Center for Civic Engagement launches RoadrunnersEngaged Ethical Photo Contest

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(Oct. 26, 2015) — The UTSA Center for Civic Engagement has kicked off its inaugural RoadrunnersEngaged Ethical Photo Contest.

Between now and March 31, 2016, UTSA students, faculty members, staff members and friends are encouraged to share photos describing their civic engagement moments on Instagram using the hashtag #utsaengaged. Examples include, but are not limited to, volunteering at nonprofits, participating in fundraising events, registering voters, connecting with elected leaders, service-learning projects or participation in a community-based work-study program.

An ethical photo contest reminds individuals to pause and reflect about the intentions of their service as they share their photos. “What are my intentions in serving others? Is our organization just doing good, or are we making an impact? Does my service perpetuate stereotypes, or am I working to tear them down? What is the impact I hope to express in this photo or what am I trying to say about civic engagement?”

While volunteers have good intentions when they serve the community, they often encounter difficult and challenging circumstances. In light of such circumstances, intentions, ideals and actions must be aligned to ensure a volunteer’s service has an ethical impact on the lives of others in the community.

“There is a power in the visual expression of community engagement that we hope will be explored through this contest,” said Brian Halderman, director of the UTSA Center for Civic Engagement. “Photos are another form of voice and agency to highlight marginalization, social need and community building.”

Monetary prizes will be awarded for the following categories: UTSA student awards, UTSA faculty and staff awards, and UTSA student organization award.

All eligible photos must follow the following guidelines:

• Submit photos from an Instagram account.

• Use #utsaengaged in the photo description, tag @utsaengaged and tag the location of the service event.

• Include a short description of the event.

• Children may not be visibly recognizable in the photo due to privacy and confidentiality.

• UTSA student organizations must submit their photos from the student organization’s Instagram account.

The UTSA Center for Civic Engagement is dedicated to supporting the university’s mission to empower students, faculty, and staff to serve society through community engagement scholarship that enriches learning, promotes civic literacy, and contributes to the study of community needs and resources.

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Learn more about the RoadrunnersEngaged Ethical Photo Contest.

Connect online with UTSA on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

Do you know someone at UTSA who is achieving great things? Email us at social@utsa.edu so we might consider your submission for an upcoming installment of Meet a Roadrunner.


 

 

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