Mission-centered institutions have a unique advantage to develop collaborative “justice work” with community partners. Drawing from emergent theory on community organizing, leadership, and pedagogies of engagement, we share our institution’s model for community-centered courses that prioritize relationship-building, creative problem-solving, and mutual learning. Session facilitators are involved in the ongoing evolution (and evaluation) of our campus’s Civic Action Plan and will discuss how our undergraduate and graduate courses translate theory into practice. We will share data from faculty and community partner focus groups and student surveys that illustrate the transformative work that nurtures opportunities and inclusivity. We will engage participants to collaborate on plans that develop their own mission-driven models from the standpoint of their roles within the university or community

 

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