Civic Engagement
Civic Engagement as an array of knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors that in combination allow individuals to contribute to the civic life of their communities. At VT Engage we equip civic leaders on campus to explore their responsibilities and roles in society, AND with the knowledge to engage with political systems and processes.
Hokies Vote
Many college students have the opportunity to vote for the first time while they are in college, yet finding the time to learn and navigate the voter registration process can be challenging for busy students. At VT Engage, we equip students with the knowledge and skills to be civic leaders, and understanding the voting process is a critical part of that work.
Over the past two years, VT Engage has assisted more than 1,000 students with voter registration. Through the Hokies Vote Caucus and Democracy Fellow Interns, we provide year-round, nonpartisan voter engagement programs across campus, helping students navigate the rules and fostering a culture of active civic participation at Virginia Tech.
Access to Activism events bridge the gap between Virginia Tech students interested in civic engagement and community professionals actively working on related issues. Organized by the HVC, these events aim to reduce the stigma students often feel around discussing politics on campus by creating welcoming, educational spaces for dialogue. Participants have the opportunity to learn about issues impacting their local community and to hear directly from practitioners who are addressing those challenges in meaningful ways. Through these experiences, students build an understanding of organizational behavior, pathways for creating change, and the importance of social responsibility, while gaining practical insight into how civic engagement can take shape beyond the classroom. By connecting students with real-world changemakers and grounding civic issues in lived community experience, Access to Activism equips emerging civic leaders with the knowledge, skills, and sense of responsibility needed to work toward more just and equitable outcomes.
If you are interested in partnering with us on an Access to Activism event, please contact Billy McKeon at billym427@vt.edu.
What is NREC?
The New River Environmental Coalition is a group of students, staff, and community members interested in promoting sustainability through mutually beneficial partnerships to create a collective impact in the New River Valley. It's all about sharing resources and information, collaborating, and building community.
Three main annual components:
- NREC Student Social
- NREC Community Social
- NREC Combined Events) bringing together campus and community
- Initial meeting
- Annual meeting/summit/workshop
What inspired NREC?
There are so many different student organizations, individual students, individual community members, and community organizations that are all interested in sustainability and working towards making the New River Valley more sustainable. While there are some strong partnerships that are already formed, we wanted to create a space for all of these groups to be able to engage with one another and provide support and encouragement. We are still encouraging the individuality of all these groups; the work that everyone is doing is unique and important. We just wanted to create a space for people to engage across borders.
Who is planning NREC events?
The current planning committee for NREC is made up of a current undergraduate student, Jordyn Lewis, who had the initial idea for this collective; two staff members,Billy McKeon with VT Engage and Emily Vollmer with the Virginia Tech Office of Sustainability; and a community member, Mark Benson, who is committed to addressing social justice issues.
Who can be involved? Who is missing?
Anyone interested in improving sustainability (environmentally, economically, or socially), is welcome to be involved with NREC and to attend the annual meetings. As this is the first year of the program, we recognize that not everyone is represented here today. Our goal is to continue to expand the reach of this program over time to connect with students at Radford and more community members within the entirety of the NRV, not just Blacksburg and Virginia Tech. If you know of anyone who should be included in future communications regarding NREC, please let the planning team know.
If you are interested in learning more about NREC, please contact Jordyn Lewis jordynlewis@vt.edu.
For the Common Good is a program housed within the Democracy Fellows initiative at VT Engage. Its mission is simple yet powerful: to encourage students to ask thoughtful questions about the world around them and their role within it. On a college campus, conversations about social issues can often feel intimidating or uncomfortable, yet these discussions are essential to expanding our perspectives and strengthening our democratic culture.
For the Common Good creates accessible, engaging, and welcoming spaces where students can explore complex and sometimes avoided topics in ways that feel approachable and meaningful. Through interactive events and peer-to-peer conversations, students are invited to learn from one another, share experiences, and practice having dialogue across differences.
By participating in For the Common Good, students develop critical dialogue skills, deepen their understanding of systems and structures that shape their communities, and reflect on the responsibilities they hold as members of a diverse and interconnected society. Ultimately, the program empowers students to see themselves as active contributors to the common good and equips them with the tools needed to thoughtfully engage with the social issues that impact their lives and communities.
Interested in collaborating on a Common Good event? Contact Billy McKeon at billym427@vt.edu to learn more.