Stories of Impact
These stories feature Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State students engaged in Civic and Community Engagement within the Center for Student Involvement, working collaboratively to create meaningful change on campus and in the community.
Through Civic and Community Engagement programs like Community Action Fellows and Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State Votes, students take on real responsibility, build lasting partnerships, and contribute to the public good. Their experiences reflect the impact that is possible when students see themselves as active participants in shaping the world around them.
“Sometimes it feels like you need permission, but you already have it. The ability to create the future we want is already in us—we just need to remember we have it.â€
--Cate McNamara, Community Action Fellow 2024-2025
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Zachary Graves
Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State Votes / Civic Engagement
Featured Quote:
“Our work moved further because everyone brought new perspectives, asked important questions, and shared ideas.â€
Through his work, Zachary Graves helped bring together students, campus partners, and community organizations to strengthen civic engagement efforts at Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State. By participating in voter registration initiatives and coalition-based work as the Chair of the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State Votes coalition, he saw firsthand how small actions—conversations, questions, and shared ideas—can move people closer to making their voices heard. Zach found that the most impactful moments came through collaboration, where diverse perspectives pushed the work further and led to stronger outcomes. These experiences deepened his understanding of how meaningful change happens—not individually, but through collective effort.
In Their Words:
On collaboration and impact
"Everyone brought new perspectives, asked important questions, and shared ideas that pushed the work further than any of us could have done alone."
On civic engagement
"Each time I participated in a voter registration drive, I saw people become one step closer to making their voices heard--and that made the work incredibly meaningful."
On the broader purpose of the work
"By providing resources and building partnerships, we helped make the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ community more civically engaged and connected to the democratic process."
What's Next:
Now an incoming law student, Zach plans to pursue a career in criminal or public interest law, with a growing interest in how election law shapes the systems that impact communities and civic life.
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Cate McNamara
Community Action Fellow / Environmental Sustainability
Featured Quote:
“Sometimes it feels like you need permission, but you already have it--the ability to create the future we want is already in us.â€
As a Community Action Fellow, Cate McNamara focused on environmental sustainability by helping fashion students better understand the value and use of natural dyes. She organized and led a series of natural dye workshops on Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State’s campus as part of Rustbelt Fibershed’s student ambassador program, which was designed to strengthen collaboration between the university and the nonprofit. Through that work, Cate helped spark student interest in sustainable design practices while connecting them to a broader regional fashion community in Greater Cleveland. Her project also helped build momentum for future possibilities, including stronger university partnerships and growing interest in a campus dye garden. Along the way, she developed confidence in her ability to organize others, build partnerships, and turn an idea into something tangible.
In Their Words:
On what inspired her work
“I was inspired by the area of Environmental Sustainability, specifically the task of educating fashion students on the use and importance of natural dyes.â€
On the impact of the project
“Students in the fashion program have become much more interested in natural dyes and sustainable design techniques, getting them involved in the Rustbelt Fibershed, which then introduces them to the greater Cleveland area fashion community.â€
On leadership and change
“Sometimes it feels like you need permission, but you already have it. I think that is something that a lot of us lose sight of in our citizenship.â€
What's Next:
Now preparing to graduate in 2026 with a degree in Fashion Merchandising and Design, Cate plans to continue this work in her professional life by staying involved with Rustbelt Fibershed and helping organize regional communities around sustainability, local economies, and change in the fashion industry.
Interested in creating impact at Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State?
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