THE

Civic Innovation Institute

Building Strong Partnerships for Strong Communities

June 4-5, 2015

Thursday, June 4

8:00-9:00 a.m.

Registration and Check-In

9:00 a.m.

Welcome | Dr. David Haney, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty

MS 102

9:30-10:30 a.m.

Morning Workshops Session 1

Creating Lasting Academic-Community Partnerships
What to Expect From Your College Student
Risk Management in Community-Based Learning

MS 302
MS 321
MS 330

10:45-11:45 a.m. Morning Workshops Session 2

5 Things We Wish You Knew: Community Partner Panel

ROUNDTABLE: Challenges of Academic-Community Partnerships

MS Lobby

MS 102
MS 147

Noon

Lunch and Student Panel

1:45-2:45 p.m.

Afternoon Workshops Session 1

Results: How do you know your project will be a success?
ROUNDTABLE: Let Your Life Speak: Why We Do What We Do
Faculty Engagement Panel

3:00-4:00 p.m.

Afternoon Workshops Session 2

In The Beginning: Volunteer/Intern Orientation and Training
MS 321
Reflective Impact: Managing Academic & Civic Outcomes in Service-Learning Experiences MS 330
Good to Great: Cultivating Future Professionals
MS 302

4:30-6:30 p.m.

Networking, Wine and Hors doeuvres

Macados Restaurant, Emory, VA
Enjoy fellowship, wine, and heavy hors doeuvres with institute participants on the back patio
of Macados Restaurant. This is your chance to forge new relationships and to begin thinking big!

8:00 - 8:30 a.m. Breakfast

8:30-9:30 a.m.

Friday, June 5

MS 302
MS 147
MS 102

MS Lobby

Working for the Long-Term: Creating Sustainable & Measurable Projects and Partnerships MS 102
Chris Skrable, Associate Director for Community-based Research and Experiential Learning at the University
Community Service Center, University of Chicago

9:45-10:45 a.m. Morning Workshop Session 1

Project Management 101

MS 102

11:00 a.m.- noon Morning Workshop Session 2

Assessing for Learning and Impact

MS 102

12:15-1:00 p.m. Lunch and Early Project Alignment

Now the fun begins! This lunch period will be an opportunity for emerging project

teams to begin planning and brainstorming.

Project Planning
Consideration should be given to:
Timeframe
Scope
Capacity
Funding
Outcomes

1:30-2:30 p.m. Closing and Remarks | Dr. Tal Stanley, Director, Appalachian Center for Civic Life

MS 102

Workshop Descriptions
Creating Lasting Academic-Community Partnerships
Travis Proffitt, Associate Director, Appalachian Center for Civic Life, Emory & Henry College
This workshop will provide an overview of the characteristics inherent in a robust academic/community partnership.
Relying heavily on resources from Community Campus Partnerships for Health, participants will have the opportunity
to analyze current partnerships and explore ways to strengthen them.
What to Expect From Your College Student
Kyle Cutshaw, Assistant Dean of Students, Emory & Henry College
Whats the best way to engage and work with college students? This session will provide insight into the social and emotional development of an ever-changing generation of students.
Risk Management in Community-Based Learning
Kim Steiner, Director of Human Resources, Emory & Henry College
Jim Harrison, Director of Outdoor Programs, Emory & Henry College
We all want our students to have safe and meaningful experiences in the community. Learn best practices in managing
the inherent risks involved in this work and how to make your students experience in the field as enjoyable and safe as
possible.
5 Things We Wish You Knew: Community Partner Panel
Beth Hilton, Executive Director, Highlands Educational Literacy Program, Inc.
Tom Hanlon, Executive Director, Rivers Way Outdoor Adventure Center
Monica Hall, Outreach Coordinator, Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems
Larry Bays, Executive Director, Ecumenical Faith in Action
Our work is challenging and unique! Learn from community partners what particular challenges and expectations we
have to meet in our daily work. Through this engaging panel, we will share with college faculty and staff all you need to
know in considering how to partner with us.
ROUNDTABLE: Challenges of Academic-Community Partnerships
Michael Armbrister, Director, United Methodist Appalachian Ministry Network
Dr. Shelley Koch, Professor of Sociology, Emory & Henry College
Make no mistake, this work is difficult. Our roundtable discussion will give participants the opportunity to share
stories of challenging experiences and possible solutions to those challenges. Community partners and faculty/staff are
encouraged to bring their experience and ideas to the table.
Lunch and Student Panel
E&H students will share what they find meaningful in doing community-based work. Come hungry and bring your
questions!
Results: How do you know your project will be a success?
Mary Beth Loucks-Sorrell, Executive Director, Community Sparkplugs, The Rensselaerville Institute
This session will explain how to define success in the beginning of your project by applying a results framework. Bring
examples of past or future projects to this session to participate in an interactive discussion about your work or issues
you care about contributing to in the future.
ROUNDTABLE: Let Your Life Speak: Why We Do What We Do
Rev. Wil Cantrell, Pastor, Lebanon Memorial United Methodist Church, Lebanon, VA
Amidst the challenges and demands of our work, we recognize an inherent need to connect students to meaningful
experiences in the community. Drawing from the writings of Parker Palmer, our roundtable will give participants the
opportunity to reflect on the values and beliefs that undergird their commitment to civic work and student learning.

Workshop Descriptions
Faculty Engagement Panel
Dr. Kelly Bremner, Professor of Theatre, Emory & Henry College
Dr. Tracy Lauder, Professor of Mass Communications, Emory & Henry College
Dr. DC Cobler, Professor of Athletic Training, Emory & Henry College
Dr. Celeste Gaia, Professor of Psychology, Emory & Henry College
Four E&H faculty will share their perspectives on how to get faculty involved at your organization and the mutual
benefits of engagement. Each will share experiences of successful community-based learning projects and what they, as
faculty, are looking for in potential projects. Q&A to follow.
In The Beginning: Volunteer/Intern Orientation and Training
Mary Beth Tignor, Coordinator of Campus Service Programs, Emory & Henry College
Michael Gess, Bonner Scholars Program Coordinator, Emory & Henry College
The importance of an effective orientation and training program for volunteers and interns cannot be understated. In
this engaging workshop, learn best practices to ensure that your volunteers are best equipped to carry out the important
work before them.
Reflective Impact: Managing Academic & Civic Outcomes in Service-Learning Experiences
Chris Skrable, Associate Director, University Community Service Center, University of Chicago
Service-learning experiences can help students achieve not only academic, but also pro-democratic and pre-professional
learning outcomes. This workshop will give practitioners, whether faculty or CBO staff, suggestions for how to build
reflective structures into their programs that can support student meaning-making in all these domains.
Good to Great: Cultivating Future Professionals
Amanda Gardner, Director of Career Services, Emory & Henry College
Students can gain so much from their internships, service-learning, and volunteeringand you can be a part of that!
Join us for a discussion about the kinds of skills students seek, what their next employer might want them to know, and
how they can develop their inner professional. Samples and examples will be shared!
Project Management 101
Jimmy Wallace, Practitioner in Residence, Senior Fellow, Rensselaerville Institute
Drawing from 30 years experience in community development and project management, Jimmy Wallace will guide
participants through the necessary elements central to an effective and outcomes-focused project.
Assessing for Learning and Impact
Dr. Jessica Murphy, Associate Director of the Tate Student Center for Student Activities and Organizations, University of Georgia
How do we know if what were doing is working? What gains do we want students and communities to achieve from
our work? Dr. Murphy will guide participants through the formative questions and assessment rubrics necessary to
determine the effectiveness of our work.

Non-Profit & Governmental Agencies

Animal Defense League of Washington County, Inc.
Name: Deb Sutherland, Board Member
Anticipated needs and projects: The Animal Defense League has an ongoing need for volunteers in a variety of positions including hands on animal care, fundraising, education and
awareness, and public relations. We welcome any assistance or project ideas that relate to our
goals of improving the lives of animals by reducing pet overpopulation, preventing animal cruelty and providing humane education.
Appalachian Sustainable Development
Name: Gina Patrick, Administration and HR Manager
Anticipated needs and projects: Food System Development, Combining Food Access efforts in
southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee.
CAC of Bristol/Washington County, VA
Name: Kathi Roark, Executive Director
Anticipated needs and projects: Collection and interpretation of outcome/impact measures
for determining program effectiveness; production of an annual report; increase CACs digital presence via updated website and social media; and bring outreach/education activities to
underserved community sectors.
The Chamber of Commerce of Smyth County
Name: Sarah Gillespie, Executive Director
Anticipated needs and projects: I will be working to keep the libraries in both Chilhowie and
Saltville open and developing a community center in Saltville.
Emory United Methodist Church
Name: Anita Coulthard, Organist/choir director
Anticipated needs and projects: As a church with primarily an aging congregation, our energy to carry out some of the hands-on projects that we once did is becoming more and more
limited. But, we have creative ideas and can help organize and supervise projects, we believe.
We want to explore how we can continue to serve the communities around us. We already have
projects for providing shoes and a few basic clothing items for children at Meadowview Elementary school. The need is immense and we could perhaps expand that project to another school
if we had some help. Also, we know that there are needs at the high school level to provide
funds for students who cant participate in certain projects because of the cost. Perhaps we can
raise money to provide them with the cost for an annual, field trip fee, etc.
Feeding America SWVA
Name: Gary Mitchell, Branch Director
Name: John Shoulders, Senior VP of Business Affairs
Name: Allison Neely, Volunteer Coordinator/Food Drive Coordinator
Anticipated needs and projects: Assistance in eliminating hunger is Southwest Virginia.
Friends of Mount Rogers/Forest Service
Name: Carena Miles, Partnership Intern
Anticipated needs and projects: The Friends of Mount Rogers and the Forest Service would
like to attract student volunteers to work on projects within the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area that focus on trail maintenance, wildlife, volunteer coordination, and interpretation.

Health Projects USA

Name: Kenneth Little, Executive Administrator
Anticipated needs and projects: Community Health & Wellness throughout Appalachia.
Highlands Community Services
Name: Lisa Topshee, Prevention Program Manager
Name: Jordan Whitesides, Washington County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition
Anticipated needs and projects: High Risk Drinking Education, Prescription Drug Abuse,
Tobacco Prevention Education.
Highlands Educational Literacy Program
Name: Beth Hilton, Executive Director
Name: Tina Mitchell, Volunteer Coordinator
Holston River Soil and Water Conservation District
Name: Mandy Fletcher, Conservation Education Specialist
Marion Downtown Revitalization Association, Inc.
Name: Olivia McDonald, Executive Director
Anticipated needs and projects: Public Art Projects, partnership campaign development needs,
ideas for fundraising, downtown improvement project ideas, etc.
Meadowview First/Emory & Henry
Name: David Jackson, Chair / Adjunct Faculty
Anticipated needs and projects: Meadowview First is an economic development organization
dedicated to improving the lives of the citizens of Meadowview. We are currently renovating
buildings in the town square area in the hopes of locating sustainable businesses that benefit
the community.
Mount Rogers Planning District Commission (MRPDC)/United Methodist Appalachian
Ministry Network (UMAMN)
Name: Michael Armbrister, Planner / Coordinator
Anticipated needs and projects: Graphic design and marketing materials for Appalachian
Assembly. Development of a regional ministry website for service seekers. Data collection and
presentation for Appalachian community profiles.
Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail Club
Name: Anne Maio, Director
Anticipated needs and projects: Trail rehabilitation, develop Appalachian Trail related game
or quiz to take to festivals, plan to inform and involve residents of Abingdon & Glade Spring
about the A.T. and about hiking for health and enjoyment.
People, Inc.
Name: Kim Hill, Family Development Manager
Anticipated needs and projects: Community engagement is a vital part of our program. We
encourage community members to volunteer in our classrooms, at the main office, to assist
with facility updates and to share knowledge and skills with families of enrolled children. We
would like to expand our collaboration for this upcoming year by utilizing the knowledge that
students have learned through their coursework in a more intentional way within our program.
This can be accomplished through the utilization of more students as interns. Internships provide the opportunity for students to obtain real world experience in their particular field of
study and to serve their community in a meaningful way.

People Incorporateds CASA of the 28th Judicial District

Name: Christopher Holley, Advocate Manager
Name: Jennifer Hohensee, Program Coordinator
Anticipated needs and projects: Volunteer Recruitment, Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention, Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention, Diversity training-regional focus, Substance Abuse Awareness and Prevention
The Rensselaerville Institute
Name: Mary Beth Loucks-Sorrell, Executive Director, Community Sparkplugs
Anticipated needs and projects: The Rensselaerville Institute is partnering with Emory &
Henry College and The Appalachian Center for Civic Life to engage 4-6 community sparkplugs
to launch projects that will improve some aspect of the community over the 2015/2016 academic year. Areas of focus for improvement include health, home, employment and education.
Rivers Way Outdoor Adventure Center
Name: Tom Hanlon, Executive Director
Anticipated needs and projects: We continue to provide programs that integrate individuals
with special needs into their communities. These programs include a YMCA fitness program, a
lunch service program, a summer day camp at Sugar Hollow Park in Bristol, and an ambitious
gardening program.
Smyth County
Name: Lori Hester, Director of Community and Economic Development
Anticipated needs and projects: One of the biggest problems in Smyth County that we would
like to overcome is the drug abuse problem that has reached an epidemic level. Many of our
business and industry leaders are concerned because they have a difficult time finding employees who are able to pass a drug test. This problem is not only impacting the local workforce, but
it is also affecting the lives of the children in our community. We must find a way to overcome
this problem and help those who are addicted find hope and get their lives on the right track.
Smyth County HealthTrust Nutrition Action Network
Name: Mary Riggins
Sprouting Hope
Name: Jason Von Kundra, Program Coordinator
Anticipated needs and projects: Sprouting Hope is looking for volunteers to help in the community garden, other gardens we support and assist with programing we offer for the community including youth education, nutrition classes, food preservation, and more. Sprouting Hope
is a 501(c)3 that is feeding the community by growing and sharing healthy food. With a focus
on empowerment, we work with low-income communities to volunteer at the garden, share the
harvest, and gain skills needed to grow their own food.
Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems
Name: Monica Hall, Outreach/Enrollment
Name: Kim Stewart, Director of Marketing
Name: Josie McCuiston, IPA
Anticipated needs and projects: Medical Assist, Project Events, Migrant Outreach (Hispanic),
Marketing Objective Projects, Clerical Volunteers, Education to Public on Affordable Care
Act, Education to Public about Community Health Centers, Enrollment for Health Insurance
Computer Literate Volunteers.

Town of Glade Spring

Name: Nancy Williams, Vice Mayor
Anticipated needs and projects: Completion of the downtown revitalization and farmers market project as well as completion of the Salt Trail extension into Glade.
Town of Marion
Name: Ken Heath, Director of Community and Economic Development
Name: Samantha White, Executive Assistant
Anticipated needs and projects: Working to strengthen relationship between Town of Marion and E&H.
Town Square Center for the Arts
Name: Rachel Denham, Board Member
Name: Debby Loggans, Board Member
Anticipated needs and projects: Town Square Center for the Arts in Glade Spring is a space
for artists studios and an incubator for emerging artists. We hope to strengthen the relationship/partnership with E&H students in the following ways: Greeters/studio sitters, Marketing/
Media/PR (keep up/add to Facebook page, Instagram, etc.), Creative ideas to further the visibility and success of TSCA (Fundraising, Grant writing, Database management).
United Way of Southwest Virginia
Name: Alison Hicks, Director of Resource Development
Name: Debby Loggans, Volunteer Center Manager
Anticipated needs and projects: Organization Development assessment of United Way of
Southwest Virginia; Training program/institute for our partner organizations to include outcomes development and measurement, story writing, public speaking, grants development, etc.
Upper Tennessee River Roundtable
Name: Lilli Pickens, Americorps*VISTA
Anticipated needs and projects: We are trying to grow our Save our Streams water monitoring
program. We are looking for people interested in citizen science, STEM education, and volunteer recruitment for collaboration.
Wayne C. Henderson School of Appalachian Arts
Name: Catherine Poole, Executive Director
Anticipated needs and projects: After attending a statewide artisan conference last week in
Charlottesville, I am very interested in establishing/encouraging Agri-Artisan partnerships.
Through providing resources for artisan businesses to structure or restructure they can then
create new value. This can be done by forming partnerships with others, and the more unlikely
the partnership, the more unique the niche. The possibilities for this wonderful region are
exciting and this is a wonderful opportunity to test the waters. The Henderson School is all
about community and collaboration. It is my intention as executive director to establish community partners for each discipline. Initially we will begin with our new Letterpress Shop and
will reach out to both the fine art and literary community groups for partnership and projects.
Our Heritage Food Lab is partnering with Sprouting Hope Community Garden as well as area
farmers to create unique programs and community projects.
William King Museum of Art
Name: Lori Rouse, Director of Outreach Education
Name: Callie Hietala, Director of Educational Programming
Anticipated needs and projects: Developing a database of faculty, staff, and students that we
can reach out to for advice in planning future programming, staffing events, administrative and
organizational needs, etc.

Emory & Henry College Faculty and Staff

The Appalachian Center for Civic Life/The Rensselaerville Institute
Name: Jim Wallace, Practitioner in Residence/Senior Fellow

The Appalachian Center for Civic Life

Name: Tal Stanley, Director
Areas of interest and research: Place, Civic/public culture, Geography, Culture, History, Public History, Southwest Virginia, Appalachia, Civic Organizations, Storytelling, Writing--Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Ireland/Irish Place Identity and Politics

The Appalachian Center for Civic Life

Name: Travis Proffit, Associate Director
Areas of interest and research: This fall, I will be teaching a course in civic innovation, wherein students will explore basic concepts of what it means to approach a problem or question (notably in the
community) in an innovative way. Ideally, I would like to have students work in small teams with an
organization to help it solve a particularly challenging question/problem within the organization.

The Appalachian Center for Civic Life

Name: Michael Gess, Bonner Coordinator

The Appalachian Center for Civic Life

Name: Mary Beth Tignor, Coordinator of Campus Service Programs
Areas of interest and research: I am still in need of service sites for Service Plunge and Greek Day
of Service which are events geared towards groups of students. Additionally, we are developing a new
AmeriCorps-funded opportunity for rising juniors and seniors and are currently seeking community
partners who are interested in developing year-long positions for those students.

The Appalachian Center for Civic Life

Name: Gloria Surber, Coordinator, Administrative Services
Areas of interest and research: I serve as coordinator for the AmeriCorps students who are not Bonner Scholars at Emory & Henry. I am looking for non-profit organizations who could benefit from
these students service, particularly in capacity building positions.

The Appalachian Center for Civic Life

Name: Liz Julian, Graduate Intern

Athletics
Name: Devyn Bayes, Head Volleyball Coach
Areas of interest and research: Intercultural conflict resolution; dialogue; contact theory

Biology
Name: Gerald Bresowar, Assistant Professor
Areas of interest and research: Intercultural

Career Services
Name: Amanda Gardner, Director of Career Services

Chemistry
Name: Sara Bier, Visiting Assistant Professor
Areas of interest and research: I hope to further develop research (and service) activities associated
with the streams and the groundwater resources of the region.

English
Name: Nicole Drewitz-Crockett, Assistant Professor
Areas of interest and research: Oral History, Community Storytelling

Mass Communications
Name: Dr. Tracy Lauder, Associate Professor
Areas of interest and research: As a faculty member, projects related to communications and public
relations. As Project Ampersand coordinator, projects of various types that I could facilitate participation in by a wide range of participants.

McGlothlin Center for the Arts

Name: Lisa Campbell, Executive Director
Areas of interest and research: I am looking for opportunities to create outreach with our visiting artists into schools and non-profit organizations. I am also looking for opportunities to collaborate with
area arts organizations in serving the public. We will have a need for volunteers at the new arts center
and I am looking to establish guidelines in engaging those volunteers.
Neff Education Center
Name: Janet Justice Crickmer, Department Chair

Philosophy
Name: Brynn Welch, Dept. Chair/Program Director
Areas of interest and research: My areas of research are educational justice, the distribution of health
care resources, and the relationship between families and other basic social structures. I am also involved in anti-racism work both on and off campus.

Physician Assistant Studies

Name: Scott Richards, Dept. Chair/Program Director

Powell Resource Center

Name: Jolie Lewis, Academic Advisor and Coordinator of Orientation
Areas of interest and research: I am interested in exploring ways that community engagement can help
students feel inspired and empowered to persist with their goals for their education and for their lives.

Public Relations
Name: Jamie Smyth, Associate Director
Areas of interest and research: Collaborations in the arts in relation to the McGlothlin Center for
the Arts programming.

School of Health Sciences

Name: Lou Fincher, Dean

Sociology
Name: Shelley Koch, Assistant Professor
Areas of interest and research: I am interested in engaging sociology students of all levels--first-years
to seniors--in social justice work as well as community development. I have undertaken successful
projects in community-based research, which I would like to build on. My personal and professional
interests are food and food systems and health. I am looking to build collaborations with organizations
doing work in this field.
Spiritual Life
Name: Mary K. Briggs, College Chaplain
Areas of interest and research: How can we help our students imagine connecting their faith with
their vocation? (Especially secular vocation and a faith based call).

Spiritual Life
Name: Sharon Wright, Associate Chaplain

Student Life
Name: Kyle Cutshaw, Assistant Dean of Students

Theater
Name: Kelly Bremner, Assistant Professor