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| These students from the Habitat campus chapter at the University of Minnesota joined thousands more students across the country to raise awareness of poverty and substandard housing issues. |
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Behind the Scenes:
It was one of those rare "this-is-what-it's-all-about" moments. Ryan Walstrom, now co-president of the Habitat for Humanity campus chapter at Juniata College in Pennsylvania, was walking down the sidewalk toward a group of people that included the college's president, a Habitat for Humanity International staff member and fellow students. The group was completing the final leg of a 14-mile walk from a completed Habitat house to the ground breaking for the next house, and they carried a sign that read "Habitat for Humanity--Eliminating Substandard Housing Worldwide."
"That image displayed the collaboration of people and the commitment of Juniata to making the world a better place," Walstrom says.
This year, Juniata will join hundreds of other campus chapters as they celebrate HabiFest 2004, a nationwide, student-initiated day of advocating for affordable housing. As each campus chapter organizes its own activities, students send a message to both their peers and the community at large.
"It shows that we are involved in our community and willing to help people in need," says Emily Gorin, president of the campus chapter at Easton High School in Easton, Md.
Past activities have ranged from the construction site to the halls of Congress:
- Sleep-outs/"shack-a-thons": Volunteers have camped out in cardboard boxes to raise awareness of the issues homeless people face.
- Contests: "We set up two sawhorses and a board in front of our cafeteria," Walstrom says. "As students came through for dinner, we tried to get two to three people to participate in the contest. The person who hammered his/her nail completely into the board in the shortest amount of time won."
- Letter-writing campaigns: Students have signed petitions and letters urging elected representatives to support affordable housing programs.
- Panel discussions: Local community members have offered perspectives on the different issues impacted by poverty.
Though HabiFest is focused on student involvement, affiliates play an important support role for campus chapters, according to Jenny Whitcher, HabiFest 2004 coordinator at HFHI. Even small gestures such as making the office photocopier available can help, she says.
For more information on becoming involved in HabiFest, contact Whitcher at (800) HABITAT, Ext. 2411.
