Community

• Are you interested in volunteering and having a positive impact on the community?
• Do you want to collaborate with local organizations and nonprofit leaders to address the social and environmental challenges facing our communities?
• Are you interested in engaging with the North Shore community beyond Salem State’s campus?
• Do you want to meet other students who are passionate about social justice and contributing to their community?

The Center for Civic Engagement offers a variety of programs and opportunities for students to connect with and have an impact on the North Shore community. Our work focuses on collaborating with community partners through sustainable and equitable relationships to move their mission forward while addressing the social and environmental challenges facing our communities. From annual days of service to ongoing programs, the CCE has opportunities for all students interested in volunteering and impacting the community.

Moving Forward Giving Back: First Year Day of Service

First year and transfer students are invited to join their new classmates, the Center for Civic Engagement, the First Year Experience Office, current students, staff, , and community organizations for a day of service in the Greater Salem area. This annual program happens at the start of every academic year and allows participants to be part of a unique cohort of new students who want to make a lasting and impactful connection in our community.

The goals of this collaborative are to promote civic engagement and social responsibility while providing students the opportunity to develop a sense of community and belonging as they make the North Shore their home. 

Participation in MFGB has resulted in increases in retention, GPA, students pursuing leadership roles on campus, and overall satisfaction with Salem State. Students develop stronger peer connections, many making lifelong friendships, and a greater desire to get involved on and off campus. 

Learn more about the First Year Day of Service and how to participate.

Viking Volunteer Ventures

Service Saturdays provide students the opportunity to volunteer one or more Saturdays a month at a local agency where they can develop meaningful relationships with our community partners and like-minded students. This is a great opportunity for Day of Service alumni to reconnect and students who are looking for a meaningful way to engage in the community on a weekend. Many student clubs and organizations will partner with the Center for Civic Engagement to meet their community service needs. 

Looking for a community volunteer or internship opportunity? Please visit our Public Engagement Internship and Volunteer Opportunities page.

Intergenerational Connections
 

The Intergenerational Connections Program creates opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to build meaningful relationships with older adults in our community within a welcoming, stress-free environment. Students meet weekly to participate in programs and events with older adults from the North Shore and local Councils on Aging.

This program fosters cross-generational understanding and addresses chronic loneliness that impacts students and older adults, helping build stronger, more connected communities.

Civic Engagement Hall of Fame

The Civic Engagement Hall of Fame is an annual program sponsored by the President and the Center for Civic Engagement that recognizes individuals for their efforts in addressing social and environmental challenges facing communities. Inductees possess sustained commitment and passion for improving and assisting organizations in need through their civic engagement efforts. Nomination categories include undergraduate student, graduate student, faculty, staff/administrator and alumni.

Learn more about selection criteria and view a complete list of past inductees.

Community Partnerships

The Center actively works to create and sustain meaningful community partnerships with organizations across the North Shore through events and initiatives like community partner breakfasts, networking socials, and community collaboration events. In 2024 the Center launched a Community Partner Award to recognize partners of the university whose work strengthens Salem State’s civic mission and demonstrates the power of reciprocal, equity-minded collaboration between public institutions. The award was granted to the Salem Pantry in 2024 and The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) in 2025.  

Please contact the CCE if your organization would like to be involved in future community partner programs.

Partner Highlight: Collins Middle School 

The Center for Civic Engagement partners with the Collins Middle School 8th Grade Civics Program to support youth advocacy education. Salem State students have the opportunity to facilitate advocacy workshops at the middle school to guide 8th graders in exploring and learning advocacy tools and tactics to address important social issues. In the spring, 8th graders come to campus where they share their research on a social justice issue and Salem State students guide them in thinking about how they will address their community challenge. Each year the work of the middle school students is presented at the University’s Annual Civic Engagement Hall of Fame.  

Partner Highlight: Salem Pantry 

The Salem Pantry collaborates with the Center and university in multiple capacities. They assist us in our goal of ending campus hunger through their mobile market, serve on college hunger relief coalitions, and they welcome Salem State students to volunteer and intern at their multiple locations. Faculty often partner their classes with the pantry to support them in meeting their mission. Currently the Center manages volunteer operations of the Mobile Market on our campus.