Community Engagement

Community engagement “often involves partnerships and coalitions that help mobilize resources and influence systems, change relationships among partners, and serve as catalysts for changing policies, programs, and practices.” (CDC 1997). In this class we will learn the basics of community engaged work, including community-based work, research based work, and nonprofit work. We will consider how power, social status, and structural equity impact community engaged works. We will also explore different approaches to community engaged methods such as Participatory Action Research. Class will invite community partners to come into class/or via zoom to discuss community based work, the opportunities they have for internships, and how students might think about building partnerships with community organizations. Finally, students will have hands on experiences with research methods that are used in community based work. For example, this might include technical work transcribing sample interviews to analysis of transcripts for making meaning of sample interviews. Students conceiving community based senior projects, internships, or ISPs are also encouraged to enroll even if you don’t have the prerequisites. Contact professor for special permission to enroll. Finally, based on student interests and the number of students enrolled, we will develop community based affinity groups in order to explore concrete community engagement plans and practices.

*In phase I of winter registration, this class is open to ESJ minors. All other students can register during phase II, or contact the instructor.