November 5, 2010

 
Many Beloit College students' academic and professional goals include a desire to contribute to the public good through public service and/or advocacy. The shape of this goal takes many forms including, but not limited to the study of and work in:

• criminal justice and law
• public education
• non-profits and non-governmental organizations
• elected or appointed government office
• public policy
• urban planning
• public health
• community development
• community organizing
• social activism

Fortunately, there are many alumni who live in the Chicago area and have established competence and careers in these areas and are eager to share their experiences. Public Service and Advocacy Day (November 5, 2010) provided a one day field trip for 52 students to meet with alumni working in a variety of contexts, including advocacy, activism, analysis, policy development, management and direct service.

• Access Living is a non-profit that advocates for people with disabilities defending civil rights and providing resources. Marca Bristo’74  is the Executive Director. Gary Arnold’92  is the Director of Communications. We visited their LEED certified office, which has received awards for accessible design.

• Center for Neighborhood Technology promotes urban sustainability through information driven public policy and promotion of technological innovation. CNT received a MacArthur Award for organizational innovation. Kathyn Tholin’77 and Nicole Gotthelf’76 who helped to start CNT welcomed us.
  

• The Mikva Challenge is a non-profit begun by Mary Mikva’74 and her husband, BC Trustee, Steve Cohen to equip Chicago Public High School students for political change and leadership.

The afternoon panel included:

• Michael Axelrod’05, Political Science, Grant Park Global, LLC Partner
• Margaret Miles’08, Sociology, Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
• Kristen Monnard’09, Anthropology, VISTA AmeriCorps Community Organizer and Educator
• Nitin Rao’00, Economics and Management, U.S. Government Accountability Office Analyst
• Kristine Zimmerman’96, University of Illinois at Chicago Center of Excellence in Women’s Health Director

Other alumni also joined us for a networking reception.  Students completed their day with dinner in the Pilsen neighborhood, a Latino community with many restaurants.