Paul Loeb special guest of NSU's Be the Change Conference

Paul Loeb will headline the Be the Change Conference as individuals will have the opportunity to explore different forms of civic engagement. Loeb has spent over 30 years researching and writing about citizen responsibility and empowerment.

The eight session conference is open to the public and will take place at Northeastern State University on Thursday, Jan. 27 at 3:30 p.m. in the W. Roger Webb Educational Technology Center auditorium and the University Center Morgan Room.

Seminars like this are important to NSU and the community because they bring in speakers that the guests might not have a chance to hear otherwise, said Emma Allen, graduate assistant for communications and marketing. The speakers might provide a different point of view than what the guests have heard and they can learn from them.

In conjunction with the Be the Change Conference, the NSU Office of Student Affairs is holding the Be the Change Challenge. Student Affairs will award $1,000 to campus organizations and individuals for civic engagement projects. No single award will exceed $200 and the entire conference must be attended to qualify. Students attending all sessions of the conference receive a certificate and free T-shirt.

These sessions include What is Civic Engagement, Village of 100, The Importance of Reflection and Self Discovery, Fundraising for Charity, Service and Faith, Discovering Your Passion and Making a Commitment to Serve Others. A dinner and VIP program presentation will also accompany the Volunteer Opportunities and the Impact of Volunteering seminar. Guest speaker Loeb will present "Discovering Your Passion and Making a Commitment to Serve Others."

Paul Loeb is a leader in social change, said Allen. The audience will learn how to have their voices heard and make a change in their communities."

Loeb is a social and political activist who has fought for issues of social justice, humanitarianism, environmentalism and civic involvement in U.S. democracy. A frequent public speaker, Loeb has written five books and numerous newspaper editorials.

His writings have appeared in several newspapers and journals, including the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Psychology Today, Christian Science Monitor, Chronicle of Higher Education, The Nation, Utne Reader, Sojourners Magazine, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Detroit News, St Louis Post-Dispatch, National Catholic Reporter and the International Herald Tribune.

Activism is the subject or topic in most of Loebs books. His book "Hope In Hard Times" portrayed ordinary Americans involved in grass roots peace activism. His books have examined student activism at universities. His work "Soul of a Citizen" was written for citizen activists. "The Impossible Will Take a Little While" is an anthology of the achievements of activists through history who faced enormous obstacles.

Loeb's writings offer an in-depth and often alternative look at social issues such as poverty, taxation, budget priorities, criminal justice and citizen activism. His writings have been cited in Congressional debates. Loeb has lectured at more than 300 college campuses and at many national conferences.

The seminar participants will gain knowledge and find themselves inspired, said Allen.

For more information or to sign up for the conference, please call the Office of Student Affairs at 918-444-2526.