Jaena Sigue ’18 Named a 2017 Newman Civic Fellow
An environmental science major, Sigue was honored for her work in advocating for local causes and strengthening the Bronx community.
Jaena Sigue ’18, an environmental science major at Manhattan College, is one of 273 students nationwide who are part of the 2017 class of Newman Civic Fellows. The fellowship, sponsored by Campus Compact, to advance the public purposes of higher education, recognizes and supports community-committed students who have demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country.
Sigue is an intern for the health justice committee with the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC). As part of the committee, Sigue is working to develop a social determinants of health training that engages community residents to identify the root causes of poor health, analyze the assets in the community and develop a strategy that builds on its strengths to address the immediate problems and systemic causes.
Shortly after entering Manhattan College, Sigue joined the Lasallian Outreach Collaborative and began tutoring children at an after school program. As part of her service-learning religion class, Sigue chose to volunteer at Part of the Solution, then collaborated with the NWBCCC on developing a curriculum surrounding the social factors that can impact public health. That committee is currently working with the New York State Department of Health on a violence reduction initiative, designed to increase youth employment through an external program called YouthBuild and to increase community accountability when violent acts take place.
“Jaena shares a deep interest in public policy and understanding of low-income communities of color,” said Brennan O’Donnell, president of Manhattan College. “Her balance of critical analysis and social acumen make her participation valuable for both the team and the two communities they engage.”
As a 2017 Newman Civic Fellow, Sigue will be a part of the first cohort to benefit from a completely re-designed fellowship. The Newman Civic Fellowship, named for Campus Compact co-founder Frank Newman, is a one-year experience emphasizing personal, professional and civic growth. Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides a variety of learning and networking opportunities, including a national conference of Newman Civic Fellows in partnership with the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. The fellowship also provides fellows with access to exclusive scholarship and post-graduate opportunities.
The Newman Civic Fellowship is supported by the KPMG Foundation and Newman’s Own Foundation.