Fifteen students majoring in psychology, social work, sociology / anthropology, and business have participated in the Social Advocacy Living Learning Community throughout Fall 2019. The Social Advocacy LLC program empowers students to be aware of cultural and social diversity within our society. They are surrounded by fellow students who are enthusiastic about advocacy, equality, social justice, and social inclusion. The students in the program gain skills such as increased self-awareness, knowledge of rights, effective communication, leadership, networking, and the ability to work in diverse environments. The program is made possible by successful partnerships between the Department of Housing & Residential Programs and the Social Work and Psychology academic departments.
The students have accumulated over 427 hours through their participation in various activities, including attendance at education programs, LLC bi-weekly meetings, and participation in service projects. Housing scholarships totaling $30,000 will be awarded to the 15 students in the program who successfully met various participation and service requirements.
Educational programs included:
- Day-long Leadership Summit
- Courageous Conversations
- Documentary and Dialogue Series
- Breast-A-Ville
- Project Condom
- Poverty Simulation
Service projects included:
- United Way Day of Caring
- Otter Creek Cleanup
- Food distribution to homeless in downtown Lancaster City
- PrideFest
- Multicultural Showcase
Social Advocacy LLC students were also involved in various clubs and organization on campus, including Alliance for Social Change, Food Recovery Network, Circle K, The Snapper, and Helping Paws. Finally, during a screening of the documentary Suicide: The Ripple Effect, the program students created and displayed an expressive arts exhibit to offer insight into internal struggles one with mental illness may experience, as well as offer messages of hope and encouragement to others who may be struggling.
The Department of Housing & Residential Programs is very proud of the Social Advocacy Living-Learning Community and very thankful for our faculty partners leading this highly impactful LLC, including Drs. Karen Rice, Kat Walsh, and Shaun Cook.