Through the membership, students volunteer at least three times per semester and participate in the Institutes for Civic and Community Engagement, monthly gatherings designed to deepen understanding of local needs and build leadership skills.
When new students arrive on Ƶ’s campus, many begin searching for their place, wondering how to get involved, discover their purpose, and find where their passions align. Others arrive eager to dive right in, ready to make a difference, build connections, and engage meaningfully with the broader community. The Ƶ Volunteers! (EV!) Membership was created with all of these students in mind.
Ƶ Volunteers! is housed in the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and offers an accessible entry point for students to plug into service opportunities and connect with community partners in Alamance County.
Leah Brooker ’27, executive director for outreach and collaboration, led the implementation of this membership to help students discover both the joy of service and the strength of community.
“Ƶ Volunteers! membership is an exciting opportunity for students to participate in an impactful leadership role during their time at Ƶ and acts as a first step into the Kernodle Center for Civic Life,” said Brooker. “Members dedicate themselves to participating in various volunteer experiences throughout the semester that allow them to engage directly with the community and connect with other like-minded students on campus.”
Through the membership, students volunteer at least three times per semester and participate in the Institutes for Civic and Community Engagement, monthly gatherings designed to deepen understanding of local needs and build leadership skills. Optional social events also help members form friendships with peers who share their passion for service.
Ƶ Volunteers! not only serves the Alamance County community, but it creates a community within itself of like-minded individuals who share a love for service. Sofia Barnes ’28, began her journey with Ƶ volunteers! by participating in the Engage program and is now a Service Ambassador.
“Ƶ Volunteers and Kernodle as a whole became my first Ƶ family where I knew I could turn to familiar faces and find comfort in a sea of change and new things as I came to college,” said Barnes. “Through all of the events and different programs that EV has, I was able to continue to make connections and meet new people, which allowed me to expand and keep pushing myself out of my comfort zone as I found my place here at Ƶ. I now consider EV and the office to be a home away from home and love to see how our family keeps growing and the way that we are all connected through our love of community, and can’t wait to see how much we grow through the years.”
The hope is that this membership not only connects students to meaningful volunteer work but also opens their eyes to the lasting impact they can have within the Ƶ and Alamance County communities. As students engage more deeply, they may go on to volunteer regularly with one organization through Serve Alamance or step into leadership roles within Ƶ Volunteers!. The vision for the EV! Membership is to continue creating an even stronger bridge between campus and community, and inspiring the next generation of engaged, compassionate leaders.
“Ultimately, we want students to see that their time and energy can truly make a difference,” shared Kyle Anderson, associate director of the Kernodle Center. “The EV! Membership is just the beginning of that journey.”