Find your Voice. Fuel Change.
Penn State is a place where ideas matter — and so does action. From identity exploration to social movement education, we support students, organizations, and faculty in developing the knowledge and skills to engage in meaningful activism.
Through the Center for Social Change and Belonging and our network of programs, Student Affairs helps students develop the tools to become informed leaders, active citizens, and agents of change.
Defining Social Change
Inspired by the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the King Center, social change at Penn State is grounded in a commitment to justice, inclusion, and nonviolence.
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Social change involves transforming systems, structures, and relationships to build a more equitable and inclusive society.
The Triple Evils
- Poverty
- Racism
- Militarism
Fundamental Philosophy of Nonviolence
- Nonviolence Is a Way of Life for Courageous People.
- Nonviolence Seeks to Win Friendship and Understanding.
- Nonviolence Seeks to Defeat Injustice, or Evil, Not People.
- Nonviolence Holds That Unearned, Voluntary Suffering for a Just Cause Can Educate and Transform People and Societies
- Nonviolence Chooses Love Instead of Hate.
- Nonviolence Believes That the Universe Is on the Side of Justice.
Six Steps of Nonviolent Social Change
- Information Gathering
- Education
- Personal Commitment
- Negotiation
- Direct Action
- Reconciliation
Expand your Understanding
Make Change Happen Together.
Through partnerships with Student Affairs community and belonging units, faculty, and community organizations, we help build a network of change agents committed to:
- Embedding diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in everyday life
- Creating transformative learning spaces for advocacy and reflection
- Supporting justice-oriented action and intersectional solidarity
- Developing social justice leaders and collaborators
Take Action Now
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Voting and Voter Education
Learn how to register, vote, and get involved in the democratic process. -
Student Government Organizations
Represent your peers, propose policies, and create campus-wide impact. -
Free Speech on Campus
Understand your rights and responsibilities around expression and dialogue. -
Become a Peer Mentor or Advocate
Find student employment on campus that supports advocacy -
Attend Events and Expand your World View
Find events in Discover that provide new or expanded points of view -
Stay Informed and Involved
Civic engagement helps our communities grow and thrive
Activism Starts with Showing Up.
The Center for Social Change and Belonging serves as a hub for students interested in creating equitable communities and building a culture of inclusion, justice, and civic responsibility. From identity exploration to social movement education, we support students in developing the knowledge and skills to engage in meaningful activism. We focus on macro-level change that challenges unjust systems and practices through:
- Activism and advocacy consultation
- Conflict resolution and de-escalation support
- Allyship and ally identity development
- Restorative practices and trauma-informed approaches