Auburn University at Montgomery’s Civil Rights and Civic Virtue Society (CRCV) concluded its third and final summer seminar in June, having had a significant impact promoting civic engagement and understanding of civil rights history, said its director.
CRCV has successfully engaged the AUM campus by “bringing AUM faculty, staff and students together to learn about the community and its history… Also, finding ways to serve,” said Stallings, who is also the University Honors Program director.
The seminar was held from June 27-28, with the first day having Dr. Aaron Cobb as a speaker and the second day as community service with Mercy House. Dr. Cobb showcased a PowerPoint that talked about the importance of civil rights and civic virtue. His PowerPoint discussed different virtues with their meanings, nuanced interpretations of being courageous (or brave), and The Purpose of Education (1947) by Martin Luther King Jr.
For day two, students, faculty and staff took the Warhawk transit bus and headed to West Montgomery, where the homeless shelter, Mercy House, is located. The CRCV fellows arrived at the New Walk of Life Church, where Pastor Ken Austin and his team of leaders at Mercy House spoke about their initiatives and opportunities for future leaders. AUM’s group was then split into two, where everyone got to choose between working with the kids or packing up food.
One of the groups visited a kindergarten classroom, where AUM students Tyrenna Causey and Taylor McGill created games for the kids to play. First, we started outside by playing jump rope and drawing on the ground with chalk. Then Taylor came up with the idea of making a restaurant so that the kids could test their skills with memorization. One child would be chosen as the waiter while the others got their orders taken and they paid with money we made for them to use. To end our time with the kids, we played Heads Up-Seven Up.
In interviews with students who participated in the seminar for the first time, they each felt very happy to give back to the Montgomery community. Senior communication major Jennifer Tolbert said, “Even though it was hot outside and I was sweating everywhere, what made me have a good time was making the community service into a game.” Tolbert, who is from Mobile, added, “I wanted to make sure I got as much done as I possibly could so people can have these goods.” Junior exercise science major Nixon Mejia said, “In the moment, I didn’t see the effect I had on the community, but afterward, seeing the people lined up for the food was the most rewarding part.” Both students had the opportunity to participate in packing the food and witnessed firsthand how the community around Mercy House greatly appreciated their hard work.
Even though this is the last year for the CRCV Summer Seminar program, all participants are encouraged to still give back to the community and follow the virtues of the program. More information about the CRCV can be found on AUM’s official website, where upcoming events can be found.
