At the Appalachian Center for Civic Life, we believe you have the skills, knowledge, and understanding to be an active and engaged citizen of this place and to make a meaningful difference in the community. Check out the project opportunities below or stop by and see us to learn how you can connect your passions to civic engagement!
Civic Leader Scholars work with Rivers Way
Students volunteer their time to organize the shelves at the Stinger's Supply Shelf, a free resource to students on campus. The Supply Shelf includes snacks, toiletries, and school supplies.
Ongoing Civic Engagement Projects
First year student, Ryan Vaughn, working on digitizing interviews for the Appalachian Oral History Project.Over the course of many years, students, faculty, and community members conducted and recorded personal interviews with thousands of citizens across the region. The Appalachian Center for Civic Life has embarked on a project to digitize Emory & Henry’s portion of the oral history collection. Access the digital Appalachian Oral History Project collection here.
There are lots of ways to get involved in this project, if you are interested, email Scott Sikes at ssikes@ehc.edu.
Mount Pleasant Preservation Society works to preserve and tell the story of African American life, culture, and history in Marion and Smyth County, Virginia.
Student volunteers work to organize, catalog, digitize, and archive documents related to African American history and life in Smyth County, Virginia
To learn more about the work Mount Pleasant Preservation Society is doing, check out this video.
If you are interested in getting involved in this project, contact Scott Sikes at ssikes@ehc.edu.
First year students work with BRDC to clean up trails.Blue Ridge Discovery Center is a non-profit organization located in Troutdale, VA that is dedicated to exploring, discovering and sharing the natural history of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Center does this through a variety of programs and projects including: School Programs, Summer Camps, Naturalist Rallies, Research, Restoration, and most recently, through their Field Station and Group Campground. Learn more on their website.
Our students have worked with BRDC on trail maintenance and removal of invasive species.
ePortfolio created by members of the Social Justice Project.The Social Justice & Action Project has the long term goal of producing students that are actively engaged as lifelong citizens by addressing issues affecting the local community.
Students volunteers involved in this project will be paired with a local community organization already doing work around social issues.
If you are interested in joining this project, contact Bradley Hartsell at bhartsell@ehc.edu.
Appalachian Community Connectors, an organization based in Marion, VA, is conducting a series of conversations among community members in order to build connections and common ground between neighbors.
Emory & Henry students have assisted with developing assessment tools for the program and also have the opportunity to be trained as facilitators in order to lead discussion groups.
If you are interested in joining this project, contact Scott Sikes at ssikes@ehc.edu.
Through the hard work of many students and faculty, the Emory & Henry Garden yields hundreds of pounds of produce every year.
This food “serves four Head Start early childhood development programs, local restaurants and even E&H students at the cafeteria.”
Learn more about the E&H Garden on their webpage or follow along on their social media.
Even if you aren’t taking a class that works in the garden, you can still help as a volunteer.
In partnership with the Art League of Marion, Emory & Henry students are collecting stories and memories from local artisans who regularly participate in the Hungry Mother Festival.
Students are working to compile the stories so that they may be shared digitally and at the festival ahead of the 40th anniversary of the event.
If you are interested in joining this project, contact Scott Sikes at ssikes@ehc.edu.
The Hungry Mother State Park Project is for students who like the outdoors.
This project is a great mixture of research for exhibit creation and maintenance of the nine beautiful trails in the park.
If you are interested in getting involved in this project, contact Bradley Hartsell at bhartsell@ehc.edu.
Stinger’s Supply Shelf is a free resource for all E&H students. Here students can pick up a meal, snack or the ingredients to prepare a meal with no questions asked. A wide variety of toiletries, personal hygiene products, and school supplies are also available.
To learn more about the Stinger’s Supply Shelf, check out the website.
Student volunteers will help educate, promote, and maintain the Stinger’s Supply Shelf. We are always looking for creative and new ideas to meet the needs of our students on campus. If you are interested in getting involved in this project, contact Leah Wilson at lmwilson@ehc.edu.
Student podcasters manage guests and various discussion topics, from highlighting other projects to campus culture. They facilitate the interview, edit the content, then share the finished product.
This group is always looking for fresh, new ideas. If you’re interested in getting involved reach out to Ryan Vaughan at rwvaughan21@ehc.edu.
The Southwest Virginia Museum Experience is a consortium being developed to support the promotion and help develop the capacity of the museums and historical societies of SWVA.
There are two main goals of the project.The first is to develop and maintain promotional materials (website, mobile app and print brochure) promoting the museums of SWVA. The second is to support coordination, partnerships and capacity building opportunities so that the museums can collaborate more effectively.
If you are interested in getting involved, contact Megan Hamilton at mhamilton@ehc.edu.
Students in the CVIN 250 course work collaboratively with Tal to create a video for the Watershed Advisory Board.The Watershed Project is an interdisciplinary digital scholarship project designed to broaden civic memory and increase civic capacity in Southwest Virginia. The long term goal is to develop a public-access digital educational resource.
There are many ways for students to get involved in the ongoing work of the Watershed Project.
Partners For Stronger Communities is one of the first crisis centers to serve the state of Virginia, and addressed a wide range of community issues such as substance use, family issues, and mental health struggles.
Students who are involved in this project will work alongside PFSC in fulfilling their mission of providing service to vulnerable and marginalized residents in our community. PFSC also serves survivors of domestic, dating, and sexual violence, as well as addressing issues of poverty and homelessness in the region.
If you are interested in getting involved, contact Megan Hamilton at mhamilton@ehc.edu.
Participants in River's Way make posters to root on the E&H Football TeamRiver’s Way is a wonderful organization whose mission is to provide opportunities for youth and young adults with differing abilities to grow as individuals while making positive contributions to their community.
To learn more about River’s Way, check out their website.
River’s Way and E&H have a long standing relationship that continues to grow. Each semester, we host River’s Way for on-campus day or weekend events where participants enjoy doing crafts, watching sporting events, playing games, and fellowshipping with E&H students.
We always welcome new volunteers who would like to participate in the planning or implementing of these events. If you would like to get involved in this project, email Leah Wilson at lmwilson@ehc.edu.
The E&H Letters Project is working to create a digital archive of a collection of letters written between an E&H student and his family in the late 19th century.
The archive will include images of the original letters along with transcriptions created by current students.
If you are interested in getting involved in the Letters Project, contact Scott Sikes at ssikes@ehc.edu.
Communities In Schools is a dropout prevention organization that the Appalachian Center recently created a partnership with. The mission of Communities In Schools of SWVA is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Learn more about Communities in Schools on their website.
Together, we are developing a one-on-one mentorship program with local elementary and (eventually) middle schools students. We hope to expand the program to include on campus events involving our students and theirs.
If you are interested in becoming a one-on-one mentor or helping plan the larger events, reach out to Leah Wilson at lmwilson@ehc.edu
Based out of Damascus, VA, the Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail Club is responsible for maintaining a 60 mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail.
In addition to trail maintenance, the group also does work with preserving native species, removing invasive species, and repairing structures along the trail.
This organization is run solely by volunteers, including some E&H students. Our partnership is new and one we are hoping to grow. All are welcome to join.
If you are interested in getting involved with MRATC, contact Leah Wilson at lmwilson@ehc.edu.
Bristol Redevelopment and Housing Authority is the premier low-income housing provider in the City of Bristol, VA.
BRHA has Public Housing and Housing Choice Vouchers. In these two programs, people are able to be stably housed.
E&H students are working alongside BRHA in a number of ways, including, but not limited to, creating marketing materials, conducting surveys, and analyzing data.
If you are interested in getting involved in this project, contact Bradley Hartsell at bhartsell@ehc.edu.
Civic Leader Scholars
Civic Leader Scholars is a student organization that anyone is welcome to join. Civic Leader Scholars work to raise awareness about social issues on campus by planning and carrying out lyceum events and civic engagement projects, all while designing reflection activities that give participants the opportunity to connect what their learning and doing with long-term solutions to social problems.
The Intentional Break Program at Emory & Henry College gives students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to travel regionally and nationally over fall and spring break to:
engage in community-identified service
immerse themselves into another culture
live simply and grow in relationships
learn about and consider solutions to broader social issues
We are always planning the next Intentional Break Experience. Reach out to Leah Wilson if you are interested in joining the planning team.
Students reflected about the experience and displayed their reflections through a collage.
A game of twister broke out at the closing dinner
Closing dinner
Eliana exploring Bear Tree Lake
Scavenger hunt at Bear Tree Lake created by Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
A puzzle to determine where the scavenger hunt would take place.
A selfie at Bear Tree Lake
Blue Ridge Discovery Center provided a wonderful 3 day experience of civic engagement and education.
Students hiked around Creek Junction while learning about edible and native plant species.
Students built a display cabinet for the library space at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Cleaning the basement at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Preparing the school house for visitors at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Preparing furniture for classes at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Cleaning the basement at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Preparing furniture for classes at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Making biscuits on a stick at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Students learned how to build a fire and other survival skills.
Preparing for biscuits on a stick.
Lori taught the group about local native and edible plant species.
Students unloading mattresses for the dorm rooms at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Landscaping at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Landscaping at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Teambuilding-a blindfolded Easter egg hunt.
Teambuilding-a blindfolded Easter egg hunt.
A selfie at a scenic overlook on the way to Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Teambuilding-the "Acid River Challenge".
The chapel at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Landscaping at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Landscaping at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
A picnic near Whitetop Mountain.
Students pet and fed horses at Blue Mountain Therapy despite the pouring rain.
Preparing the facility for the new equine therapy program at Blue Mountain Therapy
Preparing the facility for the new equine therapy program at Blue Mountain Therapy
Preparing the facility for the new equine therapy program at Blue Mountain Therapy
Our partners at Blue Mountain Therapy
A hike near Whitetop Mountain.
Landscaping at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Photo Album:Spring Into Discovery- Spring Break ’22
Connect with us:
Do you have an idea for a different project? All ideas are welcome! Contact Leah Wilson, Coordinator of Civic Life - lmwilson@ehc.edu
Students reflected about the experience and displayed their reflections through a collage.
A game of twister broke out at the closing dinner
Closing dinner
Eliana exploring Bear Tree Lake
Scavenger hunt at Bear Tree Lake created by Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
A puzzle to determine where the scavenger hunt would take place.
A selfie at Bear Tree Lake
Blue Ridge Discovery Center provided a wonderful 3 day experience of civic engagement and education.
Students hiked around Creek Junction while learning about edible and native plant species.
Students built a display cabinet for the library space at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Cleaning the basement at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Preparing the school house for visitors at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Preparing furniture for classes at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Cleaning the basement at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Preparing furniture for classes at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Making biscuits on a stick at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Students learned how to build a fire and other survival skills.
Preparing for biscuits on a stick.
Lori taught the group about local native and edible plant species.
Students unloading mattresses for the dorm rooms at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Landscaping at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Landscaping at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Teambuilding-a blindfolded Easter egg hunt.
Teambuilding-a blindfolded Easter egg hunt.
A selfie at a scenic overlook on the way to Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Teambuilding-the "Acid River Challenge".
The chapel at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Landscaping at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
Landscaping at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
A picnic near Whitetop Mountain.
Students pet and fed horses at Blue Mountain Therapy despite the pouring rain.
Preparing the facility for the new equine therapy program at Blue Mountain Therapy
Preparing the facility for the new equine therapy program at Blue Mountain Therapy
Preparing the facility for the new equine therapy program at Blue Mountain Therapy
Our partners at Blue Mountain Therapy
A hike near Whitetop Mountain.
Landscaping at Blue Ridge Discovery Center.
