On August 26th, the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy began the academic year with the 13th Annual Batten Builds event. This day for service, lead by students, took over 250 volunteers out into the community to connect with 25 community partners.

Batten Builds occurs annually and provides an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to help nonprofits and other community-based organizations in the area complete projects they need assistance with. The theme of Batten Builds 2022 was Analysis to Advocacy: Building an Equitable Charlottesville. This year's mission was to illuminate how students can be influential advocates, act and contribute meaningfully to Charlottesville during and after this event.

Ahana Rosha, president of the Batten Undergraduate Council, shared the goals and mission of Batten Builds in an interview with NBC29 news. ”We really hope to illuminate how to be influential advocates and take action in addressing the issues, rather than just having a nuanced understanding of what’s going on in the community,” Rosha said. “After learning about all of these complex issues, we like to come in and then actually engage and integrate with our community partners.”

Community organizations participating in Batten Builds 2022 included: Ronald McDonald House Charlottesville, Charlottesville Parks and Recreation, Camp Holiday Trails, Sexual Assault Resource Agency (SARA), Charlottesville ASPCA, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank - Charlottesville, Jefferson Area Board for the Aging (JABA), Morven Kitchen Garden, PACEM, Habitat for Humanity, Charlottesville Area Riding Therapy, C4K Clubhouse, Shenandoah National Park Trust, Rivanna Conservation Society, Piedmont Community Garden, Literacy for All, The Paramount, Ivy Creek Foundation and Piedmont Master Gardeners/IRC.