Civic Engagement

Empire corp logo in wide and green with "civic engagement at FIT" written across.

At FIT, we believe that all of us have an obligation to our community of campus, New York City, and the world.  Civic engagement at FIT is the commitment of students, faculty, and staff to be actively involved with their local communities beyond campus. Through civic engagement, the FIT community applies their interests, skills, and knowledge to benefit and learn with the local community through direct service, service learning, community-based research, and other reciprocal community partnerships. Political or apolitical, civic engagement is about being informed and engaged in the relevant issues of society. Civic engagement embodies the spirit of living out cultural, social, religious, and ethical values in service to others in our community, especially New York City.

The FIT Empire State Service Corps (ESSC) is a paid program for students across the State University of New York (SUNY) system to gain hands-on experience in public service. Over the academic year, students get to complete 300 hours of community service. At FIT, students are placed in one of three cohorts where they can serve: Civic Engagement, Sustainability, and Food Insecurity. 

FIT ESSC Office information
Location: Dubinsky Student Center, Room A713
Instagram: @fitcivicengagement
Email: [email protected]
Advisor: Dr. Meaghan Davis, Associate Director of Leadership and Civic Engagement

Civic Engagement Activities at FIT

At FIT, students are placed in one of three cohorts where they can serve: Civic Engagement, Sustainability, and Food Insecurity.

a student tending a essc voter registration table at an event

Civic Engagement

Members strengthen communities and democratic participation through voter registration and campus engagement.

essc fill it forward event, a table with neatly arranged reusable water bottles, student tending the table, holding one of the bottles up.

Sustainability

Members work with off-campus organizations to promote sustainable initiatives on campus like Fill it Forward and on other projects to reduce waste.

group of smiling women holding up food and houshold items

Food Insecurity

Members work to provide food access and basic needs services to the FIT community. They work closely with the Food Pantry.