Widely known through the work of the Harlem Children’s Zone and the federal government’s Promise and Choice Neighborhood programs, geographically specific community engagement initiatives have the potential to positively address the challenges of inequity and injustice within our communities. While we may be familiar with these types of place-based initiatives from non-profit organizations or governmental grants, less is known about this type of strategy in higher education. This webinar will include a presentation of a recent national study and the facilitators’ recent book on place-based community engagement in higher education, followed by an exploration of several of the most salient topics arising from this promising new strategy.

 

Presenters:

 

Erica Yamamaura is Associate Professor and Program Liaison Coordinator of the Student Development Administration Program at Seattle University. A long-time believer in the use of service-learning and community-based projects as part of her pedagogy, she engages in project-based learning in graduate education in her work at Seattle University. Since 2013, Yamamura has also conducted research on promising practices arising from the Seattle University Youth Initiative.

 

Kent Koth is the founding director of the Seattle University Center for Community Engagement. In this role, Koth has overseen a rapid expansion of campus-community partnerships that have received national recognition. As an adjunct faculty member in SU’s Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies Program, Koth has taught courses focusing on leadership and community engagement. With support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Koth is currently leading an effort to create a national network of universities pursuing place-based community engagement.