The Big Event: Engaging with the World

Saturday, April 11th JMU students in Florence, Italy will participate in JMU’s 4th annual “Big Event.” This university-wide day of service allows students and alumni to give back to the communities in which they live and study. In 2013, The Big Event spanned the globe, as students in Florence, Antwerp, London, and Salamanca joined the effort. In 2014, the event’s scope will once again be broad: Dukes will be active in over 24 cities, and alumni associations across the US and abroad will be answering the call to action.

The Harrisonburg tradition and its growing international reach contribute to JMU President Jonathan Alger’s vision of establishing JMU as the model of the engaged university. Event planners find unique service activities in their regions and strive to promote dialogue and cultural understanding for students. Last year, graduate students in the M.A. program in political science with a concentration in European Union Policy Study (EUPS) worked with a neighborhood association, the Associazione Via Maggio, to remove graffiti from historic buildings in Florence’s city center. The Associazione, which contributes to historical preservation and development of the neighborhood surrounding the Via Maggio, is a close partner with JMU-Florence.

This year’s EUPS cohort is excited to team up with the association once again and to contribute to the meaningful cause. “I’m excited to get involved,” said current EUPS student Kelcie Melino, “I love volunteering, and it’s awesome to make a difference, whether it’s big or small.”

The EUPS program’s academic coordinator, Caterina Paolucci, is also looking forward to The Big Event in Florence. She has invited the city’s Mayor, Dario Nardella, to take part in the day’s activities.