The Impact Center

Goals

● Provide an opportunity for experiential learning to balance online learning

● Build awareness of pressing social issues

● Assess community needs and empower students to be agents of change

● Actively engage in the broader community and partner with local non-profit organizations

● Build academic and personal skills: empathy, problem solving, writing, research, collaboration, reflection

Social Issues That May be Explored

Hunger

Homelessness

Immigration

Addiction

Disabilities

Health/Nutrition/Wellness

Elderly

Environment/Animals

Education

Supporting our Veterans/Armed Forces

Examples of Chester Community Non-Profit Partners

Chester County Food Bank, Exton

Safe Harbor of Chester County, West Chester

Home of the Sparrow, Exton

The Arc, West Chester

Providence Animal Shelter, Media

West Chester Senior Center 

Cerebral Palsy Association of Chester County, Exton

St. Agnes Parish Dorothy Day Center, West Chester

Program Format

Social Issue: TBD

1. Impact Class (1.5 hours)

Assess STUDENT KNOWLEDGE

EXPLORE ASSUMPTIONS

LEARN about social issue

PREPARE for active service

2. RESEARCH topic (social issue) - independent work

3. The Impact Center-organized SERVE/VOLUNTEER in the community and DEBRIEF (3-4 hours)

4. REFLECT/Determine Next Steps - independent work

5. Impact staff engages with students to DIG DEEPER, leading to SOCIAL ACTION (1 hour)

Time Frame per Social Issue

Time with Impact staff: up to 6 hours

2-4 hours of independent work

Total: up to 10 hours