CASE

The Community Action Summer Experience (CASE) is Knight Vision's annual summer program. Through CASE, Menlo students identify, research, and pursue projects on issues relevant to their local and broader communities. Throughout the program, students have access to support from Knight Vision and other program participants. Each year, the CASE program is aimed at a few main areas of focus, but students are encouraged to propose their own project topics as well. CASE participants can work on their initiatives in pairs and groups. Their experience in the program begins with research about a general topic, and then it transitions into a personal project of their choosing. Finally, CASE culminates in a call to action where participants find a way to encourage others to get involved. At the end of the program, all participants present to the Menlo community at the annual Summer ShowCASE in August.

CASE 2021

Why CASE 2021?

Build your research skills, critical consciousness, leadership, initiative, and creativity.
Meet Menlo students who care just as much as you do about social justice issues.
Spend your summer in a meaningful way by improving your community.
Earn at least 20 CE credits!

Program Timeline and Overview

Weeks 1-2: Research an issue that matters to you. This might involve exploring current and historical sources online, seeking interviews, and reading books. By the end of this phase, you will create a short report or presentation to share with other CASE participants.

Weeks 3-5: Create a project related to the issue you researched. You're free to choose any medium or format for your project. Last year's CASE projects ranged from building websites to organizing a virtual bake sale, and we encourage you to get creative with your ideas!
Weeks 6-7: Prepare your presentation for the Summer ShowCASE. At the end of the CASE program, every student will present to the Menlo community about their research and project. Knight Vision is still finalizing details around the format of this year's ShowCASE, but last year, the event was a four-day speaker series where over 50 people attended each night!

summer showcase 2020!

In the second year of CASE, more students were able to engage with more current issues that they connected with. From climate change to homelessness in our neighborhoods and beyond, students made a difference for many causes.

CASE 2021 culminated with the Summer ShowCASE, which was held in the all-new Spieker Center. Students had the option of giving a presentation on the stage, or create a booth in an exhibition outside. This format allowed students to present and share their project in the manner that was appropriate to them, while at the same time educating and empowering the Menlo Community. All the Knight Vision leaders were extremely proud of all the work CASE 21 participants were able to do!

read the case 2021 newsletter

CASE 2020

The summer of 2020 is the first time that Knight Vision conducted the CASE program, and we were beyond thrilled with the results. Each person who signed up not only gained a valuable experience in community engagement but also formed friendships with their KV partners (mentors from Knight Vision) and the other CASE participants. CASE students set up weekly check-in meetings with their KV partners who offered ideas and resources, answered questions, and provided structure for the program. Each student who joined us for CASE this summer worked exceptionally hard to explore and combat social justice issues; KV is so impressed with everyone's efforts and impact on the community.

CASE 2020 concluded with a four-day Zoom speaker series called the Summer ShowCASE, where each student provided an overview of their project and then engaged with the audience in a Q&A. Over the four days, more than 200 participants joined us on Zoom for the ShowCASE. Each student's presentation was impressive and inspiring; the Knight Vision leaders could not have been happier with the outcome of our new program and speaker series!

read the case 2020 newsletter