Civic Engagement Events

Event:             Pizza & Perspectives Series (#4): Black History Month Round Table Date:               Thu Feb 27, 2020 (Chicago): 12 – 1pm Location:        RM 5006 (Chicago - 122 S. Michigan) Leader(s):      Meghan Harris, Civic Engagement Center Ambassador

Come to a safe space to share over lunch your feelings about your community, race & culture, injustices, political beliefs, social issues, as well as other civics-related topics. 

For more information, see the flyer: P&P Chicago Black History Month - Feb 27, 2020‌

Event:             Pizza & Perspectives Series (#3): Congressional Office Date:               Wed Feb 12, 2020 (Chicago & Wheeling): 12 – 1pm Location:        RM 348 (Wheeling) & RM 4012 (Chicago - 122 S. Michigan) Leader(s):      Chicago: Leslie Combs, District Director for Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL 9th); Wheeling: Karyn Davidman, Representative for Congressman Brad Schneider (D-IL 10th)

Over 50 students combined on the Wheeling and Chicago campuses joined for a lunch hour Q&A with representatives from the IL-9th and IL-10th congressional district offices. The representatives spoke about their roles in the congressional office and answered students' questions on topics ranging from healthcare, to immigration, to education (such as the RISE Act as an alternative to FAFS), among many others. There was a great deal of discussion focused on the difference between state and federal programs and laws.

For more information, refer to flyers:  P&P Wheeling - Feb 12, 2020 or  P&P Chicago - Feb 12, 2020

Event:             Pizza & Perspectives Series (#2): The Constitution Date:               Wed Jan 22, 2020 (Wheeling) / Thu Jan 23 (Chicago): 12 – 1pm Location:        RM 343 (Wheeling) & RM 4012 (Chicago - 122 S. Michigan) Leader(s):      Chicago: Valerie Vistain, Assistant Professor & Department Chair                        Wheeling: Dr. Douglas McCoy, Assistant Professor

Does the Constitution control you, or do you control the Constitution? For more information, see flyers P&P Wheeling - Jan 22, 2020 or P&P Chicago - Jan 23, 2020 

Both the Wheeling and Chicago lunch hour discussions, facilitated by Professors McCoy and Vistain, were oversubscribed, attracting well over 50 student participants! Students debated and voiced their opinions about the meaning of Constitutional rights, federal and state election process, gun laws, Electoral College, and many other Constitution-related topics. 

Event:             Pizza & Perspectives Series (#1): What is impeachment? Date:               Thu Nov 14, 2019: 12 – 1pm Location:        RM 4012 (Chicago - 122 S. Michigan) Leader(s):      Gregory Budunov, PhD, Manager of Civic Engagement Center

The first Pizza & Perspectives lunch was oversubscribed! More than 25 students, administrators, and faculy came to enjoy the pizza and learn about the constitutional, historical, and modern perspectives on the impeachment process, as well as how to evaluate media sources in an unbiased way. Most enthusiastic participants stayed for the full lunch hour to engagle in a lively discussion about anti-impeachment and pro-impeachment arguments.   

Event:             2^ndAnnual College Leadership Summit: Make Your Voice Count

Date:               Fri Oct 11, 2019 from 9am to 4pm (depart NLU downtown at 8am)

Location:        Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center – 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie

Leader(s):      Valerie Vistain, Assistant Professor & UGC Social Department Chair

                       Gregory Budunov, AmeriCorps VISTA & Civic Engagement Center Administrator 

NLU Civic Engagement Center nominated the following students for the leadership summit:

• Aryanna Boatner (Senior – Downtown)
• Daikira Brown-Turner (Sophomore – Downtown)
• Odalys Cordova Gonzalez (Freshman - Wheeling)

Students participated in three breakout sessions where they heard from and worked with specialists in the fields of social justice, genocide prevention, and civic engagement. Students networked with peers and left with a working plan to take action in their communities.

For student and logistics info, contact Gregory Budunov – gbudunov (at) nl.edu

For administrative info, contact:  Jessica Hulten, Education Outreach Coordinator, IHM Education Center – Jessica.Hulten (at) ilhmec.org or visit www.ilholocaustmuseum.org

Event:         Envisioning Justice – Exhibition and Discussion

Date:           Exhibit: Tue Oct 8, 2019 at 4pm (group visit) / Discussion: Thu Oct 10, 2019 at 12 noon

Location:    Exhibit: SAIC Sullivan Galleries – 33 South State St. (for group visit – meet on 2^nd floor);

Leader(s):  Dr. Karin Steinbrueck, Assistant Professor of Humanities & Social Science, Undergraduate College

What happens when you center the voices of those most directly affected by the criminal legal system to reimagine justice using the arts and humanities? Dr. Steinbrueck, a Fulbright Scholar and former Peace Corps volunteer, who holds PhD in Modern European History from Northwestern University, led the viewing of the Envisioning Justice exhibition on Tue Oct 8 (see Envisioning Justice Flyer).

On Thu Oct 10, during October’s Civic Reflections lunch, NLU students, faculty and staff came together to discuss the role art can play in advancing social justice. Participants shared their experience of the Envisioning Justice exhibition with IL Humanities curators and staff who shaped the exhibition, which explores Chicagoans’ vision of justice.  The UGC Humanities Department and NLU’s Civic Engagement Center organized the event as part of their Civic Reflections monthly series.  For more information about or suggestions for future Civic Reflections contact CEC Administrator Gregory Budunov - gbudunov (at) nl.edu or Assistant Professor Karin Steinbrueck - ksteinbrueck (at) nl.edu 

IL Humanities staff (L to R) Jane Beachy, Jameson Paige and Tyreece Williams share their experience organizing the Envisioning Justice Exhibition.