At Illinois Valley Community College, English professor Nora Villarreal has sparked student engagement with a project inspired by the novel ‘Parable of the Sower.’ Over the past three semesters, 140 students have taken classroom lessons into the community, volunteering, raising funds, and advocating for change. Their work has touched on critical local concerns, from combating poverty to supporting animal welfare and advancing mental health awareness. By blending reading, research, and hands-on service, the initiative aims to foster both literary insight and real-world impact, proving that literature can inspire positive action beyond the page.
“I knew ‘Parable of the Sower’ was a perfect chance to connect our reading, writing and research to the real world,” Villarreal said. “The 1993 book by Octavia Butler presents a dystopian world whose problems mirror many current issues, such as poverty, hunger, natural disasters, and climate change. In my class, we connect the novel to our academic research and writing by focusing on a need it presents that reflects a need of our local community.”
Villarreal sees the impact on her students each semester. “Whether the project asked them to break out of their shell, become aware of a community need, or challenged their preconceived notions, students emerge from the experience feeling empowered and inspired, with more faith in their own resilience, skills, and ability to have a positive impact on their world. It has been one of the most gratifying experiences of my career.”
Over three semesters, students volunteered, organized fundraisers, and advocated for causes such as poverty relief, animal welfare, and mental health awareness. Among the many success stories, one group raised over $300 for a nearby animal shelter, while another collected more than 400 books for a child welfare group. Additionally, a student crocheted donations, engaging care center residents in charitable efforts.
Students who complete the program say they intend to stay involved and aware, and some continue actively volunteering, she said. One student said the class served as a reminder that “resilience is not just about surviving hard times, but about pushing through with a purpose.”
Another student who thought they had lost their spark for writing discovered a different kind of spark. “I don’t know how to explain it other than this big, happy, fulfilling feeling.”
The project helped a third student understand “how our IVCC community has a lot of resources and allows for so many possibilities that I did not know were possible or accessible for all students. It makes me even more glad I decided to go to school here.”
