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MPR News interviews political volunteer Natalie Shaw ’16

mprNEWS - logoMinnesota Public Radio News recently published an article and audio interview with Natalie Shaw ’16, a student at Augsburg College who has been volunteering for Hilary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Shaw recently went door-to-door in Des Moines, Iowa, encouraging voters to turn out in support of Clinton at the state’s Democratic caucus slated for February 1.

Despite the cold weather, Shaw says she receives a warm welcome from nearly everyone who opens their door. “Iowans are just such amazing people,” she said. “You call them up… and they’re like, ‘Oh yeah, come over, have dinner.'”

Shaw credits her father’s volunteer work during John Kerry’s 2004 campaign as the impetus for her love of politics and political organizing.

Read and listen: Iowa in January? You bet, says 21-year-old political volunteer on the MPR News site.

Serve the community at Multicultural Dinner

multicultural_dinnerAugsburg’s Thrivent Leadership Fellows, a group of students working to engage the Augsburg community in service, need your help for the Multicultural Dinner at the Brian Coyle Center on Monday, Apr. 2. Up to 40 volunteers are needed for this event, so all faculty, staff, and students are welcome to participate.

This annual event will be coordinated this spring by the Thrivent Fellows in cooperation with West Bank Community Coalition, CHANCE (Cedar-Humphrey Action for Neighborhood Collaborative Engagement) from the Humphrey School, and the Trinity Lutheran congregation. Augsburg’s Campus Kitchen program is providing food for the dinner. Continue reading “Serve the community at Multicultural Dinner”

Camping out to give back

camperSince August 2006, St. Bernard Project residents and volunteers have rebuilt more than 100 homes in the St. Bernard Parish, an area near New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward that was one of the neighborhoods hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. On the project web site, one resident describes the unique ways of the St. Bernard people. “Meet us once,” she writes, “and you walk away as if you have known us your entire life.”

That is precisely how Augsburg senior, Matt Eller, feels about Kenny, a man he met last month in New Orleans. Continue reading “Camping out to give back”

Talking, learning, and pedaling with peace in New Orleans

pedal“There is absolutely no way 15 bikes are going to fit on one bus,” the Greyhound lady told us, her hair standing on end like an aggravated feline. It was early morning on March 15. We stood at the bus, laden with our luggage, equipment and tents.

“We” were the Pedalers for Peace, and this was the all-too-appropriate beginning to what turned out to be the most unpredictable and completely eye-opening spring break.

The initial plan was simple — 13 students, one advisor, and their bikes would travel to New Orleans and tackle the 100-mile road to Biloxi, Mississippi. The idea was to camp and volunteer along the way. But the Greyhound lady took that plan out of the realm of possibility, so we turned to Plan B. Continue reading “Talking, learning, and pedaling with peace in New Orleans”

Southeastern Minnesota Flood Disaster

floodreliefResidents in southeastern Minnesota are working to recover from this weekend’s flash flooding, perhaps the largest in state history. At least six people have died and several thousand have been driven from homes that have been destroyed or have sustained major damage.

Minnesota counties affected by the flooding are Winona, Wabasha, Fillmore, Houston, Steele, and Olmsted. The Governor has declared a state of emergency for these six counties. At present there has not been a call for volunteers, but one is expected in the next few days. Until there is a request, you can help by contacting one of the following organizations: Red Cross Twin Cities, Salvation Army, United Way, and Nechama. Links to contact information are provided below. Continue reading “Southeastern Minnesota Flood Disaster”