By Megan Miller, Editor
AUBURN – Living Democracy students will work in Alabama Communities for the next 10 weeks as part of their summer program.
Living Democracy is a program of Auburn University’s College of Liberal Arts and the David Matthews Center for Civic Life. The program was started in 2010 with a goal of promoting higher education and preparing citizens for public life.
Four Auburn University Students, Weston Sims, Hamilton Wasinick, Madison Chamblee and Maranda Whitten are representing the College of Liberal Arts and are working to create civic projects in Collinsville, Elba, Linden and Roanoke.
Madison Chamblee, from right here in Trussville, will be spending her summer in Collinsville, and will be working with Jennifer Wilkins at the Collinsville Public Library. Chamblee hopes to have an outlet for developing her environmental and arts interests.
“Madison will stay busy organizing a recycling program for our community, teaching adults and children about their own food, and helping all ages to get moving with dance,” Chamblee’s supervisor Wilkins said.
Chamblee is majoring in environmental design and interdisciplinary studies.
“Exploring is an authentic part of the academic process,” said Chamblee. “This experience is an excellent opportunity for me to discover more about myself and other people.”
Wasnick and Sims will be living in local fire stations.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how democracy and society in general function on a local scale,” said Sims, a political science and economics major from Athens, Alabama. “I’m sure I’ll pick up some valuable skills along the way with the help of the citizens of Roanoke.
Whitten will be working alongside community partners with the nonprofit organization Restoration154 in Elba. She will be working with teens in Elba High School’s Interact Club to develop positive community impact projects, and also working with Elba’s Giving Garden and Pea River Outdoors. Whitten is a sociology major from Valley, Alabama.
Wasnick will be spending the summer in linden working with Pam Stentz, the Marengo Extension Coordinator, and Brenda Tuck, executive director of the Marengo County Economic Development Authority.