Community Fellows

Joining a Community of Practice is an immersive semester-long experience where a group of students partner with a local nonprofit and work to address a specific social issue through the lenses of education, service, philanthropy, and advocacy. Students will complete service hours at a local nonprofit 2-3 times a month, as well as work with their group to plan education and advocacy events for the App State community. Social Issue themes for Fall 2023 are Food Security and Hunger Alleviation, Youth Development and Education, Housing Affordability, and Environmental Justice. Students can expect to spend around 10 hours a month in this engagement (average 1-2 hours a week). Submit an interest form now on Engage (opens in new tab)!

Mission

The Community Fellows program seeks to strengthen and nurture Appalachian State University's relationship with students, faculty, and Community Partners by facilitating resource sharing and exposure to the nonprofit sector. To reach this mission, six Community Fellows lead Communities of Practice to help students dive deeper into local social issues and interact with nonprofit organizations that serve Watauga and surrounding counties. The foundation of this program adheres to the United Nations' (UN) sustainability goals (opens in new tab) to ensure that all efforts made by the program support a better and more sustainable future for all.

Communities of Practice

Environmental Justice

This Community of Practice (CoP) will be partnering with Mountain True. This CoP will serve 3-4 times a semester at Mountain True for a longer period of time (i.e. Half day experience). The group will participate in a few shorter service experiences closer to campus and will plan events to educate the App State Community on Environmental Justice, as well as raise funds for this nonprofit through our annual Plant Sale.

Food Security & Hunger Alleviation

This Community of Practice (CoP) will be partnering with Hunger and Health Coalition. This CoP will regularly assist with A Simple Gesture Program, as well as serve 3-4 times a semester as a group at Hunger and Health Coalition facilities. The group will spearhead App's participation in The Hunger Challenge and will plan events to educate the App State community on food security, such as Free Farmers Market initiative and food drives benefitting Hunger and Health Coalition.

Did you know that Watauga County is the third poorest county in the state? The Hunger and Health Coalition (opens in new tab) serves over 70 clients each day. What started as a small food pantry in a closet 40 years ago has grown into a food bank for all of Watauga County with the only free pharmacy in the area. Through generous donations and passionate community members Hunger and Health Coalition has a myriad of services including a Market, Food Pantry, Food Recovery, a Wood Lot, Back Pack program for children, and Sharing Tree during Christmas.

Youth Development & Education

This Community of Practice (CoP) will be partnering with Mountain Alliance at Watauga High School and the Western Youth Network. This CoP will divide volunteers between both programs and serve every other week to gain direct experience. This group will plan events to educate the App State community on Youth Development and Education, as well as raise funds for these nonprofits through events of the group's choice.

Housing Affordability

This Community of Practice (CoP) will be partnering with Watauga Habitat for Humanity and Watauga Community Housing Trust. This CoP will serve every other week at service sites identified by Watauga Habitat for Humanity and will volunteer for assignments and other needs of the Watauga Community Housing Trust. This group will plan events to educate the AppState community on Housing Affordability, as well as raise funds for these non-profits through events of the group's choice.