From the president
Angelica Thomas, a junior honors student at the University of Central Arkansas, has spent her undergraduate career so far pursuing environmental and racial justice. She has not only been an advocate and volunteer in the community through causes such as the Arkansas Citizens Climate Lobby, League of Women Voters, and as an AmeriCorps member, but she has also been a leader among her peers as a representative in the Student Government Association, a peer mentor and a pedagogical assistant in the Honors Program, and the president of the Feminist Union. Angelica puts partnerships among student organizations, departments, and community organizations at the center of her work, and in doing so has made a measurable difference on campus, in the Conway community, and in the state of Arkansas.
Personal Statement
I am committed to addressing social issues through community-based education. Everyone can be an educator and a changemaker if they understand their power to educate others and become educated themselves. Education to address social issues through collaboration and care has been at the heart of my civic engagement work. I have had the privilege of leading civic collaborations within the UCA, Conway, and Arkansas communities through my roles as a peer coach and mentor, tutor, student representative, volunteer, and activist. In each role I have worked to empower people of all ages to gain the tools to inform themselves, learn from their mistakes, and grow as advocates for causes from educational opportunities to environmental justice.. By establishing a safe environment for discourse, we can create the foundation for a future less afflicted by wicked problems. As a Newman Civic Fellow, I aim to deepen my knowledge, grow my network for cross-sector collaboration, and amplify community engagement efforts. We can bridge gaps between diverse communities to create a broader community that supports the education of every individual. To build compassionate education as a community value, we must lay the foundation for trust and shared understanding.