January 2012 Archives

Should Congress extend the renewable energy production tax credit, and if so, how should it be funded?

Offshore wind farms are appearing off coastlines across the globe, especially off both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. From European nations to the east coast of the United States, the promise of a clean energy source fueled by wind power has a high financial cost.

View the resources and join the discussion on our Civic Issues in a Minute website.

Knittany Lion Needleworks, along with their friends from the community, completed 119 handmade scarves for the Pennsylvania athletes in the 2012 USA Special Olympics.

See article on campus website, entry on campus blog.

The beginning of the Spring 2012 semester marks the return of We Are Penn State M.A.D.E. (Making A Difference Everyday).  This campus volunteer club looks forward to allowing all members to become leaders in volunteering and community-based activities year-round.

At the club's first meeting on January 19, the students cut coupons to support the campus efforts for the Overseas Coupon Program.  This year, the campus will be sending all manufacturer coupons to the U.A. Army base in Vilseck, Germany.  In just one common hour session, the students cut $2,193.36 worth of coupons!  Stay tuned for more events and activities by M.A.D.E.

We should not forget the dream of one person, wonderfully portrayed in today's Google Doodle...


...and five inspirational quotes by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., summarized on the Cool People Care website.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

"I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

"Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?"

Penn State Brandywine is celebrating MLK Day as a week of lectures and service opportunities.  THON/American Red Cross, Knittany Lion Needleworks, We Are Penn State M.A.D.E., the Office of Student Affairs, and the Laboratory for Civic Engagement are all coming together to organize and lead activities for the campus.  The week of events serves to remind everyone that although MLK Day is a "day on, not a day off," it is important to serve all throughout the year.

The first issue of our Laboratory newsletter has been published!  ENGAGE the Lion is a PDF file filled with highlights of information from our website, useful resources, and ways to become involved.

ENGAGE the Lion, Issue #1, December 2011 (PDF file)

Be sure to read the campus press release (LINK) about Cara and her amazing work!


We have to wonder if Cara Colantuono, while sitting in her classes as a Penn State Brandywine undergraduate student, knew what her future would hold.  We wonder how that land grant mission of Penn State University called out to her to serve the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 

What we do know is that, armed with her undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Studies and her Masters of Social Work from Temple University, Cara is the founder, CEO, and president of Support Homeless Veterans.  Founded in 2011, Cara's organization provides support services and housing for chronic homeless, drug-addicted and recently relieved veterans.

To learn more about Cara and her organization, please visit the website for Support Homeless Veterans and see the article by South Philly Review.

A video update of the activities from Penn State Brandywine's Laboratory for Civic Engagement, as reported by Laboratory Coordinator Dr. Laura Guertin.