MSU Center for Community Engaged Learning

The Eastside Community Action Center needs volunteers for their S.T.A.R. Summer Literacy Program! Shifts are available 11:30AM-4PM, Monday-Thursday, June 22nd through August 27th. MSU student volunteers can learn more and register at https://spartansvolunteer.msu.edu/need/detail/?need_id=1257886!

This week, we're spotlighting UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities! Through this goal, we support efforts to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Learn more about the UN Sustainable Development Goals at sdgs.un.org.

Promoting sustainable programs and practices in our community can take many forms! Here are a few ways you can get involved this summer:

🍎 South Lansing Farmers Market has shifts available on Thursdays in the afternoon and evening! Help with setup and teardown, greet visitors, support small business vendors, and process food benefits for shoppers who need them. In addition, a virtual volunteer is needed to promote the market!

🍏 Meridian Township Farmers Market also needs helpers at their market booth to help visitors! Shifts are available Wednesdays in the afternoon and evening.

🥕 The South Lansing Urban Gardens need volunteers to help grow produce for neighbors! Shifts are available Thursday mornings to help with seed starting, watering, transplanting, weeding, and harvesting.

🌳 The City of East Lansing Environmental Stewardship Program is hosting their next workday at White Park this Sunday, June 14th, 10SM-12PM! Work with a team to pull invasive weeds and keep our parks healthy.

Learn more and register for these opportunities at the QR codes or on SpartansVolunteer.msu.edu!

Happy Pride Month! In June, we honor the fight for social and economic equality for the LGBTQ+ community. To learn more about resources and advocacy opportunities on campus open to Spartans of all gender identities and sexualities, visit gscc.msu.edu.

Join Campus Compact for an inspiring look into the power of student leadership and community-driven change! A four-part series showcasing Newman Fellow mini-grant projects will be held throughout June. The series kicks off on Tuesday, June 2nd with a focus on civic action and community advocacy, featuring MSU Newman Civic Fellow and Community Engagement Scholar Roberto Marcos Garcia's project creating resource kits for unhoused neighbors.

This series is open to Campus Compact members and non-members! Learn more and register at https://events.compact.org/student-impact-summer-series-2026.

(PhotoCredit - Campus Compact; Garcia pictured right)

Want to make an impact in the lives of Lansing youth this summer? Volunteer with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lansing! Opportunities to support three locations across Lansing and their gym and games room are all available now. Visit https://ow.ly/XvkT50Z1LZx or look for Boys & Girls Club of Lansing at SpartansVolunteer.msu.edu to serve with this partner!

This year's Stuff the Library event raised over $3,600 and collected over 350 books featuring diverse characters and stories for East Lansing Public Schools! We appreciated the chance to connect with school district staff while delivering books to East Lansing High School last week. Thank you to all who supported this campaign!

MSU Alumni

Ongoing volunteer opportunities are a great way to make long-term connections with community partners at any time of year! Find these opportunities and others available for the summer at SpartansVolunteer.msu.edu. (Please note - some of these opportunities may involve a second application process.)

💸 Philanthropic Volunteer Researcher (Business Charity Directory): Help Michigan nonprofits find charitable resources
🏠 Haven House Volunteer: Prepare meals, track inventory, assist families, and lead kids' activities at a shelter
🏃 Physical Activity Mentor (SPARTANfit): Help fellow students implement and maintain physical activity plans
🍲 Senior Dining Sites (Tri-County Office on Aging): Serve meals to and connect with older adults at community sites.

The Center for Community Engaged Learning is recruiting an AmeriCorps VISTA through Campus Compact for 2026-2027! Our VISTA plays a key role in supporting tutoring and mentoring initiatives at Michigan State University through the America Reads/America Counts (ARAC) program and will focus on expanding access to quality tutoring services for K-12 students in Greater Lansing by strengthening partnerships, recruiting and training college student tutors, and developing sustainable program structures.

Learn more and apply today at https://ow.ly/fE3L50YYo8L!

These community partners still need volunteers through May and into the summer! Whether you tutor students through the end of their school year or support ongoing education, whether you want to spend your break mentoring local youth or connecting the community to resources, there's a way for you to engage in Greater Lansing. Head to SpartansVolunteer.msu.edu to explore new and continuing volunteer opportunities with:

🏀 Boys & Girls Club of Lansing
📖 Eastside Community Action Center
📓 The Michigan Dyslexia Institute
➕ Lansing Everett High School
🎾 Todd Martin Youth Leadership
⛪ Hope Community Church
💸 Business Charity Directory
🥕 South Lansing Community Development Association

On April 17, our 2025-2026 Community Engagement Scholars Program (CESP) celebrated the end of a successful year of community-engaged learning at their annual showcase! At this event, Scholars shared their year of collaboration with each other and commitment to community-identified capacity-building projects with friends, family, and community partners.

“During their interview, an applicant asked us what characteristics make a great Scholar,” said CESP graduate coordinator Madge Bolek. “When I think of a great scholar, I see all of you. I see a beautiful mix of interests, passions, strengths, and aspirations for the future, which I’m sure you’ll all accomplish.”

The Community Engagement Scholars Program is an initiative offered by the Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) and the Office of the President in partnership with community organizations in Michigan. CESP, led by Bolek and program director Stephanie Brewer, Ph.D., completed its 10th year this spring and has hosted over 100 Scholars since the program’s creation.

Read more about this year's showcase and CESP at https://communityengagedlearning.msu.edu/news-announcements/2026/community-engagement-scholars-share-year-of-engagement-at-2026-showcase.