On Thursday, Carleton and the greater Northfield community gathered for the annual Community Appreciation Luncheon to celebrate a year of cooperation, advocacy and innovation. Student fellows, program directors, CCCE staff, Carleton staff, faculty and community partners mingled during lunch before a series of presentations highlighted the accomplishments of 2016 and the goals for the coming years.
Headlining the presentations, Carleton professor Shana Sippy stepped to the podium to discuss her work with the “Religious Diversity in Minnesota Initiative”; an organization she heads with fellow religion professor, and former Broom Fellow, Michael McNally. Following, Scott Wopata, the executive director of the Northfield Union of Youth (NUY) discussed how NUY continues to provide power and voice to Northfield youth and a create a caring and enriching community with the help of Carleton students. Scott highlighted current partnerships with both the Carleton CAMS and CS departments helping NUY to capture video for, and build, their website.
From the student side, CCCE fellow Sarah Goldman spoke about her experience as a student leader at Carleton. She talked about how when she came to Carleton she was really excited about the corn fields because she wanted to become a farmer but quickly realized she was also an effective community organizer and could combine these two interests. Discussing this intersection, Sarah gave an overview of her new program launching this year, “Heart of the Heartlands”, that hosts Carleton students over the summer to learn about farming and community engagement.
To wrap things up, Amel returned to the purpose of the event and directed a few words at the community partners in the room.
“On behalf of the CCCE and the whole of the college, thank you, thank you, thank you!”