Welcome to today’s Enriching Experiences icebreaker Welcome to today’s Enriching Experiences icebreaker. We’re going to take a few minutes to learn a little more about each other and a little more about one of the Enriching Experiences that you may have heard about as part of the UTEP Edge.

Community Engagement: Definition Involvement in the community in structured activities for the purpose of helping others while learning new skills, ideas and concepts in society.  Today we’re going to do an icebreaker about Community Engagement. When I say “Community Engagement” as an Enriching or High Impact Experience – what do you think of? That’s right, pretty straight forward – community engagement is participating in your community. There are lots of ways to do that through UTEP. Some in classes, some on your own, some in clubs and organizations, many through UTEP’s Center for Civic Engagement. [When you click again, the definition will appear.] Have any of your classes included community service or civic engagement? If yes, what are they? How many of you have done community work through church? In high school? In other ways? Why do you think UTEP would specifically design community engagement programs? [Looking for answers such as to improve the community, to connect classes and majors to the community, to give students experience, etc.]

Define Community Engagement Today’s objectives: Define Community Engagement Connect your talents to Community Engagement for Lifelong Success Find Community Engagement opportunities for you at UTEP Here’s what we want to accomplish in the next few minutes. Will you read the first one? Thanks. We’ve done that – defined community engagement. Will you read the second one? Thanks. So, start thinking about your talents, your strengths, your skills and how they contribute to you finding and learning from community engagement opportunities then how they will contribute to your lifelong success. And, will you read number 3 for us? Thanks. So, we’ll finish up with finding some community engagement opportunities through UTEP that you can join.

Community Engagement Activity Divide into groups of 3 - 5. Think of three things that you think are good and special about El Paso. What community engagement activities could you do to make those good things about El Paso even better? What can each member of the group contribute to that activity? Send an email to edge@utep.edu with your best answer to enter a drawing for a prize. Include your group members’ names and email addresses. OK, now for today’s activity. [Paraphrase the slide instructions.] [Give everyone a minute to count off and get in groups. Work the room helping each group come up with good things about El Paso – some ideas to help them get started are weather, food, proximity to Mexico, good schools, etc. Help them think of connections to community service such as connecting good food to people who need it, etc.] How was that? Let’s hear something from each group? What are your good things about El Paso and your community engagement idea?

Center for Civic Engagement (www.utep.edu/cce) Community Engagement Talk with your instructor, academic advisor, or campus employer about ideas for this experience. Center for Civic Engagement (www.utep.edu/cce) The CUE (https://utep.galaxydigital.com/) Peace Corps (https://academics.utep.edu/peacecorps) If you can change a classroom, you can change a community, and if you change enough communities you can change the world. Erin Gruwell So, that’s an introduction to Community Engagement at UTEP. There are many ways to get involved in our El Paso community that will both add to your strengths, assets, and experiences as well as make our town a better place for all of us. Thanks.