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IU civic literacy project receives national recognition
Oct. 4, 1999
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- William Morgan, founder and executive director of Indiana University's Civic Literacy Project (CLP) and a political scientist at IU, has been selected as one of America's most promising social entrepreneurs by Youth Service America's (YSA) Fund for Social Entrepreneurs. Morgan was chosen as one of six winners from an initial pool of 1,000 prospective applicants nationwide.
"Social entrepreneurs, such as Will Morgan, combine the business savvy of corporate entrepreneurs, the passion of community activists, and the creative energy of inventors. They forge unique partnerships, leverage underused community assets, and pioneer innovative programs that produce outstanding results," said Bill Browning, director of the YSA Fund.
CLP is now in its third year of promoting service-learning and civic engagement for students in Indiana. It provides young people the opportunity to become involved in their community through volunteer projects that complement their academic studies in school. By providing these opportunities, CLP seeks to reinforce academic lessons through experiential education and to encourage a lifelong participation in the social and political process.
"Service-learning is a way for students to address the social challenges in their lives and give back to their community," Morgan said. "Students are then seen as community resources rather than community problems."
Not only do the students and the community get the immediate benefits of the service, but participant evaluations show that grade point averages and school attendance both increase as a result of CLP. Students also report a heightened belief that they can make a difference in their community and that they would continue to be involved in their community in the future.
With 13,500 participating students providing over 250,000 hours of community service, CLP has had a positive impact on communities throughout Indiana, including Gary, South Bend, Mooresville, Vigo County, New Albany and Paoli.
Youth Service America launched the Fund for Social Entrepreneurs to invest in visionary young leaders who have bold, effective and innovative ideas for national and community service ventures. It combines the risk-taking spirit which American entrepreneurs used to build our country with the commitment, idealism and spirit of today's emerging young leaders. From a national pool of applicants, the Fund chooses five to seven entrepreneurs to become members of a class of YSA social entrepreneurs for a three-year period.
Morgan can be reached at 812-856-4677 or wdmorgan@indiana.edu
(Jen McCormick, 812-855-5393, jenmcdor@indiana.edu)