Application Open for Newman Civic Fellowship Nominations
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 18, 2019) — The application window is currently open for the Newman Civic Fellowship program that recognizes and supports community-focused student leaders across the nation.
The fellowship is offered through Campus Compact, an organization working to advance higher education and community engagement among its over 1,000 member institutions, which includes the University of Kentucky.
Each Campus Compact member institution is allowed to nominate one Newman Civic Fellow. During the yearlong fellowship, students receive resources and trainings for a specific civic engagement project, as well as mentorship opportunities and support to attend an annual conference in Boston in the fall.
Kaitlyn Frick, a UK senior studying human health sciences, was awarded the 2019 Newman Civic Fellowship for her devotion to addressing youth homelessness.
Frick has served as the program director for Wildcats for HOMES within the student-led Center for Community Outreach (CCO). Wildcats for HOMES helps students to learn about, think through and take action against food and housing insecurity.
Over the last three years, she has worked to help find solutions for men and women between the ages of 18-24 who are experiencing homelessness in Lexington. This has included starting a new nonprofit.
“Canopy Youth Adult Community House has been in progress for several years, and we received 501(c)(3) status in September,” Frick said.
Her Newman Civic Fellowship mentor is Josh Nadzam, co-founder and director of the On the Move Art Studio, and adjunct professor in the College of Social Work.
“Josh has been a great mentor. He assists in making community connections and has given me guidance on how to start a nonprofit!” Frick said.
“My team and I are currently working on developing a Youth Action Board," she said. "The board will be made of individuals of 18-24 years of age who have experienced homelessness to direct initiatives on youth homelessness. We want to ensure the right people get the right resources and we don’t assume the needs.”
The next steps are to identify funding to compensate the board members, purchase land, and develop additional plans and resources for a community house.
To nominate a UK undergraduate student for the 2020 Newman Civic Fellowship, please submit a letter of recommendation to Todd Stoltzfus at Todd.Stoltzfus@uky.edu by 11:59 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6, 2020.
For more information about the Newman Civic Fellowship, visit the Campus Contact website.
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