Students boost community involvement at nonprofit summit, volunteer fair

Lindsay Moore from Project C.U.R.E. speaks to students during a session on “Working Across Borders,” held April 5 at MTSU's third annual Nonprofit & Social Innovation Student Summit. (MTSU file photo by Andy Heidt)

MTSU students are invited to participate in the fifth annual MTSU Nonprofit & Social Innovation STUDENT Summit and Volunteer/Internship Fair on Tuesday, April 3, in the Student Union Ballroom.

The event is free to students and open to all majors and interest areas.

The Volunteer/Internship Fair, held from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., will provide opportunities for MTSU students and staff to connect with over 34 nonprofit organizations about volunteer and/or internship opportunities.

This year’s summit features the following session topics; see the flier below for full details.

• 9:40 a.m. — “A Socially Innovative Mind,” including students and alumni who followed their passions to better the world through the creation of their own nonprofit and socially innovative entities.
• 11:05 a.m. — “Advocacy — Key Strategy for Social Change,” including nonprofit leaders who share the important role advocacy plans in having a real impact on complex social issues.
• 1 p.m. — “Shaping the Narrative and Real Collaboration,” which is open to the public. Learn from the local Murfreesboro Loves community action group how to collaborate and shape the narrative told about your work, or your town, rather than having that narrative dictated by others. This last panel will share lessons learned from the successful collaboration in response to white supremacists organizing a march in Murfreesboro in fall 2017.

Organizers said the session times will mirror class times so students can come and go as their schedules allow.

Dr. Janet McCormick

Dr. Leigh Anne Clark

For more information and a list of nonprofits coming to the Volunteer Fair, and to register for free for the event, go to http://mtsustudentsummit.eventzilla.net. Students can also register on-site.

For more information about the summit, contact Dr. Leigh Anne Clark, association professor of management, at la.clark@mtsu.edu.

For more information about the Volunteer and Internship Fair, contact Dr. Janet McCormick, associate professor of organizational communication, at janet.mccormick@mtsu.edu.