Centralight

Hundreds of CMU alumni made their fi rst connection to public service while at CMU. And for many, Mount Pleasant became more than just a college town. It was their community. When CMU student volunteers graduate, they leave campus compelled to continue their service wherever their professional careers take them. They're mentors, patient caregivers, meal deliverers and companions for senior citizens. The list goes on, and their outreach spans the country and the world. So it only made sense for Ryan Fewins-Bliss, '02 MA '04, to start the CMU Volunteer Center Alumni Chapter on Facebook for everyone to stay connected. service BY TRACY BURTON, '02 Lifelong "We have been so moved by our experiences at CMU that we want to remain active citizens in our communities," says Fewins-Bliss. "The chapter allows alums to continue giving back to their communities, fl y the banner of CMU and maintain connections to each other." Members of the Facebook chapter – now up to 206 – meet monthly by conference call to plan special events, trips and membership growth. They return to CMU's campus each April for "Good Neighbor Day" in which they collaborate with CMU student volunteers to help clean up the yards of area residents. While at CMU, Fewins-Bliss participated in several volunteer eff orts. Now he lives in Bath, Mich., and serves on boards that include Planned Parenthood of Mid and South Michigan and the Michigan Court Appointed Special Advocates. "Civic engagement allows us to truly be part of a community," Fewins-Bliss says. "It puts our education to good use and maintains a healthy democracy." Just after graduation in 2008, Joshua Phillips and two other CMU students at the time became known as the East Coast Walkers and made an 1,800-mile journey from Miami to Boston to raise awareness about sexual violence. This past summer, he turned those experiences into a book, "1,800 Miles: Striving to End Sexual Violence, One Step at a Time." says. "I hope our walk and this book will be one more avenue to bring more awareness to this issue." "There comes a time when after you see so much hurt and hear so many painful stories that you physically have to do something – anything – to try to help," Phillips While at CMU, Phillips was part of Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates for four years. He now teaches part time at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, and works part time at a local homeless shelter. He also travels the country at his own expense several times a year to speak at universities about sexual violence. "Too often victims of sexual violence suff er in silence because they don't think anyone will believe them," says Phillips. "I want survivors to know that there are people out there who care." 12 centralight spring '10

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