About Us

The Center for Democracy and Humanity promotes civic engagement, positive social change and healthier, more vibrant communities through innovative programming and partnerships that benefit the college and the greater community. 

We envision a world where the values of democracy are embodied in the daily lives of individuals and communities.

Mission and Vision

In the fall of 2002, MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino announced the “Decade of Civic Engagement” – a college-wide effort to foster increased civic responsibility among its students, faculty, staff and greater community.

The Center for Democracy and Humanity was established to oversee the many programs and services offered by the college as part of the Decade of Civic Engagement. The Center coordinates programs and activities to ensure optimum efficiency and collaboration. In addition to the college’s many community outreach programs, college faculty are committed to infusing service learning into their curricula and academic endeavors. 

To catalyze civic engagement within the college and its broader community, the Center for Democracy and Humanity employs four strategies:

• Student engagement
• Resident engagement
• Capacity building and
• Systemic change

In February 2008, while in the process of strategic planning, the Center instituted the following Mission Statement:

We promote civic engagement, positive social change and healthier, more vibrant communities through innovative programming and partnerships that benefit the college and the greater community.

Ladder of Engagement

Mount Wachusett Community College’s Center for Democracy and Humanity, founded in 2001 was developed with a thoughtful approach that engages not only MWCC students, but also the greater community in a “ladder of engagement.”

Current and future students as well as alumni and community partners are all part of the effort to build healthier communities:

• Molly Bish Institute for Child Health and Safety: Engages the very youngest children and their families and caregivers in community engagement/education activities and events.  For example, r.a.d.KIDS coaches children in self-defense; and the annual Kid Expo event has drawn over 12,000 children and families to our campus for a wide variety of hands-on health and safety activities with over 100 community partners. Thousands are engaged and see the college as a key health and safety resource in their community.

• United Way Youth Venture: Engages youth ages 12- 20, empowering them to engage in their community in a venture of their own design. By exposing these youth ventures with college youth venture teams, youth are made aware of the future of service that waits for them in their college experience.  Our region features over 49 student projects in 14 schools and 8 school districts range from development of skateboarding parks to youth mentoring.

• Citizenship Academy: Offers credit courses with service learning to high school students.  Funded by a Campus Compact Learn and Serve grant, this initiative creates a pathway to college by empowering high school students to learn the value of service while earning college credit in English Composition, Political Science, Economics and Sociology courses.

• Community Scholars: Engages college students at a very intensive level and builds capacity among the region's hardworking nonprofits. Students perform 1,000 hours of service over two years and learn the incredible value of service to others while building their resumes. Through the support of the college and the Mount Wachusett Community College Foundation, Inc. students attend courses for free.

• Community Builders, a partnership between the United Way of North Central Massachusetts, Mount Wachusett Community College and Ashoka: Innovators for the Public:  This nationally recognized partnership program educates, informs and inspires greater community involvement through new and innovative strategies. In addition to engaging volunteers in the greater community, it gives current students a clear picture of what service can be after they graduate. Community Builders focuses on volunteerism as a portal to community awareness and civic engagement and social entrepreneurism as a way to create long-term, positive social impact on the region.

• The Institute for Non-Profit Development: Provides assistance to not-for-profit organizations serving the region to strengthen their capacity to fulfill their missions and impact their communities. The INPD provided technical assistance and workshops to a network of more than 150 members this year and awarded mini-grants to qualifying non-profits.  This one-of-a-kind incubator for non-profits provides networking opportunities and pathways to partnerships that encourage non-profits to work together for greater efficiency and creativity.

The Center works to engage the community in dialogue on challenges and issues of concern to the region through:

• The highly successful What’s Next? Speaker Series: Approximately 400 community members attended the series with the theme “Embracing the Economy.” MWCC partnered with the North Central Mass. Development Corporation, The Trustees for Reservations, and the Partnership for Latino Success to both raise awareness about the economy in the region and discuss solutions.

• MWCC Democracy Cafe: This initiative, spear-headed by former MWCC trustee and State Representative Raymond LaFontaine, seeks to engage the community in the political process.The Center for Democracy and Humanity and The Gardner News co-sponsored a dynamic Gardner mayoral debate held on October 29, 2007. Incumbent Gerald St. Hilaire and challenger Mark Hawke shared their views before an audience of more than 150 city residents. The Democracy Cafe Quizdom Contest, held on February 13, 2008, focused on current events and the race for the Oval Office, The fun and interactive contest featured the cool new Qwizdom technology currently in use in many MWCC courses. Qwizdom clickers were available at the tables in the South Cafe, and the winners were chosen based on which table had the highest score at the end of the event.