Beyond the Classroom students at the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C.
By Jennifer Rottenberg, BTC Student
On December 6th, 2013, Beyond the Classroom hosted its Civic Leadership Forum. Students in two of the courses, UNIV325 and UNIV326, gave presentations on civic research and internship experiences. I gave two presentations: one on my internship with the Jewish Volunteer Connection, and another on the civic issue of dental healthcare. Some of the other civic issues presented were global warming, human trafficking, and gun control. Even more varying were the different internships people participated in: one with America Reads*America Counts, another at Maryland Therapeutic Riding, and a third at Maryland Hillel. The wide range of issues tackled by students shows that Beyond the Classroom has really exposed us to what it means to have civic engagement: finding issues that you are truly passionate about, and doing your best to create change!
I was extremely impressed with the other presentations at the forum, and found the event to be very illuminating on the multitude of issues we face as a society, and how much just one of us can make a difference. One student did a presentation on Global Warming. This is not a topic I know much about, yet I was extremely immersed in the presentation, and learned more about the issue then I expected. Right after, another student did a presentation on human trafficking. These issues are extremely different, yet both demand immediate attention. Having such a variety of issues really brought home the importance of civic action. A third student talked about her internship with America Reads America Counts, and described all the work she does with the children she tutors. Seeing how much she has accomplished in one issue, and then learning about even more, can be very intimidating. However, instead of making the task seem daunting, the structure of the forum incorporated presentations on civic issues and internships, so it left us feeling inspired to tackle new issues!
Overall, the forum gave new insight into what it means to go “beyond the classroom.” It showed how there are issues demanding our attention, and that by applying ourselves, we can find a way to tackle these issues through becoming involved with nonprofits. The forum was a great way to tie up everything we have learned this semester about civic action and how one person can make a difference.
Students for a Better World: The Beyond the Classroom Blog 