Officials from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth invited community leaders, faculty, and students to gather on April 17, 2015, at the Woodland Commons for the seventh annual Civic Engagement Summit. Recently named for the Rev. Dr. Robert Lawrence and organized by the Leduc Center for Civic Engagement at UMD, the Summit began with welcoming remarks by Chancellor Divina Grossman. Student Government Association President Francis Ndicu then introduced Keynote Speaker Russell Krumnow, Managing Director of Opportunity Nation, publisher of the Opportunity Index, a tool to drive positive change in communities. His presentation was followed by remarks from discussants Student Trustee Jacob Miller and Federal Reserve Bank Community Development Analyst Colleen Dawicki, formerly of the Public Policy Center. The event concluded with a second keynote address by Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service and closing remarks by Leduc Center for Civic Engagement Assistant Provost Matthew Roy. Click here for a 53-minute video of the event. Click here for photos of the 2013 Summit. For more information, contact Deirdre Healy, Assistant Director for the Leduc Center for Civic Engagement at 508-999-8641.

(Top row) Leduc Center for Civic Engagement Assistant Director Deirdre Healy welcomes participants while Assistant Vice Chancellor for Civic Engagement Matthew Roy welcomes Professor Emeritus Jack Chopoorian and John Quinn, Professor of Law at UMD Law School, chats with other Summit participants. (Row two) Big Friends/Little Friends Director Ramona Turcotte and New Bedford Mercy Meals Director Rev. Russell Chamberlin talk at their tables before Student Government Association President Francis Ndicu, center, begins the program. (Row three) Chancellor Divina Grossman gives some welcoming remarks before introducing Keynote Speaker Russell Krumnow, Managing Director of Opportunity Nation (Bottom row) Student Trustee Jacob Miller, who was recently named a Truman Scholar, responds to Mr. Krumnow's presentation.