Name
Cultivating Hope Through Community Leadership Pathways at a Rural Community College
Date & Time
Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM
Location Name
Regency Ballroom BC
Session Type
Roundtable
Description

What happens when a rural community college decides that hope can be taught, practiced, and shared? This session presents an emerging model of civic learning grounded in equity-centered leadership and reflective pedagogy. At Greenfield Community College, the Career Pathways for Community Leadership program, part of a statewide initiative, connects civic education, paid internships, and community-based partnerships. Developed in collaboration with the Greenfield Business Association, the program links classroom learning with civic and economic empowerment. By integrating contemplative pedagogy, critical leadership studies, and systems thinking, the program prepares students to become agents of change in their own communities. Participants will gain replicable strategies for building community-engaged curricula that cultivate student belonging, civic identity, and local resilience.