Advancing the Morse Leadership Institute’s (MLI) Community Engagement Project Program

Amount Awarded: $35,000 

Academic Year: 2022-2023 

Implementation: Spring 2023 - ongoing

Full Application: Link

Categories: Campus and Community Engagement Curriculum and Research

The mission of the Morse Leadership Institute (MLI) is to develop student leaders who can work collaboratively and inclusively with others by honoring diverse leadership values, styles, and perspectives, which can result in more equitable solutions and communities. It is the value of MLI to provide a variety of support mechanisms and opportunities for students across Western’s campus to develop as leaders. These include a broad spectrum of leadership studies courses, applied and global leadership opportunities, community engagement, peer and professional mentoring, support for students’ participation in academic conferences and professional development opportunities, and campus events and programs. 

Over the years, students in leadership courses have developed and implemented several community engagement projects (CEPs) at Western and in the Whatcom community. The CEP program has become a series of four legacy projects that different students lead each quarter with the intention of long-term, sustainable change. The projects address solutions such as Nooksack restoration, trans advocacy, menstrual health advocacy, and nature and mental health. 

This grant helped fund the creation of a couple of student employment positions within MLI, support an investment in materials needed to run the program on a quarterly basis, and allow for students and faculty to attend the International Leadership Association conference in Vancouver, BC, during fall of 2023.