Service Learning

In EGL, service isn’t an obligation — it’s a responsibility.

Through meaningful volunteer work, local community partnerships, and global engagement, EGL students learn what it means to lead with empathy, purpose, and impact.

EGL believes that serving others is a core part of leadership development. Our Community Chair routinely shares volunteer opportunities with EGL students and helps the TiL 2 cohort meet its 6-hour service requirement, which includes at least 4 hours completed locally in Ann Arbor.

While the Volunteer Abroad Program offers a full week of immersive service and cultural learning, our members also engage deeply with local organizations to better understand the needs of the Ann Arbor community. EGL students often volunteer together, strengthening community bonds while making a positive impact.

Career Fair Coat Checks

Each year, EGL runs two professional Coat Check services for the Michigan Engineering Fall and Winter Career Fairs. These Coat Checks provide reliable, high-quality service that supports one of the College of Engineering’s largest student events.

EGL’s Coat Check contributes to:

Enhancing attendee convenience and comfort
Improving the flow and professionalism of the event
Maintaining a positive and organized career fair environment

For years, EGL has been a trusted partner to SWE and TBP, ensuring that students and recruiters can participate in the fair without managing coats, backpacks, and personal items. The service is consistently recognized for its efficiency, courtesy, and contribution to the event’s overall atmosphere.

As service expectations evolve and logistical demands increase, EGL works closely with SWE and TBP to maintain a mutually beneficial partnership that reflects the value and reliability of the Coat Check experience.

2025 Fall Career Fair Coat Check

Refugee Garden Initiative (RGI)

A long-standing EGL community partner

EGL has consistently partnered with the Refugee Garden Initiative (RGI), contributing hands-on gardening work and ongoing support for one of Ann Arbor’s most meaningful community organizations.

About RGI

Mission: Empowering Refugees Through Food, Resources, and Storytelling.

RGI is an nonprofit organization founded in 2021 by Phimmasone Kym Owens as part of a Social Work project inspired by the question: “How can you be an agent of change?” Rooted in her refugee experience and love for gardening, RGI focuses especially on supporting single refugee mothers, while welcoming all refugees and individuals with lived refugee experiences.

What RGI Does

RGI cultivates culturally diverse gardens that provide:

Fresh, nourishing, culturally appropriate produce
A space for honoring ancestral farming traditions
Food security grounded in dignity, health, and identity

For many refugees, food is tied to cultural survival and long-term wellbeing. RGI challenges the assumption that refugees should accept any “free food,” advocating instead for access to foods that support physical health, cultural identity, and autonomy.

EGL’s Role

EGL students volunteer in RGI gardens to support planting, harvesting, maintenance, and infrastructure projects. These sessions deepen students’ understanding of refugee experiences and the importance of community-led empowerment.