In recognition of his work promoting civic engagement and non-violence, Augsburg scholar Harry Boyte has been awarded the Spirit of Gandhi Award. Boyte, the senior scholar in public work philosophy with the Augsburg Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship, describes the spiritual, moral, and psychological aspects of non-violence in . The Spirit of Gandhi Award is given in celebration of Nonviolence Day, a globally-observed day on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, at the Minnesota State Capitol.

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(MINNEAPOLIS) — The 29th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum, an international peace congress, is September 15-16 in Minneapolis. The 2017 Forum will focus on dialogue as a bridge to cross lines of difference on a range of contentious issues, from instability in North Africa and the Middle East, to gun violence reduction and the partisan “Red-Blue” divide in the United States. The Forum will also honor the 2015 laureate, the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet, recognized for its work toward building a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

Sept. 15

• 9 – 10:45 a.m. – “The Power of Dialogue: A Conversation with the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet.” Quartet members Mohamed Fadhel Mahfoudh, Hassine Abassi and Abdesattar Ben Moussa will explain how they brought together parties in a deeply divided country to forge a new democracy in the wake of the Arab Spring.
• 1:45 – 3 p.m. –“Health Care and Peace Building in Africa: Charting a Path Forward.” Panelists including Barbara Bush, CEO of Global Health Corps, will discuss improving health care delivery in Africa from the perspectives of non-profit, private sector, academic and other stakeholders.

Sept. 16

• 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – “Gun Violence Prevention: Prospects for Progress.” Former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords and Capt. Mark Kelly will discuss their work on efforts to reduce gun violence and the pressing aspects of that work in light of recent political changes.
• 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. – “Concentric Dialogue” art installations. In the spirit of fostering engagement, local and national artists have collaborated to create an outdoor exhibition of installations across the Augsburg University campus. Free and open to the public on September 16 and 17.

The 2017 Nobel Peace Prize Forum will be held at the Augsburg University campus, 2211 Riverside Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55454. Information and tickets are available at the website.

MEDIA CONTACT

Lida Poletz at lpoletz@gmail.com or 612-839-7489.

ABOUT THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM

The Nobel Peace Prize Forum, hosted and presented by Augsburg University, brings together students and community members with Nobel Peace Prize laureates, world leaders and accomplished peacemakers to work on building a world in which people can live full, rich, meaningful lives. Under the auspices of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, the Nobel Peace Prize Forum inspires peacemaking by focusing on the work of laureates and international peacemakers and peacebuilders. More at .

ABOUT �鶹ԭ�� UNIVERSITY

Augsburg University offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and nine graduate degrees to nearly 3,600 students of diverse backgrounds at its campus in the vibrant center of the Twin Cities and the Rochester site. Augsburg educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. An Augsburg education is defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, and shaped by its urban and global settings.

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Following inflammatory statements made by high-profile politicians and presidential candidates about the Muslim community, the Augsburg College faculty passed a resolution declaring their “deep support, love and friendship for the Muslim members of our campus, community and world.” The Campus Compact article states that, “Faculty and staff at the college make this commitment real through myriad practices and partnerships.”

Included in those partnerships is the work that the College has done with Sisterhood Boutique, a “second-hand clothing store and youth social entrepreneurship program developed by young women, a majority East African and Muslim, living in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis.” Augsburg faculty members — such as Assistant Professor of Business Marc Isaacson — have engaged their students in projects to support the boutique.

Read: In Word and Deed: Augsburg College in Support of Muslim Students, Colleagues, Neighbors on the Campus Compact site.

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“Young people are hungry for opportunities to learn the skills and concepts to handle conflicts and make constructive change,” he writes. Providing timely guidance and these opportunities is important because, “Young people are citizens today, not citizens in preparation.”

Boyte outlines the Public Achievement model of “citizen politics” as everyday problem-solving and public work. Public Achievement sees students work together on real-world projects (such as building a playground for local children) that require a broad set of skills vital to a democratic way of life. In one example, the students “got the parish council on their side, negotiated zoning changes with city officials, and raised $60,000 from local businesses. To accomplish these feats, they learned how to interview people, write letters, give speeches, call people they didn’t know. They deliberated, created alliances, raised money, mapped power, did research.”

Read: on The Hill’s site.

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Boyte refers to the “organizing” versus “mobilizing” model pioneered by civil rights leaders such as Ella Baker and Bob Moses. In this view of activism, mobilizing is goal-driven and short-lived, while organizing is relationship-driven and sustains engagement over time. Boyte draws a parallel between these different types of activism and educational approaches that focus either on outcomes–such as test scores–or personal growth and agency.

Read: at the Huffington Post.

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to learn more about Boyte’s perspective and those put forth by other leading scholars.

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Harry Boyte

Read, on the Forbes website.

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When it comes to community involvement and leadership, Auggies rock.

That’s why Augsburg is the only Minnesota college or university invited to participate in the Bon Jovi Community Service College Campaign when the internationally known rock band stops at the Xcel Energy Center on Sunday, April 7, for its “Because We Can” tour.

This campaign is “a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we’re excited to have the opportunity to partner with Augsburg College on it,” said Xcel Energy Center Vice President and General Manager Jack Larson. “The College’s mission, with a distinct focus on service learning, was a perfect fit for the program.”

Bon Jovi has a firm commitment to community and opened up its 2013 tour production to six Augsburg students [pictured] who champion volunteer efforts and demonstrate exemplary community leadership skills.

In February, Augsburg received extremely strong applications and nominations for the Bon Jovi campaign, and a half dozen students were selected for the program from a highly competitive applicant pool.

A history of community engagement

Augsburg students amplify their college education with opportunities that encourage them to connect with the community in a powerful way, according to Andrea Batt ’13, one of the students selected for the Bon Jovi program.

The Augsburg students chosen to participate in the Bon Jovi program have extensive volunteer, leadership, and community engagement experience that includes participating in the College’s program; planning Alternative Spring Break trips; teaching and tutoring neighborhood youth; founding national recovery organizations; leading co-curricular activities; serving on student government boards, and joining numerous other groups.

Those who “teach, work, and go to school [at Augsburg] are a really special breed of people who are passionate about being involved in the

community,” said James “Bear” Mahowald ’13, another Bon Jovi program participant. “It is definitely an environment that fosters active community members and passionate human beings.”

For international student Alom Martinez Aleman ’13, civic engagement and volunteer work linked to Augsburg has helped her to develop a sense of belonging in a new community, to “feel at home away from home,” and to learn about American culture. “I meet a lot of awesome people,” she said. “And, I feel that being engaged with your community makes your college experience much more rewarding.”

As proof of the College’s commitment to community engagement, Augsburg College last month was named for the fourth time to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll and, in 2010, won the , the highest honor possible for service work.

“Augsburg students understand the important links between education and service,” said Augsburg College President Paul Pribbenow. “We are recognized nationally and internationally for this work, and it’s because of the effort of students such as the six who will be at the Bon Jovi concert.”

Students gain career experience

On the day of the concert, Batt, Mahowald, and Martinez Aleman will join Auggies Alex Jamieson ’14, Thu Nguyen ’15, and Morgan Waldorf ’15 to work with the Bon Jovi production team and to gain hands-on experience in public relations, media, management, and ticketing.

“Helping with the Bon Jovi tour will offer me the chance to work with a professional marketing team, which is a great experience for my major,” Nguyen said. “I have been counting down the days to the concert.”

Waldorf is also excited for the chance to help with the Bon Jovi tour. “I’m hoping to have a career in public relations within the music business,” she said. “This is the perfect opportunity to gain experience working with a big band on a huge tour and see everything that goes into it.”

Jamieson said service experience allows her to connect concepts from her classroom education with their application in her future career. And, as a business administration: music business major, she sees the behind-the-scenes Bon Jovi program as an unmatched opportunity.

“I can’t believe I actually get to take part in such a unique program,” Jamieson said. “I’m excited to gain first-hand experience in what I’m studying about the music industry.”

Augsburg students also are learning what it’s like to be interviewed by media professionals assigned to cover their involvement in the Bon Jovi program. The on campus March 29, visited the KARE11 studio April 3, and will appear in other interview segments scheduled to air this week.

Plus, the Auggies will see all the elements of the Bon Jovi’s tour production come together when the band takes the stage for a performance at the Xcel this Sunday and will watch some of the concert from an area designated for local media.

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Campus Compact has honored 162 students from 32 states as 2012 Newman Civic Fellows. Among the honorees is Angela Bonfiglio of Augsburg College. The Newman Civic Fellows Awards recognize inspiring college student leaders who have worked to find solutions for challenges facing their communities.

Boston, MA – Campus Compact’s member college and university presidents from across the country have nominated 162 college student leaders for the 2012 class of Newman Civic Fellows. These students are demonstrating a personal commitment to creating lasting change for the better in their communities. Through service, community-based research, and advocacy, the 2012 class of Newman Civic Fellows are making the most of their college experiences to better understand themselves and the root causes of some of the most pressing social issues that challenge us all.

Angela Bonfiglio ’13…demonstrates the type of civic engagement that sets an example for others, shining a positive light in a time when negativity has dominated much national conversation. Bonfiglio, a junior at Augsburg, works in many ways to create a more just society. Angela rebuilt the campus service organization, doubling its membership while deepening issue-based work. In North Minneapolis, Angela is researching community perceptions on the achievement gap and working to close that gap. She coordinates an afterschool program at Redeemer Lutheran Church to ensure that youth have dependable adults, homework help, and dinner. Angela is dedicated to social justice, including environmental work, youth development, interfaith work, and racial equality.

As a Newman Civic Fellow, Bonfiglio will join a network of Fellows around the country. Together—sharing ideas and tools through online networking—the Fellows will leverage an even greater capacity for service and change, and will continue to set examples for their classmates and others.

“These students represent the next generation of public problem solvers and civic leaders. They serve as national examples of the role that higher education can—and does—play in building a better world,” notes Campus Compact Board Chair James B. Dworkin, chancellor at Purdue University North Central.

Through service-learning courses and other opportunities for community engagement, colleges are developing students’ public problem-solving skills, such as the ability to analyze community needs, the willingness to participate in public processes and debate, the commitment to raise awareness about challenges, and the ability to inspire others to become part of solutions.

“Dr. Frank Newman, a founder of Campus Compact, had a tremendous impact on American education and its role in the development of citizens who are eager and prepared to make a difference,” explains Campus Compact President Maureen Curley. “He dedicated his life to creating systemic change through education reform and this new group of Newman Civic Fellows would have inspired him. They are reflections and affirmations of his life’s work.”

Campus Compact is a national coalition of almost 1,200 college and university presidents—representing some 6 million+ students—who are committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education, that is, to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility. For more information about the organization and the award, visit

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“Preparing students to participate in our democracy and providing them with opportunities to take on local and global issues in their course work are as central to the mission of education as boosting college completion and closing the achievement gap,” said Eduardo Ochoa, the U.S. Department of Education’s assistant secretary for postsecondary education.

Last year, Augsburg achieved the highest honor possible when it was one of six institutions to earn the Presidential Award for Community Service. Augsburg was the first, and remains the only, Minnesota school to receive the honor.

“Consistently being named to the Honor Roll certainly is gratifying testament to the work of staff, students, and faculty,” said Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow. “We know that learning retention soars to 75 percent when practiced by doing, and so this is an important piece of an Auggie education. We also know it is we who are richer for the experience of educating students not only for professions and careers, but also for lives of meaning and purpose in a city and world marked by urgent need for informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders.”

Augsburg College students engaged in programs including the:

• President’s Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge to help students explore and develop roles as public leaders around interfaith literacy and action through community service projects.
• Health Commons at Dar Ul-Quba, a drop-in center dedicated to the Cedar-Riverside community of Minneapolis.
• Bonner Leader program that pairs Augsburg students with nonprofit community organizations.
• Student-led Campus Kitchen that served 23,000 meals to people in need for the year ending in June 2011.
• Augsburg Community Garden, which provides community garden plots, education about nutrition, and support for local farmers through community-supported agriculture.

A total of 642 college and universities applied for the 2012 Honor Roll. Augsburg is one of two Minnesota private colleges named to the Honor Roll with Distinction. The other is the College of St. Benedict.

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