Call for Chapters: Art and Civic Engagement

Image Leigh Nanney Hersey Book Chapter, Research
Photo by Ian Sterling, Licensed by Creative Commons
Photo by Ian Sterling, Licensed by Creative Commons

I am very excited to announce that my co-editor, Dr. Bryna Bobick, and I are co-editing a book. Dr. Bobick teaches art education here at the University of Memphis. We are combining her interest in art and my interest in civil society to edit the book Handbook of Research on the Facilitation of Civic Engagement through Community Art. We are currently seeking chapter proposals for the book.

We see examples of the interaction of art and civic engagement all around us. The picture to the right is of “A Note for Hope” by Chicago artist Jeff Zimmerman. He was assisted by Rhodes College students and the Center for Outreach in the Development of the Arts staff. Zimmermann painted an original, five-story high mural on the east side of a vacant building that is visible from the stands of the Memphis Redbirds stadium. Stax Museum just opened the art exhibition Stax: Visions of Soul which displays works created in response to socially conscious music from the Stax catalog. Motown: The Musical just played here in Memphis. Founder Barry Gordy broke down many racial barriers through the music produced at Motown. The nonprofit organization Playback Memphis seeks to create social change through ‘Performing the Peace.’ This project is based in theatrical practices and brings together formerly incarcerated individuals and police officers to create an honest and open dialogue and strengthen social and emotional relations within the community. These are just a few examples of how art and civil society interact.

How are the arts interacting with your community? Tell the world through this new book. We are looking for chapters from artists, practitioners, and academics. The focus is broad-based and inclusive. For full details on the call for chapters, please check out the website at http://www.igi-global.com/publish/call-for-papers/call-details/1878. We look forward to seeing your proposal.

Happy National Volunteers Week

Leigh Nanney Hersey Teaching , ,

So, National Volunteer Week is winding down. It is one of my favorite weeks. I love recognizing how important volunteers are for our society. It is fun for my classroom, too. I always take the time to thank my students for all the volunteering they do. Often with cookies (see below). While many see volunteers as free labor, I think this attitude is intensified with students. Some people seem to think they will do anything for the experience. Or that students have to volunteer for school credit or to keep their scholarships.

While in some ways, these assumptions may be true for some students, I think students can bring so much more than that to an organization when they volunteer. They can bring energy, enthusiasm, and new ideas. Need help with your social media? They know how to use it and many are willing to help out. Need to engage younger people with your organization? Students can not only bring their friends, but ideas of how to attract other young people.

My undergraduate students are required to volunteer for at least two hours during the semester. I encourage them to find a new organization with which to volunteer. After donating their time, they submit a reflective essay about the experience. I continue to be amazed by the number of students who find this new experience one that really impacts their lives. Their eyes are opened to their community and a number of them make new connections. So, have a cookie in their honor. And I hope your National Volunteers Week has been a good one. (Photo by Carson Suite)

 

 

NVW Cookies

MPA Interest Meetings April 2 and 28

Leigh Nanney Hersey Uncategorized , ,

Have you ever thought about getting your MPA? Or maybe you are interested in getting a graduate certificate in Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership or Local Government. Now is the time to get all of your questions answered and learn more about the degree options, how to register, and what to expect. The University of Memphis Division of Public and Nonprofit Administration will be holding two interest meetings in April to help answer those questions. The first meeting will be held at the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis at 1900 Union Avenue, starting at 3:00 PM on April 2. The second meeting will be help on the University of Memphis campus, in the University Center Fountain Room, beginning at 5:30 PM on April 28. At this meeting you will be able to learn about the admissions process, what to expect in the classroom, and how these programs can help you advance your career. Current students will also be on hand to answer questions from their perspective. If you are interested in attending the interest meeting, make your reservations at mpa_admissions@memphis.edu. We look forward to seeing you there.

Social Media and Animal Rescue Survey

Leigh Nanney Hersey Animal Welfare & Rescue, Research

If you could look at my Facebook page, you would see that is full of animals. Everything from local animal shelters to the conservation of wildlife. As I write this, my rescue dog is curled up beside me. I spent the weekend coordinating nearly a dozen volunteers to transport a rescue dog from Texas to Florida. I love animals. I always have. For many years I thought being a veterinarian was my calling.

As I scroll through my Facebook page, I am drawn in by the cute pictures of kittens and puppies, and giraffes and turtles. Through casual observation, it appears social media is an important tool for organizations that work with issues of animal welfare. As volunteers play a large part in animal rescue, I also see the many hours of hard work they put in to make things work.

It is with this background that I decided to do some more research on just how animal welfare organizations are using social media. What is working for them? What is not? How can we share this with those people in the field to help them continue doing the great work they are dedicated to? I asked my “partner-in-crime” Gayla Schaefer to join me in the research. We have already written a book chapter on how one animal welfare organization integrated social media into their communications plan, so it seemed like a perfect fit. Gayla is also an alumna of the University of Memphis MPA program, and it is great to continue working with our former students.

The research is based on a survey, so if you are involved with an animal welfare organization, I encourage you to take the survey, which can be found here: https://memphis.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_1yRWzDwzGCkFoUt. Feel free to share it with other organizations you partner with. Thank you for everything you do to support animals.

Getting Started with the Hubert Project

Leigh Nanney Hersey Teaching ,

I just got wrapped up a conference call with my Hubert Project fellowship cohort. I am very excited to be one of the ones chosen to participate this year. Through the fellowship I will be creating an e-Case Study on the organizational turnaround of Literacy Mid-South. While most case studies are paper based, the ones provided by the Hubert Project include videos and links and other sources that engage the student in learning. The cases focus on issues in public affairs. My colleagues are focusing their e-Case Studies on public trust and governance structures. You can visit the Hubert Project blog to learn more about this year’s cohort http://www.hubertproject.org/welcome-hubert-project-fellows/. While our projects won’t be available until the end of the semester, I encourage you to look at the other e-Case Studies as a potential teaching resource. The resources are open source, user-friendly, and learner-centered. You can browse the resources available here http://www.hubertproject.org/browse/. And as this week is #OpenEducationWk, what better time to explore the resources that help stimulate conversation in your class?

About Leigh Nanney Hersey, PhD

Leigh Nanney Hersey Uncategorized

Dr. Leigh Hersey joined the faculty of the Division of Public and Nonprofit Administration in August 2009.She brings more than a dozen years of nonprofit fundraising experience, most recently with the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. She continues building on her experience through her research on philanthropy. She was an active volunteer in the Phoenix community, serving on the Valley of the Sun Community Investment Panel and as a project leader with HandsOn Greater Phoenix. Dr. Hersey also served on the City of Scottsdale Parks and Recreation Commission, chairing the commission in 2004.

Dr. Hersey received her PhD in Public Administration from Arizona State University with a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Leadership & Management. Her fundraising experience provides the foundation for her continuing research in philanthropy. She brings the nonprofit and public administration disciplines together through her research on the intersection of public and nonprofit organizations and her interest in the role nonprofits play in the public policy process.

Head Shot of Leigh Hersey
Head Shot of Leigh Hersey

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Leigh Nanney Hersey Research, Uncategorized

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