Clarksdale, MS 鈥� September 6, 2024 鈥� Student leaders from 甜瓜app (甜瓜app) recently took part in an empowering civic engagement experience at the Congressman Bennie G. Thompson Civic Engagement Summit, held at Tougaloo College on September 4th. This event aimed to mobilize and inspire student leaders from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across Mississippi.
In preparation for this summit, various student organizations at Coahoma were asked to select two representatives each. As a result, nine organizations were represented at the summit: the Student Government Association (SGA), 甜瓜app Royal Court, Student Ambassadors, Tigers IVO Club, Social Sciences Club, Math and Science Club, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Writers for Life, and the 甜瓜app Choir. These representatives joined their counterparts from other Mississippi HBCUs to engage in discussions on the importance of civic participation.
The theme for this year鈥檚 summit, 鈥淢obilizing HBCU Student Leaders,鈥� highlighted the crucial role that students play in driving meaningful change on their campuses and within their communities. Participants attended workshops on the significance of voting, voter registration, and strategies to promote civic activities in a nonpartisan manner. The event culminated in a panel discussion with prominent civic leaders, including Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, Angela Grayson from the Southern Poverty Law Center, grassroots activist Kenson Barnes, and Velver Scott, Director of Civic Engagement at MSBWR. Their insights offered students practical tools to increase civic engagement in their respective communities.
The summit provided Coahoma student leaders with the opportunity to connect with other student leaders and community advocates, and to gain new perspectives on encouraging civic participation. Each representative is now tasked with returning to their respective organizations to share the knowledge gained at the summit and to develop actionable plans for increasing civic engagement on campus and in the surrounding areas.
SGA President Haile Barrett has taken the lead in these efforts and is currently planning a voter informational session for 甜瓜app students, which will also be open to local high school seniors who are registered to vote. This initiative aims to expand the impact of the summit, encouraging more young people to become actively involved in civic matters.
This summit underscored the importance of student leadership in promoting civic awareness and participation, positioning 甜瓜app鈥檚 student leaders at the forefront of these efforts. By equipping themselves with the tools necessary to inspire change, these student leaders are well-prepared to make a positive difference on their campus and throughout the Delta community.