Illinois State University has launched Redbird Impact, a new magazine highlighting the community engagement and service learning of faculty, staff, and students.
The biannual publication publishes in February and October and features stories, profiles, and Q&As on the most interesting and important examples of civic engagement at the University. There are also sections featuring news briefs, community engagement opportunities, and graphics demonstrating the University’s impact in the community. All of the stories and a PDF of the magazine are available online at IllinoisState.edu/RedbirdImpact.
Redbird Impact is sponsored by Illinois State’s Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning and published in cooperation with University Marketing and Communications and the Office of the President. The center officially opened in 2016, at the direction of President Larry Dietz, as the clearinghouse for community engagement and service learning activities originating on campus.
“As interim director of the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning, I continuously learn of the myriad of ways Illinois State acts on its core value of civic engagement,” Janet Paterson said. “Through Redbird Impact, we want to recognize the students, faculty, staff, and community partners involved in these endeavors and share their inspiring stories.”
Highlights of the first issue include a story about a pair of social work students who helped confront the opioid overdose crisis in Peoria by distributing a lifesaving medication to homeless people. The magazine also looks at how the Mennonite College of Nursing’s award-winning America’s Promise project is working with Central Illinois schools to deal with a rising tide of mental health needs among children and teens, and at a new student-led organization providing free clothing repairs in the community in a move to bring attention to wasteful practices in the fashion industry.
“We hope these stories inform readers about the impact the University is having locally and beyond,” Editor-in-Chief Kevin Bersett said. “We also hope to inspire campus members to become more civically engaged at the University if they are not already.”
To keep up with civic engagement news between issues, follow the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning at Facebook.com/CommunityEngagement.IllinoisState and Twitter.com/ilstucommengage.
