October 2024 Dinner Seminar Recap
The October dinner seminar included faculty and staff guests from all across NC State.
The Caldwell Fellows Dinner Seminar on October 20 explored the rich theme of citizenship, focusing on civic engagement. The dinner seminars, designed for in-depth dialogue, are central to the program’s mission of developing servant leaders. This year, the theme of citizenship guides discussions, prompting Fellows to examine its complexities beyond politics and voting. As Dr. Janice Odom, the seminar’s host, explained, citizenship extends to a shared responsibility in shaping society—what we call civic engagement. The October dinner seminar is special because Fellows are encouraged to invite an NC State faculty or staff member to accompany them. This gives the program broader exposure and fosters potential collaboration between the program and staff members across campus.
Civic engagement is about realizing that individual contributions, no matter how small, are worthwhile and necessary—the evening spotlighted the service-learning efforts led by upper-class Caldwell Fellows like Olivia Townsend and Caden Miller, who coordinate projects that reflect the diversity of civic participation. Our service-learning sites for the Fall 2024 Sophomore Seminar include Neighbor-to-Neighbor, the Dorothea Dix Park Conservancy, the Open Door Clinic of Wake Urban Ministries, the Interfaith Food Shuttle Farm, North Carolina Habitat for Humanity, Sunlight, and an Interfaith Exploration team. The discussion highlighted the broader understanding of citizenship, focusing on how the practices of civil discourse and civic involvement intersect.
In reflecting on this theme, the seminar also connected the history of the Caldwell Fellows to servant-leadership, a philosophy rooted in the belief that leaders exist to serve others rather than seeking personal power. This belief aligns with NC State’s mission as a land-grant university, charged with serving the broader community. As Dr. Odom noted, “Our role demands awareness that we all bring different gifts to the world, and understanding how we can use these gifts is fundamental to civic engagement.”
The dinner seminar featured examples of Caldwell Fellows alumni engaged in public service. John Higdon, a professional engineer and mayor of Matthews, NC, and Nathaniel Horner, a civil servant in the Department of Energy, exemplify civic engagement through their professional roles. Others, like Jory Weintraub, who has volunteered at a homeless shelter for over 25 years, show how engagement can extend beyond the workplace. Other examples highlighted how Caldwell Fellows staff and recent graduates have made significant contributions to public service through post-graduate service year programs—for example, Dr. Chester Brewer (associate director) and Victoria Vass (operations coordinator) both served for two years after college with Americorps. Additionally, recent graduates are taking leadership roles in service programs including the College Advising Corps, Peace Corps, and Lead for NC.
Through these examples, Fellows were reminded that civic engagement can take many forms, from local community involvement to global initiatives. The evening emphasized that citizenship calls for all of us to find where our unique talents and passions meet the world’s greatest needs, making civic engagement not only a duty but an opportunity to lead and serve every day.
