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Students, faculty, and staff passionate about civic action and community engagement are invited to discuss and learn during annual Civic Action Academy. The academy welcomes participants from colleges across the Midwest and will be hosted on 51��ɫ’s campus on Nov. 10–11.

Each year, the academy brings together students and higher education professionals to share their work and build skills in civic leadership and social change on college campuses. Conference sessions are led by students, faculty, and community leaders and offer professional development in leadership, dialogue, advocacy, and more.

51��ɫ’s own professor of sociology and American studies Kesho Scott will be one of this year’s keynote speakers, opening the conference with an address on Friday evening. Scott is an award winning author and the founder of International Capacity Building services, a cultural competency training team specializing in human rights and unlearning “-isms” workshops. She has led hundreds of professional and community-based workshops to empower participants in civic action and unlearning racism work.

Tania Mitchell, University of Minnesota, will also provide remarks and facilitate a student panel on Saturday. Mitchell’s research in U of M’s College of Education and Human Development centers on civic identity, service-learning, social justice, and student learning and development.

In addition to student programming, this year’s Civic Action Academy will offer a professional development track for faculty and staff. The Civic Engagement Mini-Summit will include sessions led by Scott and Mitchell and will focus on equity work in the fields of higher education and community engagement.

Registration for the academy and summit will remain open until Friday, Oct. 27.

About Iowa and Minnesota Campus Compact

“Iowa and Minnesota Campus Compact strengthens the capacity of colleges and universities to fulfill the public purposes of higher education through its network of 56 campuses. This includes educating students through community and civic learning experiences and making an impact in communities through reciprocal partnerships that address community-identified goals. IAMNCC creates partnership opportunities, supports quality programming through professional development, and promotes the importance of the civic mission.”