The Public Purpose of Campbell Hall (February CLIPS)

The soon-to-be-published update of our Strategic Plan includes a goal to "Foster a sense of the public purpose of a private school, elevating Campbell Hall’s visibility and responsibility in the broader communities." I am struck as I review this issue of CLIPS how rich and profound our connections to the broader world already are. Students, families, faculty and staff bring gifts for the children at Hillsides and raise support for Children's Hospital, for cancer and diabetes research, for the many causes of the Outreach Gift Fair, for myriad worthy purposes that evidence a sense of reaching out, and thus learn at every turn to think of their broader responsibilities. Guided by dedicated faculty advisers, student clubs investigate and strategize ways to bring focus to local and global concerns. The People of Color and Student Diversity Leadership Conferences encourage students and faculty to see their lives at Campbell Hall as part of a larger narrative concerning race (and diversity in general) in American society, and Campbell Hall's role in that heroic narrative. The ongoing work of the Sustainability Committee and its many supporters keeps us all mindful of our connections to the whole web of life and our connectedness. This community thrives on both basic schoolwork and also connecting to a future alive with all kinds of potential. In the words of our founder, Dr. Alexander Campbell, we are proud and humble to say, "Carry on friends!"