White and blue beaded art on a red tablecloth.

Engagement & Community Outreach

Our commitment is to provide opportunities for our community members to display and gain leadership experience, as well as to teach the importance of reciprocity through engagement and outreach.

You can apply to become an out-of-house member to enjoy the community, participate in programming and take advantage of resources that Akwe:kon offers.

Resident Advisors (RAs)

Students have the opportunity to develop their leadership and professional skills by serving as Resident Advisors (RAs) at Akwe:kon. RAs are live-in community leaders and peer educators, encouraging residents to respect one another, get involved with floor, hall and area activities, and providing information about campus resources.

Akwe:kon program house exterior

Ongwe Hall Council

The hall council is composed of residents wanting to take on an active role in the Akwe:kon community. Council members convene weekly to discuss programming ideas for the house, focusing on community development and inclusion. Past events include:

  • Super Bowl party
  • Be my Valentine - Celebrating Valentine's Day and healthy relationships
  • Yogurt parfait study break
  • Neon mania party

To inquire about membership in the Ongwe Hall Council, please contact aiisp [at] cornell.edu.

Students at the Ongwe Hall Council neon mania party.

Tutoring at Lafayette High School

This tutoring program is a leadership development opportunity to engage with local Indigenous high school students one-on-one and provide academic support to them in core subjects (English, math, and history). If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please contact hjp67 [at] cornell.edu">hjp67 [at] cornell.edu.

For up-to-date details about this program (including notifications of cancellation) please request to be added to the AIISP Newsletter here.

AIISP students visit Lafayette High School to tutor local Indigenous students.

Resources to get involved