Creating positive change in the community is a mission that Kevin Cauley has approached head-on as a freshman at Penn State Brandywine, writes Michael McDade for the school’s website.

With support from faculty, staff, and fellow students, the psychology and communication arts and sciences major recently developed the student-run Philly Outreach Project, which aids Greater Philadelphia communities in need.

This spring, Cauley and Brandywine students Grace Smith and Christine Niche organized a trip to Philadelphia to clean the city’s streets and parks. They recruited nearly 15 students to spend the afternoon disposing of litter and collecting recyclable items.

“I have friends who live in Philadelphia so I spend a lot of time in the city,” Cauley said. “I noticed the trash accumulating on the streets, and I just felt like I needed to do something about it. A lot of people have great ideas, but very few people actually take action and do what they say. I really want to change that mentality.”

Cauley explained to McDade that three of the students who participated in the cleanup were from Penn State York. He recently met the York students on a service-learning trip to the Bahamas.

During their trip abroad, the students partnered with the Brighter Bahamas Foundation in an effort to promote literacy for Bahamian children.

The Philly Outreach Project also orchestrated a campus-wide goods drive, collecting items such as water, non-perishable foods, clothing, and hygiene products. The items were later donated to Cityteam in Chester.

Lynn Hartle, director of the Laboratory for Civic and Community Engagement and professor of education, was thrilled to see the Penn Staters take the lead and noted the importance of service in education.

“In education you develop knowledge, skills, and dispositions,” Hartle said. “Doing service helps to develop the dispositions to be a part of your community, make a difference and make meaningful connections with people.”

Click here to read more about Cauley on Penn State Brandywine’s website.