Kent State University Hosts Third Annual Oxfam Social Issues Banquet

Kent State University’s Office of Experiential Education and Civic Engagement will host the third annual Oxfam Social Issues Banquet that is open to faculty, staff, students and members of the community on Wednesday, Nov. 7, from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.

This year’s banquet will not only bring light to social issues such as hunger, poverty, homelessness and domestic violence, but also give attendees the opportunity to make a commitment to support local efforts.

A new aspect to this year’s event involves students being asked to make a commitment to one of the attending community organizations through a meet-and-greet kicking off the program. Students are encouraged to “Make a Commitment to Learn Something and Do Something.”

The Oxfam Social Issues Banquet will also involve a hunger simulation in which guests will receive a meal ticket representing a socio-economic class that will essentially determine the type of meal served and the seating arrangement (floor, chair, or chair and table). Reflective discussions will leave guests with a new perspective and understanding of the challenges created daily by world hunger.

The hunger simulation will be followed by an engaging panel discussion. The panel discussion will serve to highlight the many ways that faculty, businesses and community organizations are reaching out to support local efforts.  In addition, the discussion will serve as a link to experiential learning opportunities.

Guests of the Oxfam Social Issues Banquet are also invited to a Campus Kitchen Open House on the second floor of Beall Hall immediately after the banquet, from 2 to 4 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to observe first-hand how Kent State students are working to meet local hunger needs by preparing a meal for individuals in the local community. 

If you have not yet had the pleasure of partaking in an Oxfam Social Issues Banquet, expect to leave with a new understanding and perspective of how to address social challenges. Click here to watch a video from last year’s banquet.