The city is alive with the rhythm of streets as its heartbeat. As students of the city, we breathe the same air, use the same public transportation and share a sense of pride as a Chicago community. We are forced to think outside of ourselves every time we step foot off campus. Chicago is big, the world is bigger and we are all just trying to get by. We see people on both sides of the spectrum from the disgustingly rich to the heart-breaking poor. Most of us are fortunate enough to realize that as college students we are the happy medium. With the combination of education on injustices and self-realization, college students are some of the most influential social activists.
The New York Times recently reported that the biggest advocates in the fight on AIDS are college students who do not carry the virus. This proves again that students are compassionate, energetic and willing to fight. One of the perks of living in the third largest city in the United States is all the available resources students have at their disposal. We can find a route to fight for what we believe in outside of the umbrella of the university. We have access beyond student organizations. We can join a larger movement, whether it be your fight for equal rights in the LGBTQ community, immigrants, homeless, abused women or animals. There is a plethora of options available.
Today, I am going Chicago's city hall to be a part of a people's hearing on the Clean Power Ordinance. The ordinance demands that mayor Daley address the issue of harmful coal plants in Chicago's own Little Village. The plants are putting our people's and our environment's health at risk. We are also asking for a more sustainable way to produce energy. I encourage all the readers to head down to city hall to show your support of the ordinance at 10 a.m. today. (Expect a post devoted to the Clean Power Ordinance in the future). This Valentines day support clean air for your friends and lovers.
I am also involved with LIFT Chicago, a nonprofit resource center that works with low-income families to secure housing and employment. It's a free service and we work with anyone. I've had clients with master degrees and clients who are 17 with kids. LIFT has offices in five major cities in the United States. This is just another example of how the city can enable one student can make a large impact.
One of my roommates volunteers at an BE HIV and AIDS clinic in uptown and another one is a child mentor at the Christopher House. My third roommate is a nursing major, so needless to say she locked up in the IC at all hours.
PAWS Chicago is always looking for students to spend time with animals. The Red Cross volunteers helped the drivers who were snowed in on Lakeshore Drive reach safety. Local farmer markets could always use an extra hand explaining to customers how Link can be used to buy their fresh produce.
There are various ways to contribute to society and we shouldn't look at it as charity, but as a moral duty. It is our social responsibility to think beyond the campus quad. There are overwhelming injustices in this world and we owe it to our fellow humans to advocate and strive for a better quality of life.
So I guess I am bloggin' today to encourage student readers to see if a cause they are passionate about operates in Chicago. This substantial level of impact we can contribute to the world is very different than if we were to go to school in a cornfield. There are infinite possibilities in this lovely city of ours. So in the words of St. Ignatius Loyola, "Go forth and set the world on fire."
Comment if you have any other suggestions on how students can get involved with a great cause in Chicago. Follow us on Twitter @Chicago_U and become a fan on Facebook Chi-U
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