Places of worship play important roles as anchor institutions that promote community engagement and motivate political activity. Universities, particularly in urban settings, can also serve as anchor institutions that connect communities. Yet, there is often a gulf between the two, to the detriment of the broader community. In this article, we…

The goal of this paper is to discuss practical recommendations for collecting data with hard to reach populations and data comparability. We also discuss the importance of piloting and community involvement in the process using an example from the Tribal Prevention Initiative (TiPI), a culturally-based substance abuse prevention program for…

In an effort to increase students' preparation for and participation in civic life, teachers and schools across the United States have incorporated action civics programs into their social studies courses. These programs resemble many of the key characteristics of the public policy analysis process. However, there is little evidence suggesting…

As a result of decades-long dwindling arts funding sources, U.S. nonprofit dance companies struggle to emerge and be sustained. However, mutually beneficial relationships are often developed between nonprofit dance companies and educational institutions such as K-12 schools, universities, and private studios. These relationships enhance students'…

Dedicated science learning spaces such as science museums, science cafes, or science media attract mostly those who seek out science learning experiences. This self-selection represents a major challenge for broadening participation in informal science learning (ISL). In this study, we examine an approach to ISL that aims at reaching audiences who…

Although Latino immigrant men experience many health disparities, they are underrepresented in research to understand and address disparities. Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) has been identified to encourage participant engagement and increase representation in health disparities research. The CBPR conceptual model describes how…

Higher education institutions are increasingly required to provide a measured response to perceptions that challenge institutions' value proposition as assets to their communities. This article focuses on best practices in the campus' efforts to create a pathway to demonstrate community impact. The ability of systematic tracking of partnership and…

Campus shootings have impacted campuses across the United States for almost two centuries. Between 2015 and 2016, at least three historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) experienced multiple shootings where students were killed in each incident. This qualitative comparative case study used secondary data to explore the similarities and…

As higher education institutions look forward to determine the needs of graduates, they are discovering a demand for hands-on training that facilitates the development of higher order thinking and skills. One valuable method of providing such training is creating community engagement opportunities that integrate university students' educational…

The idea of the "developmental university" was popularised on the African continent in the post-independence period, but has recently returned to view on account of the positioning of the university in the newly agreed United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The developmental model is characterised by service to society,…

In this reflective conceptual essay, we critically examine two complementary models related to leadership for community engagement--the boundary-spanning model (Weerts & Sandmann, 2010) and the preliminary competency model for CEPs (Dostilio, 2017a). Both models organize and present prioritized activities necessary for individuals to advance…

Inquiry is a central concept within pragmatism, defined generally as the process of collectively defining problematic aspects of current social practices and developing better alternatives. Translation--defined broadly as the labor of negotiating, transforming, and synthesizing diverse experiences--is a critical but understudied component of…

Through in-depth interviews and focus groups with alumni from three institutions, the authors of this qualitative study explore the contours and desires of political engagement postgraduation. Giving credit to their respective community engagement programs, alumni illustrate their enduring commitments to civic and political action by participating…

How we engage the community within our institutions, from higher education to social services, requires consistent reconceptualization. Many fields benefit from engaging the community; yet research around practical methods for engagement is limited. This study describes the process of using nominal group technique as a practical method for both…

Local communities are increasingly becoming concerned about what to do about changing climatic conditions and they want to know more about how to best work together to address complicated socioecological issues. This paper addresses this need by presenting findings from four exploratory case studies (two in Maine and two in Oregon). The…