Tell Your Story

The primary purpose of the eJournal of Public Affairs is to publish scholarship related to community and civic engagement. We also acknowledge the value to provide an opportunity for community partners, students, and faculty to share their experience, observations and perspectives that complement their research and projects. For this reason, we created what we originally call the Features section.

To help promote this resource, we have decided to rebrand this section, now calling it “Tell Your Story”. As scholars we recognize the importance of peer-reviewed research, but the eJournal also wants to operate a forum for sharing insights that complement the research and practice. In many instances, the real work of community engagement occurs within coordinated projects. Community members that often sustain these projects are rarely recorded and their successes, despite the potential for changing lives, often go unnoticed. Our Tell Your Story section offers students, community members, and faculty the opportunity to publish their insights, including categories such as Research Notes, Instruments & Reports, and Invited Commentary. We encourage authors to utilize various formats including videos, photo-essays, written essays, and other multimedia, with an emphasis on visually-rich presentations that relate to the eJournal’s Focus and Scope.

There is a fine line between strong descriptive media presentations and those geared toward ‘self or institutional’ promotion. The emphasis should be focused on the what, why, and how, rather than the who. This process will not be as academically-rigorous as the double-blind peer review, but juried media presentations can be impactful and informative. Editors will assign both media and content specialists to evaluate materials prior to publication. These pieces are very important, because they can provide insightful observations through the window of a variety of projects, programs, and partnerships that are actively changing lives across the globe. When media productions are well crafted, they can be compelling material for both the classroom and the general public.

To submit your material to the eJournal, write us at ejournalPA@missouristate.edu

Climate Change Action Through Student Resiliency Ambassadors – Sian Proctor Higher education institutions across the country are committed to climate action and leadership through the Second Nature framework. The Second Nature Climate Resilience in Urban Campuses + Communities (CRUX) grant, from the Kresge Foundation, is a pilot program designed to encourage resiliency across the country. South Mountain Community College has partnered with the City of Phoenix to develop a climate resiliency model for heat related incidences. This talk describes how we developed an individual resiliency survey and empowered student to take action by creating resiliency ambassadors.
Dream Deferred: Broken Promises for Undocumented Students – Joel Pérez An estimated 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school every year. Undocumented students face many tests, including potential deportation and emotional challenges that affect their daily lives, including loneliness and depression. Their undocumented status leaves many of these students feeling hopeless and seeking answers. This talk will address how to best support our students as they navigate the already challenging journey of achieving their dreams of obtaining a degree while trying to remain hopeful in the midst of an uncertain future.
Hunger, Homelessness and Action to Include Today’s Students – Clare Cady There are invisible populations on our campuses – students who are not sure where they will sleep tonight, or when they will get their next meal. Knowing that obtaining a college degree is a key to a more stable and successful life, students are having to choose between groceries and graduation, textbooks or rent. This talk describes the challenges facing today’s student as they seek to survive and to thrive in the new economics of higher education, offering ideas and potential solutions from the growing intersection of higher education and human services.