2014 ENGAGE Week

Be a part of UAA's fourth annual ENGAGE Week, a series of events highlighting UAA's commitment to community engagement. The week will be filled with activities for students, staff, faculty and community members to explore civic engagement, dialogue on social issues and learn about community engagement and leadership opportunities. This is your chance to get involved, learn and make a difference.

The schedule of events is listed below. All events are open to campus and community (some events may require a fee for campus parking). For questions or more information, please visit the ENGAGE Week website or contact the Center for Community Engagement and Learning (CCEL) at (907) 786-4062 or engage@uaa.alaska.edu.

Sunday, Nov. 2

Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Urbanism Workshop 1-4 p.m. | Anchorage Museum Reynolds Classroom

Join UAA's Center for Community Engagement and Learning and the Alaska Design Forum to learn how citizens around the world are improving their cities through DIY urbanism tactics. Plus, participate in a hands-on workshop where community members and designers will collectively work together on Alaska Design Forum's Cabin design challenge. This workshop is currently full. To join the wait list, visit the CCEL website.

Monday, Nov. 3

What is it to be a student leader? 1-2:30 p.m. | Lyla Richards Conference Room (Student Union, Room 103)

Join faculty mentors and student leader groups for an interactive dialogue about the several student leadership programs currently running or planned at UAA.

Making a Welcoming Community: Inclusive Practices of Community Participation and Design 6-8 p.m. | Rasmuson Hall, Room 117

Join Jeff Hou, professor at the University of Washington, for a keynote address for ENGAGE Week centered on the theme, "A Welcoming Community." Hou is department chair of landscape architecture with a background in planning and creative place-making. He has published extensively on the design of communities for inclusion and public participation.

Note: Free parking provided for this event in the West Campus Central Lot (north side of Rasmuson Hall) or Sports NW Lot only.

Tuesday, Nov. 4

Oh, the Places You Will Go: A Second Bridge Scholarship Experience 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. | Lyla Richards Conference Room (Student Union, Room 103)

Rachel Wintz, a UAA sociology and Civic Engagement Certificate alumnus, will give a talk on her Second Bridge experience and the places and experiences it led her to, including trips to Guatemala, Peru and Colombia. Wintz is currently in the process of applying for a Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship.

Education in Rural Alaska: A Faculty-Student Outreach Project in Chevak 1-2:15 p.m. | Lyla Richards Conference Room (Student Union, Room 103)

Megan Marquis, the Second Bridge Scholarship winner for 2014, will present with Irasema Ortega on the work they completed this summer in Chevak, Alaska, as part of an ongoing community-engaged project with this rural Alaskan village.

Wednesday, Nov. 5

The Washington Center: Semester in Washington D.C. 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. | Lyla Richards Conference Room (Student Union, Room 103)

Two UAA student participants from summer 2014 will describe their experiences completing the semester in D.C. Sara Clement Biggs, director of admissions at The Washington Center, will also present. Interested faculty and students are encouraged to attend. Scholarships have been available for Alaska students each year.

UAA Celebrates Alaska Native/Native American Heritage Month 12-2 p.m. | Student Union, Cafeteria

Join in a "Share the Spirit" celebration featuring a luncheon, speaker and Alaska Native dance.

Dialogues for Public Life-Over the Edge: When the Substances We Use Become a Problem 6-8 p.m. | Student Union, South Cafeteria

Join UAA Professors Stephanie Bauer (Department of Philosophy) and Donna Aguiniga (School of Social Work) for a deliberative community forum addressing a critical community issue, moderated by their. For this session, substance abuse will be discussed using a National Issues Forum approach. Bauer's and Aguiniga's trained Community-Engaged Student Assistants (CESAs) will moderate. Both professors are part of a Kettering Foundation cohort this year in training university and community members to discuss public issues in civil discourse.

Thursday, Nov. 6

Think Tank: Refugee Resettlement in Alaska 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. | UAA/APU Consortium Library, Room 307

Join Jessica Kovarik, state refugee coordinator for Alaska and director of the Refugee Assistance and Immigration Services (RAIS) program, to brainstorm on a policy or practice question related to refugee resettlement in Alaska.

Career Opportunities for Socially-Minded Students 5:30-7 p.m. | Rasmuson Hall, Room 122

Co-sponsored by UAA Career Services Center and CCEL, this interactive dialogue will feature several UAA alumni speaking about the varied positions students with a vision and passion for nonprofit or public work could explore.

Friday, Nov. 7

Dialogues for Public Life-World Café 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Student Union, South Cafeteria

Emerging from Wednesday evening's session, this World Café session will explore in more depth some of the important themes of the Community Forum discussion. CESAs will lead and facilitate.

Alaska Food Policy Conference 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Lucy Cuddy Hall

This two-day conference will be held at the Lucy Cuddy Hall Friday and Saturday. It is hosted by UAA Health Sciences and will feature a poster session coordinated by CCEL on Friday and food trucks on Saturday. Admission fee for conference and festival. For more information, visit the conference website.

Thank you to all of the partners and sponsors helping make ENGAGE Week happen: UAA Career Services Center, UAA Ethics Center, Alaska Airlines and Moose's Tooth.