Where Leaders Address Social Issues and Elevate Community Engagement
The Center for Civic Leadership (CCL) is a nationally recognized institute for citizen leadership development that provides high-quality educational programs and initiatives that enhance civic leadership skills.
Our mission is to foster and promote the development of civic leaders who are committed to addressing and solving community problems. This leadership model emphasizes collective action through collaboration for the purpose of addressing social needs and injustices.
While civic participation and public service provide a vital role in our democratic society, it is the link with leadership that helps shape the decision-making process and its outcomes. These citizens identify key issues, raise questions, voice opinions, challenge traditional authority and take appropriate actions. Our purpose is to create a new generation of engaged, dedicated citizens who have the capabilities to act on behalf of the greater public good.
"If you are going to get involved, then you lead. That's where you can make the biggest difference." - Omer G. Voss.
Sharing the Collective Responsibility to Encourage Civic Learning
We endorse the view that higher education has the responsibility to prepare students to be active citizens. We also believe colleges and universities hold the responsibility to maintain a positive, direct impact on the communities in which they reside. Through various civic learning and community engagement activities, the CCL continues to serve this dual purpose.
We define “civic learning and engagement” as academic and co-curricular activities that develop civic knowledge, skills and values that benefit an entire community. By participating in community service, attending service-learning classes or discussing social and political issues, Fort Hays State students learn and act on behalf of their communities.
We are proud of and thankful for the dedication and service of our past and current participants as we await future students to join us in continued community building and leadership development.
Center for Civic Leadership April Events
April 4th: Stripes for Hopes Virtual Letter Sending Party
Ballroom, Memorial Union, 5:00pm-7:00pm
Stripes for Hope is throwing their annual Virtual Letter Sending Party on April 4th, and they are looking for volunteers to help run their event! They need volunteers to assist with check in, donation pages, prizes, and games. Contact Marisa Carman at mscarman@mail.fhsu.edu if you would like to help!
April 4th: Times Talk: Identity Politics
South Study Space, Forsyth Library, 12:00pm-1:00pm
Dr. Jay Steinmetz of the Political Science department will be presenting on identity politics and liberalism based on the New York Times opinion article by Mark Lilla entitled “The End of Identity Liberalism”. Free pizza and salad will be provided to the first 20 attendees.
April 5th: RAINN Day
Memorial Union Patio, 10:30am-3:00pm
Join the Women’s Leadership Project in our annual event, RAINN Day. Stop by the Memorial Union Patio to get a blue triangle on your hand (symbolizing a megaphone) to show your peers that you care about and are committed to speaking up about sexual violence.
April 6th-7th: Volunteer Flood Relief Trip to Nebraska
Nebraska
Tigers in Service is partnering with Alpha Kappa Psi and Encounter to take a group of students to Nebraska to assist with flood relief. Students will leave early in the morning on the 6th and return in the evening of the 7th. Volunteers will most likely be staying in a church or school gym for the night. Transportation will be provided.
April 13th: SGA’s Big Event
Memorial Union,8:30am-4:30pm
Student Government Association is holding their annual Big Event on April 13th. The Big Event is an event where students go out into the local Hays Community and participate in various service projects for many different organizations, non-profits, businesses, and residents. The Big Event consists of a morning shift and an afternoon shift, you can participate in one or both! If you are interested, reach out to Student Government Association for more information.
April 13th-14th: Alternate Weekend to Tanganyika Wildlife Park
Goddard, KS
Tigers in Service is traveling to Goddard, KS to volunteer at Tanganyika Wildlife Park for the weekend of 13-14! We will be assisting Tanganyika with yard work, organizational work, and cleaning! Our group will drive down Saturday, spend the night in Wichita, and drive back on Sunday. A $45 deposit is required.
April 15th-19th: What Were You Wearing
Forsyth Library
The Women’s Leadership Project has partnered with Jana’s Campaign and Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services to bring the powerful “What Were You Wearing” display to Forsyth Library. Read the stories of survivors and view the visual contradiction of the rape culture myth that clothing contributes to the risk of sexual violence.
April 17th: Times Talk: Domestic Terrorism
South Study Space, Forsyth Library, 12:30pm-1:30pm
Dr. Patricia Levy of the Social Work department will be talking on domestic terrorism in the United States. Free pizza and salad will be provided for the first 20 attendees.
April 19th: What Makes You Civically Engaged
Memorial Union, 11:00am-1:00pm
Join the American Democracy Project to find out if you are civically engaged! Participants will answer a questionnaire about what makes you civically engaged, get their picture taken for the American Democracy Project’s Facebook page!
April 19th-20th: Kiwanis Annual Easter Egg Hunt
VFW/Fort Hays Campus, 5:00pm-7:00am
Tiger In Service is helping Kiwanis of Hays in looking for volunteers to help with their annual Easter Egg Hunt! On April 19th volunteers will be stuffing eggs with candy at 5 pm at the VFW (2106 Vine St). On April 20th volunteers will be hiding the eggs around the FHSU campus at 7am. Kiwanis of Hays would love any help stuffing or hiding the eggs for the Hunt!
April 20th: Habitat for Humanity of Ellis County House Repair
Ellis KS, 12:00pm-4:00pm
Tigers in Service will be taking a group of students to a house in Ellis to help with repairs! We will be volunteering from noon to 4pm and transportation is provided! This is a great way to help out our local community and will be a great help to the Habitat for Humanity Homeowner.
April 22nd: Earth Day
Memorial Union, 11:00am-1:00pm
American Democracy Project is partnering with Tigers In Service and the Global Leadership Project. We will have a fun game, giveaways, and information about how to be environmentally sustainable.
April 23rd: Community Flower Planting
Hays, KS, 3:00pm-6:00pm
In honor of Earth Day, Tigers In Service will be taking students to plant flowers in the yards of local elderly and disabled community members. Transportation and supplies will be provided! Just bring your Green thumb!
April 24th: Denim Day
Memorial Union Feature Wall, 11:00am-2:00pm
On April 24th, millions of people across the world will wear jeans with a purpose to support survivors, and educate themselves and others about all forms of sexual violence. Be sure to visit the Women’s Leadership Project’s table to register yourself as a part of this national event, get a sticker letting others know that you are protesting sexual assault, and use our custom snapchat sticker!
April 25th: I Am Evidence
Stouffer Lounge, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Join the Women’s Leadership Project for a film screening of “I AM EVIDENCE”. The film tells the story of four survivors whose rape kits went untested for years, following them as they navigate their way through the criminal justice system and learn that so often, the system is broken. Conversation and discussion will follow the screening.