https://socialimpact.bw.psu.edu/

Penn State Brandywine Center for Ethics and Civic Engagement, 25 Yearsley Mill Road, Media, PA (2026)

04/06/2026

What happens when classroom learning meets the global stage🌍??

Today was an incredible day for our Penn State Brandywine community. The Center for Social Impact was proud to champion a collaborative experiential learning opportunity with our Peace & Conflict Studies and Global Studies programs, alongside partners from Penn State Lehigh and Penn State Abington, during our visit to the United Nations Headquarters.

This experience connected classroom learning to real-world global practice—allowing students to witness diplomacy, human rights discussions, and global cooperation in action. Moments like these remind us that education extends beyond the classroom and into spaces where real decisions shaping our world are made.

At the Center for Social Impact, we believe in the power of partnerships and collaboration to develop socially responsible leaders committed to human rights, civic engagement, and community development. Seeing the curiosity, reflection, and inspiration in our students today was a powerful reminder that the next generation is ready to engage with the world and help build a more peaceful and just future.

A special thank you to Penn State Lehigh and Penn State Abington for their partnership and support in making this experiential opportunity possible.

This visit represents just the beginning. The Center for Social Impact will continue building meaningful collaborations that create opportunities for students to engage with the world and drive impact beyond our campus community.

Stay Tuned! We have more work to do!☮️

03/18/2026

Still thinking about this one…

Our Women’s History Month event, Leading Beyond Limits, was more than just a conversation; it was a shift in perspective. From purpose to growth mindset to navigating leadership in an evolving, AI-driven world, every moment pushed us to think deeper about who we are and who we’re becoming.

Ayana Fernandes Pilgrim absolutely brought the room to life. Real, insightful, and empowering in every way.

Spaces like this remind us that growth starts with being open, being present, and being willing to evolve.

03/13/2026

🌍 Center for Social Impact
🛠️ Alternative Spring Break – Day 3 (Final Day of Impact)

Our final day in Mechanicsville, VA was spent serving at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, where our students helped organize inventory, stock shelves, and support the store that helps fund affordable housing in the community. 📦🔧

Before leaving, we had a special moment signing the Apple Tree inside Mechanicsville United Methodist Church — marking that in Spring 2026, the Penn State Brandywine Center for Social Impact made history with our first Alternative Spring Break team. 🍎

A week of service, growth, and community impact — truly one for the books. 💙

StudentLeadership

03/12/2026

🌍 PSU Brandywine Center for Social Impact

🛠️ Alternative Spring Break – Day 2 Recap

Day two of our Penn State Brandywine Center for Social Impact Alternative Spring Break in Mechanicsville, Virginia continued with strong momentum alongside our partners at Habitat for Humanity. 🏠🏡

After getting familiar with the construction site on Day 1, our students returned today with a clearer understanding of their roles and a greater level of confidence. From the moment we arrived, the team got straight to work, continuing progress on the homes that will soon provide safe and affordable housing for families in the community.

Throughout the day, students supported several important projects across the build site. Our team helped make strong progress installing siding on the shed structure, bringing it closer to completion and supporting the overall development of the property. 🧱🔨

Another highlight from the day came when several students stepped up to take on one of the more challenging tasks on site — working inside the crawl space beneath the home to place gravel and ensure proper drainage flow for the foundation. It was tight and demanding work, but our students embraced the opportunity and took pride in contributing to the strength and stability of the future home.

Beyond the physical work, what stood out most today was the growth in teamwork, confidence, and leadership. Students who were learning tools and processes yesterday returned today ready to take initiative and support one another across the site.

Experiences like this are a powerful example of community development in action — where students learn firsthand how collaboration, service, and shared effort contribute to building stronger communities.

We are proud of the commitment our students continue to show and grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside Habitat for Humanity here in Mechanicsville.

Another impactful day of service👏🏾👏🏾

StudentLeadership
AlternativeSpringBreak

03/11/2026

A sincere thank you to Mechanicsville United Methodist Church for welcoming the Penn State Brandywine Center for Social Impact during our Habitat for Humanity Alternative Spring Break experience.

We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to stay in your space while serving in the Mechanicsville community this week. Your hospitality and generosity made our experience even more meaningful.

We especially appreciated the invitation to join you for dinner, where our students had the opportunity to connect with members of the congregation and share their stories and perspectives around their social impact journeys. Moments like these remind us how powerful it is when communities come together through service and conversation.

It is always an honor to connect and share the work of the Center for Social Impact, grounded in our pillars of Community Development, Civic Engagement, and Human Rights.

Thank you again for your kindness and for being a part of this experience for our students.

03/10/2026

PSU Brandywine Center for Social Impact 🛠️ Alternative Spring Break – Day 1 Recap “Sweat Equity”

Day one of our Penn State Brandywine Center for Social Impact Alternative Spring Break in Mechanicsville, Virginia is officially in the books. 🚐

Today our students partnered with Habitat for Humanity 🏠 and had the opportunity to contribute to the construction of two homes that will provide safe and affordable housing for families in the community.

Our students were divided into teams and gained hands-on experience across several aspects of the build process. Some students assisted with electrical preparation ⚡, others worked on interior painting 🎨, while another group supported siding installation 🧱 on the exterior of the home. A fourth team tackled an important site challenge by digging drainage pathways to redirect standing water away from the property, ensuring proper water flow from the yard to the street. 🌧️➡️🛤️

Throughout the day, our students truly got their hands dirty 🧤, demonstrating teamwork, resilience, and a willingness to learn new skills. This work represents what WE CALL “sweat equity” — the meaningful labor and commitment invested to help build homes and strengthen communities.

To see our students choose to spend their spring break serving others and contributing to a cause larger than themselves is incredibly powerful. Their energy, collaboration, and commitment to community impact were on full display today.

Day 1 from the Habitat build site is complete — and we’re just getting started. 10minutes leaving our site and our students earned a well needed rest 🥱😴😆

Stay tuned for more from CSI’s Alternative Spring Break Experience. 🚧

AlternativeSpringBreak

03/10/2026

Excited for our students as we kick off our Alternative Spring Break with the Center for Social Impact at Penn State Brandywine.

This week, our group has traveled to Mechanicsville, Virginia, where our students will spend the next few days serving alongside Habitat for Humanity on construction sites and volunteering at the Habitat ReStore. Instead of taking time off, these students chose to dedicate their spring break to service, leadership, and community impact.

We began the experience with a team dinner and bonding conversation, where students shared why they chose to participate in Alternative Spring Break and what they hope to gain from this experience. Moments like these help build the trust, connection, and shared purpose that make service-learning experiences meaningful.

This is truly a student-led and purpose-driven experience, allowing our students to grow as socially responsible leaders while making a real impact beyond campus.

Grateful for the commitment and energy already shown by this group.

Stay tuned for what’s to come.

AlternativeSpringBreak

03/06/2026

🏠✨ A special day at Penn State Brandywine’s Center for Social Impact.

We were grateful to welcome Keith Sterling, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties, to Penn State Brandywine to engage with our students and share powerful insights on affordable housing, community development, and the importance of homeownership in building stronger communities.

A sincere thank you as well to Joe Kernen for joining us and for his continued leadership and support of both Habitat and Penn State Brandywine.

Students also participated in a fun and meaningful Jenga activity 🧱, where each block sparked conversations about housing, sustainability, and community impact.

Shoutout to all of our CSI Impact Leaders, especially Chanara Chestnut, for doing an outstanding job facilitating and leading this engaging experience for our campus community. 👏🏾 Your leadership continues to create meaningful opportunities for students to connect, learn, and lead.

Thank you as well to Anabella Tracey and Grace Gothard for their continued support and partnership as they work closely with our students while we grow the Habitat for Humanity chapter here at Penn State Brandywine.

Excited to continue expanding service opportunities through the Center for Social Impact and strengthening our partnership with Habitat.

03/05/2026

🧱 JENGA TIME at PSU Brandywine!

Join the Center for Social Impact and Habitat for Humanity at Penn State Brandywine as we build community — one block at a time.

Pull a block, answer a question, and join the conversation around community development, housing, and sustainability through our interactive Jenga experience.

We’re also excited to welcome a special guest — Keith Sterling, CEO of Habitat for Humanity, who will be joining us to connect with students and share insights on Habitat’s mission and the impact of building stronger communities.

This is a great opportunity to:
• Learn about Habitat for Humanity
• Discover service and leadership opportunities
• Connect with community partners
• Meet students who want to make an impact

📅 Thursday, March 5
⏰ 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
📍 Parsons Hall

🍕 Food will be provided

Come pull a block, ask a question, and learn how you can help build stronger communities.

02/06/2026

Today we built more than houses — we built community. 🏠✨

Our Popsicle Home Build brought creativity, teamwork, and meaningful conversation into the room. Two teams, lots of laughs, and a shared reminder that home is about care, connection, and intention.

Thank you to everyone who showed up and made the space feel warm and welcoming.

02/05/2026

🎬 FILM SHOWING, DINNER & DIALOGUE

Join us for a screening of A Hope That Lights the Way, an Emmy® Award–winning documentary that uplifts the voices of community leaders working to address gun violence through hope, healing, and action.

The film centers the lived experiences of individuals and neighborhoods most impacted, highlighting local “Hope Dealers” who are breaking cycles of violence, closing equity gaps, and leading transformation from within their communities. Through research-informed dialogue and storytelling, the film sheds light on progress, resilience, and what it truly takes to create lasting change.

This is an incredible opportunity to learn, reflect, and engage in meaningful conversation with Director Kaloni Davis.

📅 Wednesday, February 11
⏰ 5:00 – 7:00 PM
📍 SUB Building | Room 114–117
🍽️ Dinner provided
📲 Scan the QR code to register

Penn State Brandywine Center for Ethics and Civic Engagement

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