paperwork is needed. Furniture will continue to be gathered and dropped off throughout the day, so there will always be a fresh selection of goods. Please note, shoppers need to be able to haul away the furniture they select. Delivery service is not available.

Acceptable donations include:

Sofas/couches
Desks
End tables
Recliners
Kitchen tables
Coffee tables
Dressers
Headboards
Entertainment centers

Donations that will not be accepted include:

Dishwashers
Pianos
Grills
Washers/dryers
Televisions/monitors
Mattresses
Refrigerators
Computers
Lamps

Volunteers are available to pick up furniture donations at the curb for anyone in the Manhattan city limits. This year, volunteers will only pick up a maximum of five furniture items per location. Please note, furniture sets such as a table and chairs will still only count as one item. To register for pickup service, please sign up online at cityofmhk.com/furniture or call the city manager’s office at 785-587-2404 during regular business hours. The deadline to register for pickup service is 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 26. Please note, all items for donation pick up need to be at the curb by 7 a.m. Friday, June 28. Volunteers will not enter homes to pick up donated furniture.

Donations can also be dropped off at Miller Field in City Park from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, July 28.

Any furniture left unclaimed at 3 p.m. will be open to the general public without registration. At 3:30 p.m., the event will end. Any remaining pieces will be hauled away by staff and volunteers.

If weather conditions prevent the event from taking place on July 28, it will be canceled.

Volunteers needed
It takes lots of help to make Furniture Amnesty Day happen. HandsOn Kansas State is organizing the volunteer effort again this year. Anyone interested in helping out can sign up online here. Volunteers can choose which three-hour shift works best with their schedule. Drinks and snacks will be provided.

Manhattan’s annual Furniture Amnesty Day is hosted by the city of Manhattan, Staley School of Leadership, HandsOn Kansas State and Konza United Way. For more information, visit cityofMHK.com/furniture.

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Category: Service-Learning and Civic Engagement

2022 Mandela Washington Fellows: Youth development changemakers

What is service-learning?

K-State Strengths and Blue Key Senior Honorary hosting “Spotlight on Strengths”

HandsOn Kansas State to host mobile food distributions this fall

Mandela Washington Fellows’ reflections: Young African leaders driving change via education

Staley School Block Party welcomes all Wildcats

Mandela Fellows Graduation Ceremony open to public

Furniture Amnesty Day to take place July 28

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