Community Action and Awareness Team

The Community Action and Awareness Team (CAAT) is a group of student leaders who work to raise awareness about social and environmental justice issues and to provide direct service opportunities both on and off campus. We have multiple leadership teams who develop and implement opportunities. The issues we focus on each year depend on the passion and voice of the current leadership group.

The Long Term Project Coordinator facilitates service-based student organizations together to collaborate in the planning and implementation of projects that are large scale and geared to the entire campus.

Backpack Project

Individuals, groups, and departments are encouraged to fill a backpack with items needed by teens in transition, which are often homeless. These teens are local to the Salem area and are served by the H.O.M.E. Youth and Resource Center. This project is co-sponsored by Panhellenic.

Martin Luther King Celebration: Into the Streets

Willamette University spends the second week in January honoring Dr. Martin Luther King and continuing to education and build awareness about the issues he was passionate about and that are still prevalent in today's society. As a part of the week's programs our office sponsors the Into the Streets program. This program provides multiple service opportunities throughout Salem in an effort to get all of the members of the Willamette University community actively serving together. For more information about other MLK Celebration events please visit the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

Beach Clean-up

Every April, as a part of Sustainability Month and in honor of Earth Day this event takes over 100 participants to the Oregon Coast for a beach clean-up.

Kids Play Day

Every March we create an afternoon of games, music, and art for kids who attend Bush and Richmond schools.

The Community Action and Awareness Team focuses on an issue of their choice every month, developing at least one awareness component and one direct-service opportunity for each issue. Topics have included animal rights, sexual assault, alcohol education, hunger, poverty, and stream clean-ups.

Hunger Banquet

The Hunger Banquet is an experience that reflects the poverty and hunger of those in developing countries, in contrast with the wealth of developed nations such as the United States. The event includes a motivational speaker, a simulated experience of world inequality, and a time of open-ended discussion about these present issues.

Giving Tree

In November and December a giving tree is set-up with gift tags, providing an opportunity for students and staff to purchase toys and clothes for children who are served by Family Building Blocks: Keeping Children Safe and Families Together.

Animal Rescue

Students spend the afternoon volunteer at Cougar Creek Horse Rescue Ranch, Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary, or the Humane Society.

Sexual Assault Awareness

Information and strategies where provided to lesson sexual assault on our campus. Over 200 men signed a pledge to end rape by committing to a set of expectations and behaviors.

Campus Clean-up

As a kick-off event to Sustainability Month in April, students and staff are encouraged to clean-up trash from our campus.

Stream Clean-up

On Earth day in April students and staff are clean-up the Shelton Ditch, which is adjacent to our campus.