Community Engagement

Literature on Community Engaged Scholarship

Kretzmannn, J. P., & McKnight, J. L. (1993). Building communities from the inside out: A path toward finding and mobilizing a community’s assets. Skokie, Il: ACTA Publications.

Garoutte, L. & McCarthy-Gilmore, K. (2014).  Preparing students for community-based learning using an asset-based approach.  Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning 14 (5), 48-61.

Get Involved!

Get Involved!

There is is an evolving community of Mason students, faculty, administrators, alumni, and community partners who are active and passionate collaborators in effecting positive social change. Discover the variety of ways you can get involved in something great. Explore the links below to learn how to join in Community Engagement activity at Mason.

 

    • Alpha Phi Omega (Service Fraternity) – Alpha Phi Omega is a coeducational national service organization that provides it members the chance to develop leadership skills through service projects on their campus, in their community and across the nation. While other groups volunteer, making the world a better place is not their primary focus. This is why more than 430,000 students have chosen APO since our founding in 1925. We function based on the principles of Leadership, Freindship and Service. If you check us out, you will learn what it truly means to be a friend, be a leader and be of service.

 

    • Alternative Break – Mason’s Alternative Break (AB) programs are collaboratively designed by students and staff to address social issues through education and community service.  Alternative Break teams face challenging issues such as discrimination, inadequate housing, hunger, and poverty.  Students emerge from these experiences transformed with new ideas, perspective, and experiences that inspire active and engaged citizenship.

 

    • Community-Based Learning Courses – CBL is an umbrella term for experiential learning that balances student learning and meeting community needs.  This includes projects such as service-learning, advocacy, skills-based service, or community based research.

 

    • Connect Northern Virginia – This website, developed through leadership from Mason professor Alan Abramson, has a searchable database of every nonprofit organization in the area.

 

    • Field Studies – Field Studies at SAIL defines “field experience” broadly to encompass a wide spectrum ranging from the natural world to human populations in their respective social and cultural contexts and settings, including how individuals behave in families, neighborhoods, and communities. Within these field experiences, students apply their theoretical classroom knowledge in “real world” settings, which then becomes theoretically interpreted using a praxis model of application.

 

 

    • Leadership and Community Living Learning Community – The Leadership and Community Engagement LLC offers students the opportunity to live with like-minded peers interested in exploring social concerns, in order to become an active part of solutions through community engagement. Residents examine local and global issues through academic study and activism, with an emphasis on leadership, positive change and active citizenship.

 

    • MasonLeads – Explore a site where you’ll discover a wide range of leadership programs and initiatives for members of our campus community. Leadership is a common thread that connects the entire Mason community. Our commitment is to engage our students, faculty, staff and alumni in creating a socially conscious, civically engaged, and global campus community through leadership at all levels of our institution.

 

    • Mason Service Corps – Students in Mason Service Corps will earn 1 academic credit for every 45 hours of service in the community. Mason Service Corps students will meet as a class, where they will discuss issues related to community engagement, creating social change and topics around social justice.

 

    • Pop-Up Food Pantry The Pop Up Pantry provides food, clothes, toiletries, and school supplies to George Mason University students, staff and faculty in need. Pop Up Pantry is supplied by donations from students, registered student organizations, George Mason University academic departments and offices, and local community members.

 

    • Student Involvement  At the Office of Student Involvement we encourage students and  staff to think creatively.  We want everyone to contribute ideas and think of new ways they may enhance campus and their experience at Mason. There are many ways to be creative with the type of experience you’ll have during your time here.

 

    • Sustainability Living Learning Community – The Sustainability LLC is an on campus residential community housed on Piedmont 2nd for students united by their vision for a cleaner, healthier, and more equitable future for our planet. Students on the hall come from all majors, class years, and walks of life.

 

    • Volunteer Fairfax  – This local volunteer center maintains a database of current volunteer opportunities, which you can search by your own criteria, such as: location, volunteer interests or your applicable skills. Volunteer Fairfax is the primary place the nonprofits and service agencies in our area post both their volunteer and their donation needs.

 

Looking for more service opportunities? CLICK HERE

Mason Professor Fights to Prevent Domestic Violence Through the Power of Media and Community Engagement

InCredAble Conference at Godwin Middle School

Mason students will engage adolescents residing in Prince William County- Godwin Middle School on Saturday, April 11th from 10:00am-4:00pm, in a full day of building leadership skills that will benefit them now and in the future. The InCredAble Conference will focus on the principle that a strong leader should have the courage to stand up for what they believe in and to speak up for what is right, even in difficult circumstances.

CLICK HERE for more information!

Family Weekend Day of Service

This year The LEAD Office is coordinating the 2016 Family Weekend Day of Service on Saturday, October 17th (location and time TBD). We invite you to participate in one or more of our signature service opportunities to serve the local community. The Family Weekend Day of Service is open to the entire campus community and it’s FREE!

Registration for the Family Weekend Day of Service will open in early September.

For more information visit the Family Weekend Day of Service link at http://lead.gmu.edu/leadership-programs/fw/

Fear 2 Freedom

SAVE THE DATE: SEPTEMBER 22, 2015

Fear 2 Freedom is a global non-profit dedicated to redeem and restore the lives of those affected by sexual assault, bringing them hope and healing. Our goal is to raise awareness of sexual abuse, bring change through vigilance and healing through compassion. We are in the business of “restoring joy” to those who have been sexually assaulted, encouraging them on their own journey from fear to freedom.

SAIL Service Fair

Join Social Action and Integrative Learning on September 11th, 2015 for their George Mason University Service Fair as part of Mason’s 9/11 Day of Service. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about various community organizations and the volunteer opportunities they may offer.

Held on the North Plaza from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, join us for a great afternoon of engaging with our local community partners!

If you are a community partner, and you are interested in hosting a table, please CLICK HERE to sign up by September 5th, 2015.

For more information, visit SAIL’s Service Fair page at http://sail.gmu.edu/events/4400.

Mason 9/11 Day of Service

The Mason Nation 9/11 Day of Service kicks off with an educational panel on Thursday, September 10, 2015 followed by an array of service projects on Friday, September 11, 2015. This exciting, collaborative, university-wide initiative is open to ALL Mason students, faculty, and staff. Let’s work together on a range of service projects across Mason’s campus to honor the memory of those who were tragically lost on 9/11. Get involved today! Visit the Mason 9/11 Day of Service website at http://911day.onmason.com/

MasonVotes 2015-2016

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MasonVotes

A university-wide committee, strives to create awareness and conversation around voting and elections (local and national) for the Mason community. All students, faculty and staff are welcome to participate. Student Media oversees the student-run MasonVotes website, http://masonvotes.gmu.edu, and is always looking for content contributors.
 
To get involved, please attend a meeting, or contact Alissa Karton, akarton@gmu.edu, for more information.
 
2015 – 2016 MasonVotes Meetings
 
2015

August 7, 4pm, 222 Founders Hall, Arlington Campus
September 11, 3pm, HUB 1012, Fairfax Campus
October 16, 3pm, HUB 1012, Fairfax Campus
November 13, 3pm, HUB 1012, Fairfax Campus
December 11, 3pm, HUB 1012, Fairfax Campus
 
2016

February 5, 3pm, HUB 1012, Fairfax Campus
March 4, HUB VIP 3, Fairfax Campus
April 1, HUB VIP 3, Fairfax Campus
May 6, 3pm, HUB 1012, Fairfax Campus

Nonprofit Fellows

The Nonprofit Fellows are a select group of students who earn a minor in Nonprofit Studies in a single semester immersion experience.  Fellows are enrolled in an integrated combination of coursework and credit-bearing internship, earning a Minor in Nonprofit Studies in a single 15-credit semester.  The program emphasizes: personal attention from faculty through small class sizes taught by scholars and community leaders; experiential learning through internships experiences, guest speakers, and field trips to nonprofit organizations in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.; integrated learning through all three courses and internships; and a highly motivated community of learners.

For more information:  http://ncc.gmu.edu/programs/la-minor-nc-nps