As co-chair of the Northwestern Community Development Corps, Roel Vivit decided not just to bring change through service, but to change service itself. In his view, the corps had focused on direct service without expanding its vision. Roel sought to focus service efforts so that they would achieve two goals: first, they would employ the particular strengths of university students, including computer, medical, and language skills; second, they would focus on effecting lasting change. The effort to transform the service corps culminated in a community health fair that was organized by the nursing school and a local hospital.
From Service Matters 1998: Engaging Higher Education In the Renewal of America s Communities and American Democracy
Northwestern Community Development Corps web site: http://www.studorg.nwu.edu/ncdc/
