Kent State CSI - Civic and Community Engagement

"Coming from the ‘Windy City’ of Chicago, I grew up understanding the importance of looking for and caring for one’s community... I’ve always believed that if you don’t take the time to support and uplift your own community, no one else will. That’s why participating in the cleanup was meaningful to me. I’ve truly found a home here and feel a strong responsibility to keep it clean and strong."

--Kannon-Simon Payne, senior fashion design major at Kent State

Check out the "Community Spirit Inspires Kent State Student Volunteers in Post-Paddy's Cleanup" Kent State Today article: https://www.kent.edu/today/news/community-spirit-inspires-kent-state-student-volunteers-post-paddys-cleanup

The nonpartisan Kent State Votes Coalition is recruiting dedicated volunteers for this fall! We need a powerful team of Ambassadors to staff tables, deliver presentations, and conduct outreach to ensure every student knows how to:
✅ Register to vote correctly
✅ Educate themselves on the ballot
✅ And cast their vote with confidence!

https://kent.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1T9hYgl7hSBPVUW

Whether you’re a student, faculty, or staff member, your voice matters. No experience? No problem! Comprehensive training is provided.

We need your commitment from August through November 2026. Bonus points if you have summer availability!

Apply by April 20, 2026!

Today, senior Community Action Fellow Em DeLoach hosted her first free clothing swap, and it sure was a success!

Concerned about the environmental impact of fast fashion, Em’s clothing swap is designed to reduce waste and promote sustainable choices.

By partnering with campus sustainability leaders, fashion scholars, and community organizations, Em intends for the recurring swap to educate the Kent State community about textile waste while creating opportunities for connection, resource sharing, and environmental action.

Any extra clothing items at the end of the swap are donated to the Phyllis Zumkehr County Clothing Center.

Congrats, Em! We can’t wait to see this become a fixture in our university community!

The Portage County Board of Elections is in desperate need of poll workers to work the May 5th primary election! Over 100 precincts need to be staffed each Election Day in Portage County.

This is a PAID position, including training ($20) and Election Day itself ($140). Please note that you MUST be a registered voter in Portage County to serve as a pollworker, and the deadline to register is Monday, April 6th!

Learn more and apply here: https://www.portagecounty-oh.gov/board-elections/pages/precinct-election-officials-pollworkers

Need a break during finals? Unwind with "Music in the Museum" on Wednesday, May 6th, from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM in Rockwell Hall!

Join us in the 's Higbee Gallery for a special "Decompression Concert" featuring the string ensemble . A partnership among , , and , this free event offers pre-concert activities starting at 4:30 PM, creating a restorative and stress-reducing experience.

Take a well-deserved pause and recharge before your exams. For more details and to register, click here: https://forms.office.com/r/iyS9CCLL5K

Taking the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) is one of the easiest ways to practice civic engagement right here on campus. Sharing your experience leads to better resources, helps ensure more people experience belonging, and lays the groundwork for a stronger Kent State.

If you're a first-year student or a senior, you have a special opportunity to share your experience. Check your email!

As we approach the May 5th primary election, it's important to check and update your voter registration, know how to vote by mail, and get all of your questions answered!

You can do this at the Kent State Votes Voter Information Table in the first floor lobby of the Kent Student Center, every Monday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. for the rest of the year! We hope you stop by!

Concerned about the environmental impact of fast fashion, Em DeLoach--a 2025-2026 Community Action Fellow focused on environmental sustainability--developed a clothing swap initiative designed to reduce waste and promote sustainable choices.

By partnering with campus sustainability leaders, fashion scholars, and community organizations, the project helps educate the Kent State community about textile waste while creating opportunities for connection, resource sharing, and environmental action.

The first swap will take place Friday, March 27th on the MACC Plaza from 1-3 p.m.

Interested in applying for the 2026-2027 Community Action Fellow position? There's still time! Get your application in by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 16th. Apply here: https://kent.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_74dGLtT6YU2C2HQ

If you're a first-year student or a senior, please take some time to share your thoughts about your time at Kent State!

If you complete the 15-minute survey, you will be eligible for prize drawings for Apple AirTags, $40 in FLASHcash, or a Kent State sweatshirt.

Check your Kent State email for your personalized link!

The Community Action Fellow position is for you if:

• You care deeply about your community.
• You’re tired of performative engagement.
• You’re ready to move from concern → action.

Community Action Fellows applications for 2026–2027 are open until March 16th.

Shape the world around you.

Learn more and apply: https://kent.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_74dGLtT6YU2C2HQ

2026–2027 Community Action Fellows applications are now OPEN.

Some people talk about change.
Some people study change.
Community Action Fellows practice it.

If you care about food security, literacy, sustainability, civic engagement, or strengthening our shared community, this is your place.

You don’t need all the answers, just the courage to act.

Apply by March 16 at 5:00 p.m.: https://kent.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_74dGLtT6YU2C2HQ

Downtown Kent is changing, and your voice matters.

The City of Kent is exploring a major sewer line relocation project that could mean significant construction through downtown in the years ahead. Before any decisions are made, the city wants to hear from the community—including students.

📍 Public Meeting
🗓 Wednesday, January 28, 2026
⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM
🏛 Kent City Hall – Council Chambers (319 S. Water St.)

This meeting will explain the issue, why changes are needed, and how the project could affect downtown Kent. There will also be time for public input and opportunities to get involved.

This is a chance to learn what’s coming and help shape the future of Kent.