Friends and colleagues,

Preparation for the next blogathon are now underway!

The Real Life, Real Faith blogathon will be a chance for us to talk together about the very real issues our college students are facing – and how we can best come alongside them during these critically formative years.

Over the course of 3 days [Nov. 2-4, 2010] we’ll have the chance to hear from a number ofprofessionals in the college and campus ministry world – and others who have particular interest in, and/or insight into, our work with college students – in the form blog posts – and the dialogs that ensue.

The kinds of themes I envision us covering include (but are not limited to):

• Faith (owning their faith, living it out, doubt, etc.)
• Relationships (searching for a place to belong, boundaries, healthy relationships, intimacy, love, etc.)
• Finances (making ends meet, taking on debt, helping out back home, etc.)
• Academic Pressures
• Mental Health Challenges (stress, medication, etc.)
• Addictive and/or Harmful Behaviors (pornography, sex, alcohol, drugs, gambling, eating, exercise, etc.)
• Concerns about the Future (will I find a job, get married, have a family, be happy, etc.)

SO, what I need now are proposals for posts… from YOU!

I’m asking anyone who works with college students — campus or college ministers specifically — but also colleagues in the areas of Student Affairs (Student Development), administration, faculty and even presidents to consider submitting a proposal.

I’m also open to having professionals who work specifically in some of the fields mentioned above, who might be able to give us specific insight into these areas of challenge, especially as they pertain to the life of college students.

REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR PROPOSAL:

• List the broad theme or category that you would like to write on
• Give a 3-4 sentence description of what your post would include (please be concise)
• Give any background information pertinent to your expertise in the area you want to write on
• Please submit your proposals by Thursday, Sept. 23rd. to guy[dot]chmieleski[at]gmail[dot]com (and please include Real Life, Real Faith proposal in the email subject line)

You can submit more than 1 request.

I will review proposals as they are submitted and will plan to announce the line-up for the blogathon by Oct. 1.

I will need all posts, from those whose proposals were accepted, in final form by Oct. 15th.

If you have any questions, please feel free to drop me an email.

Thanks for caring about college students!  I’m excited to see where this blogathon leads us.

Happy writing!!