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David Teague, professor of English at the AAP’s Wilmington campus and associate director of the Associate in Arts Program, has been named as the 2023 recipient of the Delaware Center for Justice’s Mary Elizabeth Mical Outstanding Volunteer Award. Dr. Teague received the award at a ceremony on May 12, 2023, in recognition of his many significant contributions to the Delaware community.
Dr. Teague’s résumé of volunteer projects and initiatives is nearly as multifaceted as he is himself: As a member of the Delaware Center for Justice (DCJ) board of directors, Dr. Teague has worked to create educational programming about the challenges faced by disadvantaged communities. As a Leadership 100 instructor, he has inspired countless students to follow in his footsteps with civic engagement. As a creative writing professor and celebrated children’s book author, he has taught students of all ages how to translate their experiences into stories and demonstrated the impact that personal narratives can have in promoting social change. In addition to serving on the boards of the DCJ and the Delaware Humanities Forum, Dr. Teague has a long history of organizing volunteer initiatives that bring together UD students and the Wilmington community. One notable project was the creation of the New Beginnings Community Garden at the YWCA Home-Life Management Center in downtown Wilmington. Alongside his Leadership 100 students, AAP faculty, and other community members, Dr. Teague helped to create a sustainable garden that provides fresh produce to residents of the Home-Life Management Center and other local families in need.
In 2018, Dr. Teague’s students participated in the “Wilmington 1968” storytelling project, a collaborative effort to preserve the history and experiences of Wilmington residents during a significant period of civic unrest and social change. Dr. Teague’s creative writing students also collaborated with Creative District Wilmington and The Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew in 2018 to create the "19 Questions" mural, which aimed to engage Wilmington residents in a dialogue about social issues.
In 2014, Dr. Teague developed the “Just Write!” creative writing program, which was designed to offer a supportive environment for underserved children and teenagers in Wilmington to explore their creativity and develop their writing skills. Through a series of workshops and writing sessions, students received guidance and support from Dr. Teague and other writers, while also having opportunities to share their work with each other and the wider community.
As remarkable as this history of civic engagement is, the most remarkable aspect of all is that it is only the tip of the iceberg — we simply don’t have the space to share the rest! In all of the varied community-focused projects, programs, initiatives, and events for which Dr. Teague has volunteered his time and expertise, however, one thing is clear: His deep commitment to advocacy for our most vulnerable communities and dedication to creating a more equitable society for us all.
