Clinton School student Kayla Brooks (’14) recently presented at the 30th IMPACT Conference in Valparaiso, IN at Valparaiso University. Her workshop entitled “Fierce & Fearless: The Importance of Women in Politics” highlighted the need for female involvement in politics and methods to get started. Participants learned about the progress women are making as heads-of-state around the globe and left with the courage to become more active in politics and inspire and support other women and men to do the same. The workshop drew over 30 attendees and was full of thoughtful discussion and debate.
The IMPACT conference featured over 90 workshops spanning all levels beginning, intermediate, and advanced. Workshop categories spanned everything from alternative breaks and service learning to leadership and professional development and faith in service. The conference drew more than 700 students, administrators, national service organizations, and non-profit leaders.
The IMPACT Conference is historically the largest annual conference focused on the civic engagement of college students in community service, service-learning, community-based research, advocacy and other forms of social action. Building on the rich 28-year tradition of the COOL Conference and the Idealist Campus Conference, IMPACT is the one time during the year when students, administrators, faculty, AmeriCorps members and VISTAs, and nonprofit professionals gather together to learn and share effective practices, improve personal skills and organizational strategies, discover opportunities and resources, exchange stories, be inspired, and challenged to sustain our efforts.