Living Learning Community
In Drexel’s Living Learning Communities, students live with other students from the same academic program or with similar interests, making it easier to build community and do social and academic activities collectively.
Civic Engagement is defined as “working to make a difference in community life through collective, public problem solving.” The Civic Engagement Living Learning Community (CE-LLC) is a home for students who are passionate about creating a more just world and who would like to further their understanding of social issues, engage in community service and relationship-building, and reflect on their experiences and motivations together with other passionate students. Members of the CE-LLC will participate in workshops, group service experiences, and other activities throughout their first year at Drexel—building community as a group to foster a sense of belonging and collective capacity to make change. CE-LLC members will also explore opportunities to shape their own civic pathway as they continue at the University through academics, engagement on- and off-campus, and leadership opportunities. Examples of activities from past years of the LLC include: a group visit to the African American Museum of Philadelphia, a screening and discussion of a movie about public housing, and a group trip to a Drexel theatre production about the Black Bottom neighborhood.
The CE-LLC is coordinated by the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement. Student activities will be facilitated by Lindy Center staff, community-engaged faculty and students, campus and community partners, and CE-LLC mentors.
Read how the LLC impacted student Izzy Curtin's experience at Drexel in her writeup here!
Join Us!
Please check out the Student Life page on Living Learning Communities for more information on how to join.
We welcome all inquiries into the Civic Engagement Living Learning Community. Questions can be directed to Cara Scharf, Assistant Director of Community-Based Learning at the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement at ces337@drexel.edu. Please note that only first-year students can apply to live in this Living Learning Community.
Image: a group of students and mentors from the 2022-23 LLC visit the African American Museum in Philadelphia.
Mentors
LLC students are matched with upperclass mentors who are Lindy Center civic engagement leaders. Mentors provide guidance to students in the LLC inspired by their own experiences, both on adjusting to life at Drexel and on integrating civic engagement into your pathway through Drexel. If you are interested in serving as a mentor, please reach out to Cara Scharf, ces337@drexel.edu.
Below you can learn more about the 2023-24 Civic Engagement Living Learning Community Mentors.
Image shows LLC mentors (clockwise from top left: Lakshmi Parvathinathan, Isabela Curtin, Maéva Kadjo, and Bianca Carbone.
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Lakshmi Parvathinathan
Major: Biological Sciences
Minor: Psychology
Expected Graduation: Spring 2024
"To me, civic engagement is about serving the community and understanding the root causes of the social injustices we see around us. Through being involved with the Drexel Community Scholar program, the Coffee and Community discussion group, hospital volunteering, tutoring, and numerous immigration organizations, I have been able to provide direct service, reflect upon social issues, and engage in activism."
Outside Lindy, Lakshmi serves as a CoAS Ambassador and is involved with Tribeta and AMWA. Lakshmi is excited to be an LLC mentor to "work with like-minded peers who are passionate about civic engagement. I am looking forward to forming meaningful relationships with the incoming cohort and continue being a part of an amazing community of students and faculty here at the Lindy Center."
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Isabela Curtin
Major: Sociology
Minor: Medical Sociology
Expected Graduation: Spring 2025
"As an immigrant, social justice and equity have been at the forefront of my mind for as long as I can remember. Making sure that being civically engaged in all aspects of my life allows me to feel closer to the communities I am a part of. I focus a lot of my time on mentorship and creating cultural capital for underrepresented students at Drexel."
Outside of Lindy, Izzy loves working out at the Drexel Athletic Center and hanging out with friends at Lancaster walk. Izzy is excited to be an LLC mentor "to connect with incoming students and hopefully pass on important information and resources to them."
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Maeva Kadjo
Major: Management Information Systems & Business Analytics
Minor: Real Estate Management & Development
Expected Graduation: Spring 2024
"Civic engagement is important to me because it allows communities to work collectively toward improving community life. Learning more about civic engagement taught me about different perspectives and the skills and approaches needed for community development. There are so many ways to be engaged. I incorporate civic engagement into my life through community service, learning opportunities, my academic and professional career, and being engaged in my communities."
Outside of Lindy, Maeva is a CIVC 101 TA and TA Leader, an RA on main campus, and a member of a few organizations such as LeBow Bridge and Drexel Urban Growers. Maeva also likes to attend different events and sign up for volunteering opportunities on campus. She is excited to be an LLC mentor "to meet and welcome new students to the Drexel community. I have been involved at the Lindy Center since my freshmen year and enjoy telling other students about it. The Lindy Center and civic engagement were an important part of shaping my Drexel experience. I'm looking forward to sharing my experience and the lessons I learned on my journey."
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Bianca Carbone
Major: Computer Science
Year: Sophomore
"Civic engagement is important to me as I strive to make a meaningful impact on systems that perpetuate injustice. In High-school I pursued community service actions through women empowerment actions via self-defense education and community-level efforts to combat climate change. Now in college, the Lindy Center has helped me continue my service by providing the tools and resources to plan and carry out activities of empowerment, awareness, and volunteering."
Outside of the Lindy Center, Bianca participates in Drexel organizations that host their own service events as well as the Drexel book club which meets to discuss and share ideas on a variety of topics, Drexel Depict which supports students exploring their creativity, and the Drexel Veterans Association a community to support military-affiliated students. Bianca is excited to be an LLC mentor because "I can expand my community service efforts by encouraging and empowering more students to pursue their projects of social change that they are passionate about."
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