Community College Initiative (CCI) Program participants across the United States celebrated Exchange Day, which occurs every year on August 7th. This was the first year that the CCI Program commemorated the global holiday, which aims to raise awareness about the importance of exchange programs. This year, Exchange Day was centered around the theme of “Eat, Play, Give!”, encouraging people to celebrate by sharing their cultures, having fun, and giving back to their local communities by volunteering.
Throughout late July and early August, CCI Program participants raised awareness about Exchange Day by taking part in community service. On August 7th, participants at Kirkwood Community College partnered with Gems of Hope, a nonprofit that provides support to local cancer patients. Students created cards filled with inspiring and uplifting messages of hope and were delivered to patients at St. Luke’s Medical Center. Fox Valley Technical College participants made cards for their neighborhood nursing home. Mesa Community College participants volunteered with Feed My Starving Children, an organization that prepares food packages for hungry children overseas. The College of DuPage cohort packed snacks for the United Way of Metro Chicago, an organization that tackles the systemic issues that affect Chicago.
Kirkwood Students Volunteer with Gems of Hope
College of DuPage Students Volunteer at the United Way of Metro Chicago
On August 4th, Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria students partnered with the Goodwin House, a senior living community in Alexandria. Participants held cultural presentations and met with some of the individuals living at the Goodwin House. Students at Bluegrass Community and Technical College celebrated Exchange Day through two events. They first participated in the preparations of the Latinx Leadership and College Experience camp in collaboration with several organizations. They also engaged in a volunteer activity called Share Lunch, which was facilitated by student organizations from the University of Kentucky and in collaboration with the HOPE center in Lexington.
On July 28th, Sinclair Community College got involved by working in a garden at the Foodbank, Inc. They picked fresh vegetables and aided with clean-up. Valencia College participants partnered with the major’s office to host a potluck and have students perform traditional dances from their countries. They also volunteered at Clean the World, an organization that collects hygienic products from hotels and businesses to then repackage and send to developing countries. Students at Northampton Community College celebrated by painting and cleaning a small farm near the college and mentoring young children at their summer camp. Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale students visited Colvin Run Mill Historic Site, a 200-year-old working mill and general store. They toured the site and exercised their green thumbs by removing invasive plants.
Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Students Volunteer at Colvin Run Mill Historic Site
Valencia College Students Volunteer with Clean the World and Host a Potluck with the Mayor’s Office
Sinclair Community College Students Volunteer at the Foodbank, Inc.
The spirit of volunteerism is evident in all these activities, which reinforces the CCI Program’s dedication to helping local communities. Cultural exchange, service learning, and community engagement activities also deepen mutual understanding of different heritages, customs, and cultural traditions. Through their hard work, CCI participants demonstrate the importance of Exchange Day, which connects a growing circle of individuals from all over the world with the goal of ensuring a prosperous and equitable future for all.
Mesa Community College Participants Volunteer with Feed My Starving Children
Written by Holly Calhoun, Alumni Relations and Communications Coordinator