Campus Initiative
Students Powering Change—On Campus and Beyond
Starkville Strong at MSU & EMCC is a dynamic student-led initiative that bridges the gap between college life and community need. Through meaningful service, education, and leadership opportunities, students become active participants in addressing critical local challenges including food insecurity, homelessness, and housing advocacy. This is about doing. Students don't simply study community needs from textbooks; they roll up their sleeves and help meet them through direct action and engagement.
Real Engagement, Real Impact
Our student volunteers engage in hands-on programs that create tangible change throughout Starkville. From food rescue operations to immersive poverty simulations, students gain invaluable experience while serving their neighbors.
Second Servings
Rescue surplus food from local sources and redistribute it to families facing food insecurity across our community.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Monthly outreach events providing free resources, connection opportunities, and direct support to community members.
Housing & Homelessness Events
Experience simulations like The Homeless Experience and Housing Hustle to deeply understand poverty and housing instability.
Advocacy Campaigns
Educate the public and advocate for policy solutions that address root causes of housing instability and food insecurity.
Internship Program
Gain professional experience in nonprofit operations, communications, case management, and community organizing.
A Key Piece of Our Advocacy & Outreach Pillar
This initiative forms the cornerstone of Starkville Strong's broader Advocacy & Educational Outreach work. It creates a sustainable model where campus energy meets community need, building partnerships that strengthen both our university communities and our nonprofit mission.
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Leadership Development
Training tomorrow's changemakers through real-world experience
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Volunteer Pipelines
Creating sustainable engagement across all programs
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Campus-Community Partnerships
Building lasting relationships that benefit everyone
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Strategic Growth
Expanding capacity through student involvement in event planning, data, and services
Where Campus Meets Community: This model proves that when students are empowered to lead with purpose, everyone benefits—individuals gain skills and empathy, while our community receives vital support and fresh perspectives.
Bridging Campus and Community
Many college students live just steps away from neighbors facing hunger, housing instability, and homelessness—yet remain unaware of these realities. Starkville Strong at MSU & EMCC transforms that disconnect into meaningful connection.
Awareness
Understand local realities around poverty, hunger, and housing challenges
Action
Develop practical skills in service, leadership, and community engagement
Relationships
Build genuine connections with neighbors and become part of lasting solutions
Leadership
Emerge as changemakers ready to serve, advocate, and lead with compassion
"We're creating a pipeline of compassionate changemakers who understand that real leadership means showing up for your community, now and throughout your career."
From Campus to Career: Skills That Matter
Participation in Starkville Strong at MSU & EMCC isn't just about volunteering—it's about building a professional foundation that prepares students for meaningful careers in any field.
Project Management
Plan and execute community events from concept to completion
Communications
Craft compelling stories that inspire action and awareness
Data & Operations
Track outcomes, manage systems, and drive strategic decisions
Client Services
Connect directly with community members and meet real needs
Leadership Development
- Critical thinking and problem-solving in real-world contexts
- Cross-cultural communication and empathy building
- Team collaboration across diverse groups
- Initiative and accountability in high-impact settings
Professional Growth
- Resume-building experience with measurable outcomes
- Networking with nonprofit professionals and community leaders
- Reference letters from experienced supervisors
- Portfolio-worthy projects and documented achievements
Partnership Opportunities for Faculty & Staff
University faculty and staff play a crucial role in connecting students to Starkville Strong's mission. We offer flexible partnership models that enhance academic learning while serving community needs.
Service-Learning Integration
Incorporate community engagement into course curricula with structured reflection and academic connection. We provide orientation, supervision, and assessment support for seamless integration into your teaching.
Research Partnerships
Collaborate on community-based research projects that generate both academic insights and practical solutions to local challenges. Students gain research experience while contributing to evidence-based advocacy.
Guest Presentations
Invite our team to present on poverty, homelessness, food security, or nonprofit management in your classes. We tailor content to align with learning objectives across multiple disciplines.
Internship Sponsorship
Support student professional development through credit-bearing or paid internship placements. We offer structured learning experiences with clear outcomes and regular evaluation.
Join the Movement: Next Steps
Ready to become part of something bigger? Whether you're a student eager to make a difference, faculty seeking meaningful partnerships, or a community member who wants to support student leadership—we'd love to connect with you.
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Attend an Orientation
Join us for a monthly info session to learn about volunteer opportunities, internships, and ways to get involved immediately.
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Sign Up for an Event
Start with a single event like Neighbors Helping Neighbors or a Second Servings food rescue to experience our work firsthand.
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Apply for an Internship
Submit an application for semester-long placement in advocacy, communications, case management, or program operations. Email [email protected]
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Contact Our Team
Reach out directly to discuss custom opportunities, faculty partnerships, or questions about how to maximize your impact. Email [email protected]
Open to All: Students from every major and year are welcome. No prior experience necessary, just bring curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to learn. We'll provide training, support, and community every step of the way.
Our Vision
Building a Stronger Starkville Together
Starkville Strong at MSU & EMCC represents a vision for what's possible when campuses and communities unite around shared values of compassion, justice, and action. Every student who participates plants seeds of change that will grow throughout their lifetime and ripple across countless communities they'll touch in the future.
We believe college students are not just the leaders of tomorrow, they're powerful agents of change today. Through hands-on service, meaningful relationships, and authentic leadership opportunities, we're proving that when students are invited to show up fully for their neighbors, extraordinary things happen. Join us in building a Starkville where everyone belongs, everyone has enough, and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen Keller
Starkville Strong at MSU & EMCC is a collaborative initiative connecting college students with community action. For more information about our parent organization and full range of programs, visit StarkvilleStrong.org