Maybe you’re new to UWG and want to know how to get connected to the local community, or maybe you’ve been here awhile and have decided to add some balance to your life by getting more connected outside of work. No matter what your age or background, it can be daunting – sort of like being the new kid in school or trying to figure out how to get someone to dance with you in middle school. Some people can make those first steps into the community by eating & shopping locally, getting to know their neighbors, connecting through their children’s activities, joining a gym, or getting involved in a church, but those may not work for everyone.

2017 User's Guide

These ideas are specific to the Carrollton and Newnan areas –we will expand this to include other communities in the future.

Step One: Learn and Experience
  • Attend a Community Event
    Community Events

    If you think Carrollton and Newnan are sleepy little towns with nothing to do, you’re wrong! Yes, life here is a little slower, and we don’t have Atlanta’s giant venues and range of events. But we do have a lot of fun and interesting things, including concerts, parades, and arts festivals. To find out what is going on, browse the various websites listed in About our Communities, or follow the Community Engagement Office on Facebook and Twitter, where we will regularly highlight upcoming community events.

  • Visit a Local Civic Club
    Civic Clubs

    The Community Engagement Office has a list of UWG faculty and staff who are members of local civic clubs, if you want to contact one of them and find out more. We will work on expanding that resource this year.

  • Read the Local Newspaper and Listen to Local Radio
    Local News

    You know how to look for your community newspaper and to use your car radio’s “scan” button to find local stations. You may not be aware of the online City Menus that share information about Carrollton, Douglasville, Newnan, and Villa Rica.

  • Visit the Community Engagement Office
    Office of Community Engagement

    Visit the Community Engagement Office in the Bonner House (the little white house on Front Campus Drive next to Kennedy Chapel), and browse our materials. We keep printed materials from the Chamber of Commerce and local non-profits as well as current copies of the Times Georgian and local magazines.

  • Follow the Community Engagement Office Blog
    Office of Community Engagement Blog

    Follow the Community Engagement Office blog. We publish very short articles a few times a month that focus either on the campus or the community.

 
Step Two: Get Involved

So, now that you know a little more about your community, it’s time to reach out and start doing something. Here are some ideas.

  • Volunteer for a Non-Profit
    Volunteering

    Most non-profits are looking for people with different talents and time commitments.

    • The West Georgia Non-Profit Network is a new organization that brings together the leaders of more than 50 non-profits in Carroll, Haralson, and Heard Counties.
    • JustServe.org is a great, easy-to--use national website that is beginning to build a following in Georgia. Just enter your zip code to find opportunities near you. You can also conduct a more advanced search if you have specific criteria or interests.
    • OrgSync is UWG’s portal for connecting students to volunteer opportunities, but faculty and staff can also use it. Just use your UWG log-in and password. Contact the Center for Student Involvement for more information.
    • If you don’t know where to start, call or e-mail the Community Engagement Office and tell us what you are interested in, and we will help connect you.
  • Join a  Local Civic Club
    Joining a Civic Club

    We will sponsor a Civic Club Information Session in 2018. Watch for more information.

  • Develop a Service-Learning Partnership with a Community Organization.
    Service Learning

    The UWG definition of "service learning" is on the Service learning website. Several people on campus are working on ways to expand and improve Service Learning and other experiential learning opportunities. Watch for more information in Spring 2018. If you have a specific interest in developing a Service Learning class, contact the Community Engagement Office and we will bring you into the conversation.

  • Develop a Scholarly Relationship with a Community Organization
    Scholarly Relantionships

    If your research can benefit a local organization, that can be a great way to get connected. Feel free to contact our office to learn more about local organizations.