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Never Too Soon to Make Your Mark
Sage Engage is a free, half-day conference for high school students, where you’ll learn how to turn your ideas for making an impact in your school or community into action.
Russell Sage College is a premier college for Engaged Learning and community service and builds those opportunities into its general education curriculum. Hear from Russell Sage College faculty, students, and community partners about how they work together to incite change, make the world around them better, and live the college motto: Be. Know. Do.
SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2024
Be. Know. Do.
We’re so excited to welcome you to Russell Sage College, where you’ll begin thinking about using your gifts and putting your big ideas into action in your schools and community. You’ll hear stories from members of our Russell Sage faculty, students, and staff about how they’ve built connections and made an impact, have an opportunity to workshop your own ideas with our faculty and community partners, and leave inspired (and with lots of fun RSC swag!)
Location: Russell Sage College, Albany campus, Armory Building, 130 New Scotland Ave., Albany, NY. *Please note this is a location change to accommodate the overwhelming interest!
Parking info: If you’re arriving by car, please park in any of the available spaces, we’ve reserved the areas closest to the Armory Building for you. If you’re arriving by school bus, please follow the signs to direct you to parking and drop-off sites.
10-10:15 a.m.: Check-in and networking
10:15-11 a.m.: Welcome and Keynote
- Kelly Smith, assistant professor of education, Russell Sage College
- Matthew Shaftel, president, Russell Sage College
- Patricia Sparrell ’78, program funder and member of the Russell Sage College Board of Trustees
- Keynote: Noora Ahmed ’23, RSC psychology grad
11:15-11:45 a.m. and Noon to 12:30 p.m. Symposium Sessions (Students will pick two.)
12:30-1 p.m.: Lunch and Networking
- Selfcare, Art, and You: This interactive, hands-on workshop utilizes art materials in a therapeutic manner to help foster, self-care, and self-exploration, and reduce the stress of “needing to know it all now.” Location: Art & Design Building, Room 303
- A Mile in Their Shoes: Voices of Social Justice in Theatre: The shared audience experience provides a great launching space for increasing awareness and empathy for artists and viewers. This session will explore titles and authors that bring relevance and understanding of current social justice issues. Location: Armory, Conference Room 102
- Seeing is Believing: The Transformative Power of STEM Role Models: This presentation highlights the critical role of peer mentors in shaping K-12 students’ STEM identities. Using a case study from the Be5 STEM Club, it will demonstrate how mentorship and exposure to high school student role models can inspire younger students to develop confidence and excitement about STEM. I will present practical strategies for encouraging young people to engage in peer mentorship within the Be5 STEM Club or other community organizations. Location: Armory, Room 209
- Keeping Wellness in Mind: Thrive@Russell Sage is an initiative that makes Russell Sage student and employee wellness and well-being a top priority. As part of the United States Health Promoting Campus Network, Thrive@Russell Sage extends into and beyond the classroom to help members of the Sage community achieve the 8 Dimensions of Wellness: physical, emotional, social, intellectual, environmental, spiritual, vocational, and financial. Come learn about this exciting initiative and explore ways to make your well-being a priority. Location: Armory, Room 213
- Passion to Profession: Shaping Your College Path and Future Career: Your interests — whether in the arts, sciences, healthcare, or social justice—can guide you to both a meaningful college experience and a future career. The session will also highlight how internships, mentorships, and real-world experiences prepare students for the job market, turning their academic interests into career opportunities. Location: Armory, Room 217
- I Can Achieve a Nursing Degree (ICAN) Program: Equity in healthcare begins with representation in the workforce. ICAN is an exciting, hands-on program designed specifically for high school students who are curious about healthcare careers. Through ICAN, they get to explore the world of medicine through mentorship with professionals, experiencing real medical environments, and participating in interactive activities that show them what it’s really like to work in the healthcare field. Location: Armory, Room 230
- How Should You Get Rid of a Pizza Box!? Moving Toward a Zero-Waste World: They’re cardboard, so pizza boxes are recyclable, right? Wrong! Pizza boxes are covered in grease, so not only are they garbage, but “wish cycling” them could contaminate the whole recycling bin. In this session, we’ll talk about the opportunities, challenges, and systemic issues surrounding our waste. We’ll share some successes, some progress, and brainstorm solutions to challenges that remain on the Russell Sage Campus. Location: Froman Hall, Room 101
- Community Health and Wellness Promotion: Making an Impact: Physical therapists help individuals and populations manage disease processes and disabilities and also serve as valuable resources for community health promotion and well-being. Doctor of Physical Therapy students at RSC create long-term positive societal change by educating and engaging our surrounding community with activities that focus on proactive disease prevention and embracing the science behind health optimization. This session will inspire you to reconnect your body/mind /spirit in order to take better care of yourself and others. Location: Froman Hall, Room 303
- Community Problem-Solving: Nutrition Edition: During this session we’ll walk through how Russell Sage Nutrition students have partnered with local governments, schools, and community agencies to form a team that tackles a really important problem: lack of access to healthy food for everyone in every community. We’ll discuss the step-by-step process and important “ingredients” needed to apply this model to solve other “really important problems.” Location: Froman Hall, Room 304
- Criminal Investigation Resource Center and Crime Scene Reconstruction: During this session we will cover how CIRC addresses the cold case crisis in the United States and then practice an exercise in crime scene reconstruction. By looking over a crime scene we will piece together the actions and intent of a predator. Location: Opalka Gallery theater
- Every Campus a Refuge (ECAR): Every Campus a Refuge is a national movement that calls on colleges and universities to mobilize and provide direct support to recently arrived refugee families. In 2021, Russell Sage became the first ECAR chapter in NYS, and is proud to integrate students into refugee-support through Service Learning arrangements. For example, students host weekly Intercultural Cafe conversation clubs for English language practice for adults and children. Location: Armory, Renaissance Room
- Gratitude is Great for You: Learn how to bring the power of gratitude into your school and community, creating a more supportive and positive environment for everyone. Discover how gratitude can transform your well-being, mindset, and school success. Let’s embark on this journey to a happier you! Location: Froman Hall, Room 102
1-2:30 p.m.: Creative Team Planning
Students workshop their own big ideas for change with RSC faculty and community partners and begin putting together an action plan.
2:30-3 p.m.: Celebrate and Share Project Visions (with Ice Cream!)