GW Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service

08/14/2020

new profile pic, same commitment to service. :-)

08/04/2020

Paid Opportunity for Students! Become a Student Recruiter and enlist your peers to #PowerThePolls on Election Day. You'll get a $500 stipend for just 3 weeks of work! Learn more at: https://compact.org/education-for-democracy/safe-elections-project/.

06/15/2020

go.gwu.edu/commissioner

06/08/2020

Upcoming #GWInSolidarity events! Register at go.gwu.edu/GWInSolidarity.

06/05/2020

#GWInSolidarity is a series of programming grounded in providing the GW Community with space to process, heal, learn, and work towards action against hate and oppression. Register at go.gwu.edu/GWInSolidarity

06/05/2020

DOS Diplomat in Residence - North Central

The Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) is perfect for students looking for a way to make a real difference in the work of this country, while also gaining job experience and connections. Students can work on projects that advance the work of government on multiple fronts. Projects include helping counter violent extremism, strengthening human rights monitoring, developing virtual programs and many others. VSFS is accommodating and flexible.
Join me this coming Tuesday, June 9 at 2:00 pm Eastern Time here on Facebook for a Facebook Live session on how you can do a federal internship from dorm rooms to libraries to coffee shops -- or anywhere in the world with a broadband or internet connection -- on a timetable that fits your life. Register at: http://tinyurl.com/y9v8pl9p

05/06/2020

Over the next week we will be shouting out some of our graduating students! 🎓 We know you guys will continue to be changemakers wherever you go! Check each student's picture caption for a note from their supervisor!

Over the next week we will be shouting out some of our graduating students! 🎓 We know you guys will continue to be changemakers wherever you go! Check each student's picture caption for a note from their supervisor!

05/05/2020

Over the next week we will be shouting out some of our graduating students! 🎓 We know you guys will continue to be changemakers wherever you go! Check each student's picture caption for a note from their supervisor!

Over the next week we will be shouting out some of our graduating students! 🎓 We know you guys will continue to be changemakers wherever you go! Check each student's picture caption for a note from their supervisor!

05/04/2020

Opinion | How a bus ride tells the story of a crisis that existed long before the virus hit

"How a bus ride tells the story of a crisis that existed long before the virus hit" This article was written by Nashman Center alum Joy Sharon Yi who graduated from the Corcoran School in 2017!

The bus is a lifeline through poorer areas of Washington, D.C., where food and services can be hard to reach. And it tells the story of a crisis that existed long before the coronavirus hit.

05/04/2020

Over the next week we will be shouting out some of our graduating students! 🎓 We know you guys will continue to be changemakers wherever you go! Check each student's picture caption for a note from their supervisor!

Over the next week we will be shouting out some of our graduating students! 🎓 We know you guys will continue to be changemakers wherever you go! Check each student's picture caption for a note from their supervisor!

05/01/2020

Over the next week we will be shouting out some of our graduating students! 🎓 We know you guys will continue to be changemakers wherever you go! Check each student's picture caption for a note from their supervisor!

Over the next week we will be shouting out some of our graduating students! 🎓 We know you guys will continue to be changemakers wherever you go! Check each student's picture caption for a note from their supervisor!

05/01/2020

Thank you all for following us this week as we shared the stories of our CGI-U recipients! Learn how you can also be a changemaker at serve.gwu.edu/gwupstart! 💻
#changemakercampaign

05/01/2020

Zaniya Lewis
Major: Political Science
Minor: Human Services and Social Justice
Graduation Year 2020

1. What have you learned throughout the process of applying and receiving the CGI U grant?
I learned to make sure I am intentional about the culture of my organization. Since then, I have developed new onboarding trainings for my organization. My team and I developed new core values for my organization. These core values are the principles that guide each decision we make. The core values serve as a guide we will follow to ensure we achieve our mission and vision.
I have not received the CGI U grant yet, so I am currently waiting for the funds.

2. What advice would you give to other students that want to apply to the CGI U program?
I would say to go for it! I would say to make sure you have an idea of what you hope to accomplish. It is okay, if your idea changes.

3. What is one thing that you have learned about yourself during this quarantine?
During these. quarantine I had to take a small break and take care of myself.

4. How has the current health crisis affected your project plan? What skills do you think you will develop through this adjustment period?
My nonprofit organization the YesSheCanCampaign was founded in 2016, as an online campaign, since then we have expanded nationwide facilitating programs online and offline. My program "YesSheCanCampaign The Climb Is Our Story" the program is from September 2019 - May 2020. The program had to be switch to an online program since the health crisis. It has affected the trips we were supposed to go on such as college tours and our climb tour "career immersion trip". I am still facilitating my program until the end of May.
I am currently taking a free social entrepreneurship course online and also teaching myself about digital marketing.

04/30/2020

Diing Lual
Systems Engineering
Graduation Year 2022

1. What have you learned throughout the process of applying and receiving the CGI U grant?
For me individually, I was on the mailing list of the Nashman center and that was how I was able to find the information the CGIU grant. The application process for me was not difficult because it was something that I was passionate about. The challenging part come in when we are actually working on consolidating and implementing the commitment to action. The best part of working on the commitment to action after receiving the grant is that you have a lot of support from the CGIU staff and the Nashman center who are willing to help you make your project a reality.

2. What advice would you give to other students that want to apply to the CGI U program?
The best way to apply for this grant is that as long as you have noted that there is a problem in the society, then you now take the next step of how to solve the problem. If you have that passion of wanting to make a difference, then you have a greater chance of being successful with the CGIU program. My project was in the ideation process and so it is okay to apply even if you just have an idea of what you want to work on. You will get a lot of help once your receive the grant to work more on the idea and put it into action.

3. What is one thing that you have learned about yourself during this quarantine?
It is okay not to be busy and at the same time, not being around people. I have always been in an environment that was full of people but during this quarantine season, it was a time to adjust to new phase of myself.

4. How has the current health crisis affected your project plan? What skills do you think you will develop through this adjustment period?
A lot of stuffs have been interfered with this global pandemic. The implementation process or getting together the team to work on the project has been problematic. However, the best part is that we can use social media to communicate with my partners and also more about projects that are doing similar projects.

04/29/2020

Diana Aguilera
Master's in Public Policy
Graduation Year 2021

1. What have you learned throughout the process of applying and receiving the CGI U grant?
It has been an awesome experience to apply and receive my CGI U grant.
I have learned so much, especially to critically think about external factors and the impact that I am trying to accomplish in the community. After receiving the grant, I was able to meet other students with similar ideas and learn from them how to manage uncomfortable situations. Also, to work with community members to help immigrants and focus on their needs. I believe it is important to listen to immigrants’ concerns and issues rather than implementing a project without their voices.

2. What advice would you give to other students that want to apply to the CGI U program?
Do it without hesitation. Apply even if you are insecure and your idea is still on paper. I was not expecting to get that much support and assistance from many people encouraging me to be bolder, assertive and determine. Sometimes we are our own worst critics and don’t glimpse the potential we possess. We live in an age where technology is shaping our world, and we need to use it to our advantage to create Commitments to Actions to help the community

3. What is one thing that you have learned about yourself during this quarantine?
For a moment, I stepped back and thought about what I am doing with my life right now. We live in a fast-paced society where we forget that the smallest details are important. I learned I can live without many materialistic things that don’t bring me joy. Going through every item I possess has helped me to be thoughtful about my priorities in life. What do I cherish? What truly makes me happy? This quarantine has help me to slow down, look at the world from another perspective and just use the resources and things that I truly need in order to continue with my life.

4. How has the current health crisis affected your project plan? What skills do you think you will develop through this adjustment period?
COVID-19 has affected my project in so many ways. I was thinking to create social meetings to gather people and discuss mental health. With social distancing, and stay at home regulations, it’s impossible to carry out my idea and meet with health specialists. I can no longer create our community meetings with immigrants and health centers. I am still thinking about how I can make some changes that would help me to still carry on with my project. It has been challenging during this time to adjust to everything happening during this pandemic. Immigrants are not only scared of getting the virus, they are scared of going to hospitals because they do not have health coverage, which creates more stress and anxiety during this pandemic.
I think that I will develop more data management and quantitative research skills. How to create a website that suits the needs of the immigrant population in times of crisis, and analyze the intersection of health and government policies to tackle epidemics.

04/28/2020

Rachel Onianwah
Masters in Political Management
Graduation Year 2022

1. What have you learned throughout the process of applying and receiving the CGI U grant?
Throughout this process I have learned to set realistic goals for myself. I still have the same goals but I have set miniature goals for me to reach so that I won't over extend myself during this project and can continue to do it even after I have graduated from CGIU.

2. What advice would you give to other students that want to apply to the CGI U program?
Honestly, I was very hesitant about submitting my application. I thought my call to action was not good enough to pick. I would advise students to submit an application regardless. I am very honored to have been given this opportunity and this opportunity gave me the push to start my own NGO. But I want to tell other students that even if they are not accepted, this experience does not define you or the change that you want to implement in the world.

3. What is one thing that you have learned about yourself during this quarantine?
One thing I learned about myself in this quarantine is that I am more creative than I think. I have ideas and I have learned to write them down as they come to me. I literally have a little notebook that is catered to my ideas. I have learned to calm down and journal on a day when I feel overwhelmed. It is hard being a full time employee, a full time student, and being a start up NGO. Rome wasn't built in a day and I am learning that everything is a process.

4. How has the current health crisis affected your project plan? What skills do you think you will develop through this adjustment period?
I was a little disappointed because I planned on hosting my first conference in Nigeria in December but due to COVID-19, it looks like I am unable to do so. But I am using this opportunity to plan more and advertise myself more.

04/27/2020

Divya Rath
B.S. of Neuroscience & Public Health Minor Candidate
Graduation Year 2022

1. What have you learned throughout the process of applying and receiving the CGI U grant?
Through the application period and up to receiving the CGI-U grant, the biggest lesson I've learned is that it only takes one grant to kick-start your growth as an organization. I initially wasn't very hopeful about receiving the grant from CGI U as it is a competitive application process, but I was extremely grateful and ecstatic when I found out that I would be able to become a part of their network as they have many helpful resources for aspiring leaders. With CGI-U's support and mentorship, I have been able to successfully grow my Commitment To Action (CTA) and begin collaborating with more individuals and organizations, which is vital to increasing the impact the initiative makes on members of society.

2. What advice would you give to other students that want to apply to the CGI U program?
I would tell prospective students to have trusted mentors and peers read over their applications, as they are able to give an objective point of view and can really make beneficial edits; however, don't doubt yourself and make sure that your application reflects what YOU want to convey to the committee. Even if you feel like you're not ready to apply, if you think that your idea has the slightest potential of making a difference in the world, then give the application your best shot and go for it!3. What is one thing that you have learned about yourself during this quarantine? From this quarantine, I realized that mentality has played a large role in my ability to adjust to the circumstances that COVID-19 has brought upon me. By viewing the extra time I have in a positive way, I've been able to motivate myself to stick to a schedule and put forth effort towards my academics, my CTA, and maintaining a state of wellbeing during this period of isolation.

4. How has the current health crisis affected your project plan? What skills do you think you will develop through this adjustment period?
When I got the announcement that COVID-19 was going to cause my university to shut down, I was initially very apprehensive about how my project would be affected. I normally do all of my networking by meeting people in person, and the fact that COVID-19 was going to stop that was intimidating. Additionally, CGI-U is a phenomenal networking event, and I was so sad that I'd be missing out on a wonderful opportunity to connect with like-minded peers who had the same motivation to change the world for the better. However, I am truly blessed in that my commitment is mostly virtual-based; within the first few days of announcements of school closures, I was surprised to see that 8 new students signed up for tutoring services through my commitment, and it helped me realize that although that I might be stuck at home for the next few months, I could still aid my community by helping these children learn in a virtual environment. The students registering motivated me to engage in more organizational outreach through Facebook and Instagram, as my project now has a major need for both tutors and students. I have also been able to practice my on-line communication and website developing skills, as all facets of my project are being completed electronically. Even though COVID-19 is ushering a new realm of challenges for people across the world, I hope to use my CTA to help students who may be dealing with a difficult adjustment period during this transition to online learning.

04/27/2020

Follow us this week to learn more about our 2019-2020 CGI-U recipients! We will post a new student story each day! #changemakerweek

04/24/2020

Coming soon: #changemakercampaign. Follow our Twitter, Instagram, & pages and share your own story with our hashtag! 🐝

04/20/2020

This Wednesday on our Instagram: ask our GWServes team questions about PVSA and using GWServes to record your impact! 🐝 Need help now? Book a one on one at calendly.com/gwservessupport or check out our instructional videos at youtube.com/user/gwserves !