CMST 340 Strategies of Persuasion

The Mayerson project has been another great and interesting experience this semester. Even with COVID and the changes to the class (a smaller class this semester and we did not complete group work), we still made sure to rise to the occasion. With the generous support of the Mayerson Student Philanthropy Project and our class sponsor, the Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement; we awarded two $1000 grants to two deserving non-profit organizations: Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky and Master Provisions. Students reviewed applications from five organizations, watched each present their cause live in class, argued the merits for each through an in class argument assignment, and selected the top two. During the entire process, students learned and analyzed persuasive concepts learned in the class.

CMST 340 Student: One of the nonprofits we chose to give the grant to is Master Provisions. Master Provisions provides resources to other nonprofits so that they can reach a larger audience. They provide to over 230 nonprofits in the greater Cincinnati area and around the world. Because Master Provisions gives to so many nonprofits who then give to so many people in need, our class wanted to give them the grant. We want to reach the largest audience possible and the best way for us to do that is to give to Master Provisions.
 
The second nonprofit we chose was the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky. The Emergency Shelter provides shelter and care for every person, regardless of their age, race, gender, and personal life. Because the Emergency Shelter is so inclusive to everyone who needs help, they stood out to our class. We want to make sure that everyone has the chance to get any help that they need and the mass inclusion of the Emergency Shelter made them so appealing.

Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky is a life-saving and life-changing low barrier shelter with services for men and women in our community. The shelter believes homelessness is an emergency and that shelter is a basic necessity for human beings. We believe that only when this basic necessity is provided, do human beings have the ability to recover from homelessness.

Remarks from Kim Webb, executive director: We are honored to accept a $1000 grant from Professor Fox's Persuasion class as part of the Mayerson Student Philanthropy Project at NKU. Funds will be used toward finishing the construction, renovation and furnishing of our new shelter.
 
ESNKY is finally building a new state-of-the-art facility, moving from a 5,000 sq facility that was never designed to shelter, to a 10,000 sq foot state of the art facility. Our new 24-hour facility, will increase capacity from 24 to 68 beds, expand programing and capacity, and include NKY's first Daytime Navigation & Engagement Center. This will empower us to continue our mission of providing life-saving and life-changing immediate low-barrier shelter and services for people experiencing homelessness in our community.
 
I invite everyone to come and tour and see/touch the legacy they are part of Helping Us Home.  

Remarks from Megan Jackson, development director: Master Provisions is grateful for the support of students in Professor Fox Strategies of Persuasion class and is honored to be chosen to receive the 2021 Mayerson Student Philanthropy Project grant at NKU. Not only will we be able to feed hungry people in the Tri-State but also assist local college students through our relationship with Fuel NKU.

Together, we can help close the gap for food insecurity nationwide which currently impacts one in seven homes.

Professor Fox: We only received 5 applications from nonprofits. I had a harder time getting organizations to apply and follow through. The feedback I received was mostly due to short staffing and priorities with the limited resources they had versus the amount of the grant. Students seemed to still enjoy the process though and 5 was plenty to complete the goals of the experience.