BreakingGround

A man and woman in professional clothing stand outdoors in front of a manicured lawn and trees

UMBC launches Center for Democracy and Civic Life at a critical national moment

“We can develop the knowledge, skills, and resourcefulness to work across differences and address challenges together, and to build thriving civic communities,” says David Hoffman, director of the new center. “UMBC is the perfect setting for that kind of learning, with so many people and programs already contributing to a vibrant civic culture.” Continue Reading UMBC launches Center for Democracy and Civic Life at a critical national moment

Man in suit stands at podium that holds a glass trophy. Multicolored post-its stick to the wall behind him.

American Democracy Project honors UMBC’s Philip Rous for leadership in civic engagement

UMBC participants were involved with organizing and presenting sessions, tours, and special events throughout the Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Meeting, which offered representatives from colleges and universities across the nation a chance to discuss forward-looking community-building and civic engagement strategies. Continue Reading American Democracy Project honors UMBC’s Philip Rous for leadership in civic engagement

Baltimore Sun highlights UMBC’s focus on empowering students as leaders, partners, and community-builders

UMBC is a “hub of diversity and commitment,” said David Hoffman, assistant director of student life for civic agency. “We are preparing students to change the world for the better by teaching them to think critically and envision themselves a co-creators of community. That starts with the campus community.” Continue Reading Baltimore Sun highlights UMBC’s focus on empowering students as leaders, partners, and community-builders

UMBC hosts Imagining America 2015 with local partners

Educators, cultural leaders, and activists from across the country will convene in Baltimore this week for the Imagining America National Conference, hosted by UMBC. This groundbreaking four-day gathering asks how, in the wake of the Baltimore Uprising, the arts, humanities, and design can help our city heal and grow. At its core, Imagining America emphasizes the power of many voices coming together to envision our nation’s future, engaging with topics like race, inequality, and community-based approaches to spur collective action. UMBC was selected as host thanks to a track record of powerful civic work and commitment to fostering innovative, engaged… Continue Reading UMBC hosts Imagining America 2015 with local partners

David Hoffman, Student Life, Outlines Attributes for Civic Engagement on American Democracy Project

When the American Democracy Project met in New Orleans last month, founder George Mehaffy described some early civic engagement efforts as “marginal, episodic, and celebratory.” David Hoffman, assistant director of student life for civic agency, responded to Mehaffy’s comments by suggesting language to describe positive attributes of civic learning and democratic engagement efforts. “We need equally clear and concise language to describe the positive attributes of profoundly valuable and impactful civic learning and democratic engagement efforts,” Hoffman wrote on the American Democracy Project’s website. He proposed four attributes that should describe civic engagement efforts, including integral, relational, organic, and generative.… Continue Reading David Hoffman, Student Life, Outlines Attributes for Civic Engagement on American Democracy Project

David Hoffman, Student Life, Considers Higher Education’s Future in Zocalo Public Square

Zocalo Public Square, a non-profit website specializing in humanities journalism, recently invited scholars to describe the ideal 21st century university. David Hoffman, assistant director of student life for civic agency, responded with an article emphasizing the need for universities to become spaces for discourse and action in order to remain relevant in society. In the article, Hoffman discussed UMBC’s response to the Baltimore protests in the wake of Freddie Gray’s death, noting that the campus teach-in focused on sharing knowledge to support construction action in a way that respected everyone’s stories and abilities to contribute. “That spirit of mutual respect… Continue Reading David Hoffman, Student Life, Considers Higher Education’s Future in Zocalo Public Square

BreakingGround Initiatives Highlighted in Diversity & Democracy

Beverly Bickel, associate director of Language, Literacy and Culture doctoral program, Craig Berger, and David Hoffman, Student Life, were published in the latest edition of Diversity & Democracy, a publication by the Association of American Colleges and Universities. In the article, Bickel, Berger and Hoffman write about the democratic strands in UMBC’s history and how BreakingGround initiatives are fostering civic engagement and imaginative thinking. They describe how transparency and authenticity created spaces for positive contributions, saying “[BreakingGround’s] philosophy emphasized that individuals and collaborative groups are powerful agents of meaningful change, and that students deserve genuine respect as agents in their… Continue Reading BreakingGround Initiatives Highlighted in Diversity & Democracy

David Hoffman, Student Life, Publishes Chapter in Democracy’s Education

David Hoffman, assistant director of student life for civic agency, wrote a chapter in the recently published Democracy’s Education: Public Work, Citizenship and the Future of Colleges and Universities. The book challenges educators to rethink the meaning of citizenship and education. Hoffman’s chapter, entitled “Fostering Civic Agency by Making Education (and Ourselves) ‘Real,’” describes the philosophy of BreakingGround, a collaborative approach to innovative campus and community engagement at UMBC. Hoffman draws on his research and experience at UMBC, focusing on students who gained civic agency by causing meaningful change on campus through launching new organizations and engaging in purposeful conversations.… Continue Reading David Hoffman, Student Life, Publishes Chapter in Democracy’s Education

UMBC’s BreakingGround Featured in AASCU Monograph

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) released a new monograph entitled Becoming a Steward of Place: Four Areas of Institutional Focus. A section of the publication focuses on civic learning and engagement and uses UMBC’s BreakingGround as a model for creating seamless learning environments. “BreakingGround [is] a campus-wide initiative uniting students, faculty and staff in fostering changes in the academic curriculum, co-curricular activities and campus culture,” the report states. “Students taking BreakingGround courses, participating in BreakingGround programs, and sharing stories on the BreakingGround website are learning to: think entrepreneurially about social challenges, work collectively to bridge differences,… Continue Reading UMBC’s BreakingGround Featured in AASCU Monograph

UMBC, Loyola’s Sellinger School of Business Establish Kiva U Chapters With Grants from OneMain Financial

UMBC and Loyola University Maryland’s Sellinger School of Business and Management are establishing Kiva U microfinance programs, made possible by grants from OneMain Financial, that will offer loans to local and global communities in need. The $25,000 grants will make UMBC and Loyola’s Sellinger School the first two formally designated Kiva U chapters in Maryland. Kiva U seeks to engage students and educators in a global effort to expand financial inclusion, foster community, and have a tangible positive impact on issues that matter to them. UMBC is quickly building a national reputation as a hub for scholars committed to making… Continue Reading UMBC, Loyola’s Sellinger School of Business Establish Kiva U Chapters With Grants from OneMain Financial

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