Many Guilford students established genuine connections with the Greensboro community and they strengthen these ties year after year. While some are exposed to and engaged in history, politics and current issues surrounding Greensboro, and are deeply involved in the community, others still live in the confines of the Guilford bubble. This year the Guilfordian staff will work to significantly increase coverage of local news so we can help bridge the gap between the college and the Greensboro community.

We have the potential to educate Guilfordians on current issues that are significant to Greensboro and North Carolina and create an outlet where we can build connections with local organizations and individuals.

Bonner students, project coordinators, and others volunteer at several Greensboro sites including Glen Haven, Pathways, African Services Coalition and the Newcomers School. At these sites volunteers tutor children, play with them and provide Enlish language training and support for their families.

Several art students are involved with art galleries in Greensboro, while others are politically active with Jorge Cornell’s campaign, labor unions, the Beloved Community Center, and others. These students learn firsthand about the politics of North Carolina and the issues that are coming up in the state’s General Assembly.

Some Guilfordians work with Food not Bombs, local vegetable co-ops, while the Hunger fellows work to support sustainable farming and the local food movement. The Hunger fellows and other student volunteers have collaborated this past week to collect non-perishable foods to donate to the Greensboro Urban Ministry as part of the annual Soup Bowl vs. Greensboro College.

These are only a few examples of the work that our students do off-campus. We do not need to search far for story ideas. Many students have taken an interest in these causes and have been instrumental in connecting Guilford directly with the local community.

We hope that being open to their stories and publicizing their efforts we will be able to inform others on campus of these opportunities. If you are working on a specific project, anticipating an upcoming event or concerned about issues such as health care, immigration reform or social justice, email us at [email protected] and tell us your story or come to Monday night staff meetings at 7:30 p.m. in the Founders gallery.