Sports and athletics has the transformative potential to unify individuals from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences, and shape a community. At Bates College, athletes make up 40% of the student body, highlighting the possibilities and constraints for Community Engagement Centers who work to ensure community benefit. Learn how student leadership catalyzed a vision for strengthening cohesion across our Center's democratic and community-engaged programs. Learn how community engaged professionals can be partners to college athletics and local athletic teams. Participants will learn more about the unique pathways available for student-athletes in civic-community engagement, and how to support student-athlete engagement in the civic-community space.