USM Center for Community Engagement

08/31/2026

Want to graduate with more than just a degree? 🎓 The Citizen Scholar distinction is your chance to stand out, build your resume, and make a real impact during your time at Southern Miss by completing 100+ community service hours and one community-based learning experience. Start building your legacy and set yourself apart by applying today! Got questions? Reach out anytime at [email protected] or (601) 266-5322.

Citizen Scholar Application: tinyurl.com/citizenscholars

08/27/2026

Looking for a fun way to volunteer? Hattiesburg Parks & Recreation needs volunteers for their free afterschool art program! Help kids ages 6–11 get creative and explore different art mediums every Tuesday this fall and spring at the Rebekah Stark Johnson Community Arts Center.

Make a difference in a young artist’s week by signing up today!
https://volunteer.usm.edu/need/detail/?need_id=1295812

08/26/2026

Give back and score free items this weekend! The Oseola McCarty Youth Development Center is hosting a Free Community Giveaway Day, and they need volunteers to make it a success.

The event takes place this Saturday, August 29, from 7 AM to 3 PM. Community members will be able to pick up free household supplies, clothes, toys, and more.

Whether you can stay for the whole day or just pitch in for an hour or two, any and all help is welcome. Sign up on their volunteer page to lend a hand: https://volunteer.usm.edu/need/detail/?need_id=1301187

08/26/2026

The fall semester is officially here!🦅Want to make new friends and give back to the community while you're at USM? Visit volunteer.usm.edu to explore hundreds of volunteer opportunities. Whether you love tutoring kids or prefer transcribing historical documents from your couch, there’s a perfect match for every interest and schedule!

07/23/2026

https://new.shelterluv.com/form/volunteer/HUB/66192-volunteer

07/16/2026

Tonight's the night!📽️ Join us for a film screening of Abraham's Bridge, a short documentary following Omaha's Tri-Faith Initiative from its start in 2005 to the present day.

This event is free and open to the public from 6-8 p.m. at Parkway Heights United Methodist Church. Light refreshments will be served with a group discussion to follow at the end of the screening.

07/14/2026

Can a church, synagogue, mosque, and interfaith center built side-by-side in the American Midwest hold the blueprint for bridging our deepest divisions?

Join us at Parkway Heights United Methodist Church for a screening of "Abraham’s Bridge," a short documentary following Omaha's Tri-Faith Initiative from its bold 2005 beginnings to the present day.

This event is free and open to the public on Thursday, July 16th from 6-8:00 p.m. Light refreshments provided, with a community discussion to follow the film.

Discover what happens when diverse communities risk building a dream together.

07/08/2026

CCE director Christy Kayser and Parkway Heights UMC associate pastor David Sellers were on WDAM Sunrise this morning inviting our community to participate in an upcoming film screening and discussion. Our hope is that this event is a conversation starter for ongoing dialogue in our community about working together across divides.
RSVP to attend: https://spark.pluralitymap.com/events/better-together-film-festival-abraham-s-bridge

The event will be on July 16, at 6:00 p.m. at Parkway Heights United Methodist Church.

07/02/2026

Something is missing from our social fabric these days... and it's the opportunity to sit across the table from someone who thinks differently than you and have a civil conversation about your perspectives.

Join us on July 16 as we discuss what is lost when we stop listening to other perspectives and reflect on what we can gain.

🎬Better Together, Despite Ourselves: A Film and Discussion
📅 July 16, 2026, 6-8pm
🎟️ Parkway Heights UMC (2420 Hardy St. Hattiesburg)

The Center for Community Engagement at The University of Southern Mississippi, in partnership with Parkway Heights United Methodist Church and the Listen First Coalition, will host a free screening of the award-winning documentary Abraham's Bridge on Thursday, July 16, as part of the third annual Be...

06/23/2026

CCE is excited to be participating in the Third Annual Better Together Film Festival! Join us at Parkway Heights UMC on July 16 for a film and conversation about how our differences don't mean that we can't be good neighbors.

📅 July 16, 2026, 6-8pm
🎟️ Parkway Heights UMC (2420 Hardy St. Hattiesburg)
🔗 Learn more & get involved: https://bit.ly/3Sp61u6