Student Connection

“Mission Statement:To cultivate the joy, wisdom, and experience of liberal arts learning in the spirit and style of Samuel Clemens and Desiderius Erasmus, and within a relaxed and personal learning culture that fosters a love and exploration of ideas, meaningful conversation, and friendship. Program Service Accomplishments:SEi ran formal groups, trips, meetings, and pilot events in accord with our liberal arts mission with 3 general demographics or groups: a) high school and college students, b) educators, and c) adults. These collective activities happened in 4 general regions: the primary regions of a) Texas and b) the Mid-Atlantic area of Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and in Princeton, New Jersey, and in the pilot regions of c) the Chicago, IL and Napa, CA areas. Several groups for the primary demographics and regions met monthly throughout the year with meetings at cafes, inns, and homes. We continued liberating arts happy hours for professionals in Houston and Chicago, which were open to a variety of persons who did not attend regular meetings. We ran several one-day seminars for college students, and an overnight one-week workshop for college and high school students in the Texas hill country. We also began a more concentrated effort in the Washington D.C. region, including helping to transform schools into liberal arts schools in the SEi spirit, helping to have SEi educators take leadership roles in schools, and beginning efforts to have local institutions offer cultural caf events for the general public and local community. These community efforts focus on cultivating the understanding and experience of jazz, offering community theatre, and poetry and philosophy events, with an emphasis on Plato. These community and public events are scheduled to begin in 2020. (Our hope is these will be first steps toward future SEi cafes). SEi provided all educational materials, curriculum, planning, marketing, guidance, teaching and training of group leaders and assistants, and event refreshments. Directly, 145 persons were part of 8 separate groups and regularly engaged with monthly activities, quarterly college seminars, and week-long seminars, including 25 educators, 60 students, and 60 adults. More than 40 additional students and adults participated in select events that were not part of the regular programs. Indirectly, we have much feedback noting broad impacts on schools, businesses, and homes.”

“Description AmountMeals and Entertainment 33Insurance 6,715Travel 859”