Center for Civic Leadership (CCL)
Mission and Philosophy
The Center for Civic Leadership (CCL) is a nationally recognized institute for citizen leadership development. Through its many projects, the CCL provides high-quality educational programs and initiatives designed to enhance civic leadership capabilities among participants.
The mission of the Center for Civic Leadership is to foster and promote the development of citizens and "civic leaders" who will address and solve community problems. This model of leadership emphasizes collective action through collaboration for the purpose of addressing social needs and injustices. Civic leadership is a contemporary theory that calls for the development of citizen leaders who are committed to making our world a better place.
While civic participation and public service provide a vital and critical role in our democratic and free society, it is the link with leadership that helps shape the decision-making process and its outcomes. Beyond service, these citizens identify key issues, raise questions, voice opinions, challenge traditional authority, and take the appropriate actions when necessary. The purpose is to create a new generation of citizens who empower themselves and have the skills and capabilities to act on behalf of the greater good.
Civic Learning and Engagement
The Center for Civic Leadership (CCL) endorses the view that higher education has the responsibility to prepare students to be active and engaged citizens. We further believe that colleges and universities also have a responsibility to have a positive and direct impact in the communities in which they reside. Though our various civic learning and community engagement activities, the Center for Civic Leadership aims to serve this dual purpose.
We define "civic learning and engagement" as educational activities (both academic and co-curricular) that are designed to develop civic knowledge, skills, and values resulting in actions that directly benefit the lives of a community. By participating in community service, attending a public forum about a community of public issue, participating in a service-learning class, or discussing social and political issues with classmates, FHSU students learn and act on behalf of the greater good.
"If you are going to get involved, then you lead. That's where you can make the biggest difference." - Omer G. Voss.
Upcoming Events
April 3rd - Times Talk: Cuddly Killers; Join the American Democracy Project and Dr. Greg Farely; Dean of the College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics, for a discussion of the cuddly killers lurking in your bushes. Free pizza and salad will be available for the first 20 attendants.
Forsyth Library, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
April 3rd - Victim-Blaming Awareness Day; Victim-Blaming Awareness Day is where people everywhere fight rape culture, support survivors of violence, and take a stand against victim-blaming. We will be partnering with Amy Gildemeister from the Sexual Assault Prevention and Student Affairs Office.
Memorial Union Table, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
April 10th - Equal Pay Day; Equal Pay Day symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year. Women’s Leadership Project will also be raising awareness about the gender pay gap along with the pay gap between each race.
Memorial Union Table, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
April 17th - Consent is Sexy; Amy Gildemeister from the Sexual Assault Prevention and Student Affairs Office will be having an open discussion about the importance of consent. As well as discussing sexual health, interpersonal abuse, relationship abuse, and sexual assault.
Memorial Union Table, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
April 17th - Voter Registration Drive; Stop by our table in the Memorial Union and get registered to vote! It is quick, easy, and you’ll leave that day as a registered voter.
Memorial Union Table, 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM
April 18th - Times Talk: Revenge Porn; Join the American Democracy Project and Dr. Kweilin Lucas as she discusses a different kind of sexual abuse: revenge porn.
Forsyth Library, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
April 18th - Embroider Your Way to Freedom; Join us to learn about various aspects of India and create a work of art through embroidery! Free henna tattoos will be available!
Memorial Union, Cody Commons, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
April 19th - Take the Next Step, Write Your Rep; Join the American Democracy Project and practice your civic engagement by writing a letter to your Representative about an issue important to you.
Stouffer Lounge, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
April 23rd – 24th - What Were You Wearing?; The purpose of this installation is to provide a tangible response to one of our culture's most pervasive victim blaming tactics by asking what a victim was wearing when they were attacked or raped. Outfits that survivors were wearing when they were assaulted were recreated.
Forsyth Library
April 25th - Denim Day; Denim day where people are encouraged to wear jeans for sexual assault awareness. Wear your jeans with a purpose educate yourself as well as others about sexual assault!
Memorial Union Table, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM