The day began with a keynote panel about collaborative leadership, facilitated by Dr. Hank Rubin from the Institute for Collaborative Leadership and featuring the lived experience and reflections of Brian Lewis from Roc the Future Alliance; Dr. Shaun Nelms, Vice President for Community Partnerships at the University of Rochester; and Aqua Porter from Rochester Monroe Anti-Poverty Alliance. Following the panel, attendees disbursed to attend breakout presentations facilitated by community leaders, community-engaged learning faculty, and students. Breakout presentations included how to embody motivation-to-action; immigrant farmworkers advocacy efforts; redistributing surplus medical supplies and equipment to promote health equity; how to build impactful teams; creating sustainable pathways from homelessness to leadership; and leveraging cross-sector workplace collaboration to improve financial stability of community members. Attendees came back together to enjoy lunch catered by Foodlink Community Café and debrief on themes from the day, including identifying changes that they wanted to bring back to their own work and community. As one attendee reflected, “Sometimes it takes multiple conversations to get to action – great to keep momentum high!”

This year’s attendee demographics reflect the growing capacity of the summit to facilitate community-university partnerships. Of the 76 people who attended, 75% came from our Greater Rochester community and 25% were connected to the University of Rochester by employment. For comparison, the inaugural summit saw 53% coming from our Greater Rochester community and 47% connected to the University of Rochester by employment. Furthermore, 28% of the breakout presenters and panelists this year self-described as being from the Academic sector, and 72% from the Nonprofit/NGO sector.��

The reach of this year’s summit was highlighted by one attendee, who shared, “It was special to see so many community partners and community engaged community members present. I was so happy to see other schools present and students as well – picking up the mantle. The sessions spoke to our collective values – and it was refreshing to see an open embrace of equity-centered conversation. I thought the sessions were capacity-building – happy to see how presenters were developing their voice as leaders through this process (and happy to see new leaders coming into the pipeline from lived experience!).”

Highlights from the day, including photographs, group debriefings, and a copy of the program, can be found in a .

written by��Megan Lovely, Program Manager of Community-Engaged Learning

The post From Conversation to Action: 76 People Attend the Annual Community-Engaged Learning Summit appeared first on Bridging the Gap.

The conference sold out and had the largest gathering ever, over 900 professionals, leaders, and students. The team at the University of Rochester included Vice President for Community Partnerships, Dr. Shaun Nelms; Assistant Dean and Director, Glenn Cerosaletti; and Associate Director of Community Engagement & Adjunct Faculty, Dr. Halima Therese Gbaguidi.��

Prior to the start of Compact26, the team attended a meeting of The Research University Civic Engagement Network (TRUCEN). TRUCEN allows active Campus Compact members which are research universities to share information, perspectives, and tactics for how they can promote civic engagement on their campuses and in their communities. Day 1 of TRUCEN (March 14) focused on new member orientation and networking, followed by an opening plenary cocktail reception and a welcome dinner at the Chicago Regency Hotel.

On Day 2 of TRUCEN, Dr. Nelms and Glenn joined the TRUCEN for a full day gathering at the Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. After a welcome from the TRUCEN leadership committee, Campus Compact executive director, Bobbie Laur, moderated a panel including representatives from UCLA, University of Pennsylvania, and Brown University to discuss how community engagement professionals at those institutions–each of which was a focal point in federal enforcement efforts–have navigated the challenges. The group then broke into different deep-dive workshop sessions to discuss “civic and community engagement during turbulent times.” Members in their respective workshops came together to discuss, address, and share insights into the most pressing issues in their collective work.

Dr. Gbaguidi spent the full day with her for the closing retreat. For context, ESI is a one-year, cohort-based leadership and professional development program for early-career faculty and staff meant to strengthen their community-engaged scholarship and effectiveness as civic engagement practitioners. It was a moment of learning, reflection, and community-engaged practice, with knowledge sharing. Dr. Gbaguidi also shared a glimpse of the Network Action Groups she has been co-leading, focusing on “Documenting the Exciting Higher Education Landscape.” The group later went for lunch.

On Day 1 of Compact26, Dr. Gbaguidi experienced a heartfelt reunion, reconnecting with professionals, friends and collaborators she had met since attending her first Campus Compact conference. She participated in meaningful discussions with scholars and professionals involved in higher education and community-based work. Halima also took the opportunity to highlight the impactful initiatives at the University of Rochester’s Center for Community Engagement. Additionally, she interviewed with Campus Compact to share her experiences and the significance of their work in higher education.��

Glenn attended a pre-conference workshop that showcased the work of Campus Compact’s student design fellows, which gave helpful suggestions from current students and recent graduates about how students can power strategic change in community engagement. He also attended a workshop led by Dr. Thomas Schnaubelt of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University about the civic profile tool that he and others have developed.

Day 2 of Compact26 conference was a standout moment as the University of Rochester and the Rochester City School District’s East (RCSD) community were honored with the Campus Compact Excellence in Community-Engaged Partnerships Award. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding higher education programs that collaborate with community partners to tackle complex social issues, promote equity, and foster lasting change. Dr. Nelms accepted the award on behalf of both the University and RCSD.

Glenn was pleased to attend a networking meeting of professionals focused on political engagement and voter education, which was convened by the All-in Campus Democracy Challenge, which is led by Dr. Jen Domagal Goldman, a �����Թ� alum from the class of 2000. In summary, the TRUCEN and Compact26 events provided an excellent opportunity to engage with industry professionals while highlighting the University of Rochester’s significant contributions as an R1 institution. These initiatives demonstrate our commitment to advancing higher education and fostering community engagement nationwide.

In summary, the TRUCEN and Compact26 events provided an excellent opportunity to engage with industry professionals while highlighting the University of Rochester’s significant contributions as an R1 institution. These initiatives demonstrate our commitment to advancing higher education and fostering community engagement nationwide.��

written by Dr. Halima Gbaguidi, CCE’s Associate Director and Adjunct Faculty & Glenn Cerosaletti, Assistant Dean and Director of CCE

The post �����Թ� Leaders Represented at TRUCEN and Compact26: Awarded for Excellence in Community-Engaged Partnerships! appeared first on Bridging the Gap.

This semester, our course has forced me to reconsider what community engagement truly entails, particularly in a city like Rochester, where the history of activism, inequity, and resilience shapes everyday life. Attending a Rochester City Council meeting and participating in class discussions and readings both helped me get a deeper understanding of community engagement. Through this experience, I was able to observe how the ideas we learned, like rest as resistance, power redistribution, and critical service-learning, appear in actual public settings. The conference helped me see community participation as a living, emotional, and collaborative activity rooted in the voices of Rochester citizens rather than as something abstract or remote. Residents of all ages, activists, seniors, and students crowded the council chambers downtown for the City Council meeting. Concerns about general safety, animal abuse, gun violence, and the need for accessible green spaces were among the topics that people spoke passionately about. Despite the formal format of the conference, there was a sense of urgency and intimacy. Residents shared lived experiences affected by dread, dissatisfaction, and optimism for change rather than just cataloging issues. Their testimonials demonstrated that civic engagement is more than just following the rules; it is also a kind of communal service and emotional work.

An elderly resident’s description of the dearth of secure outdoor areas for senior citizens struck a chord with me. She clarified that the lack of accessible parks or public spaces where elders can stroll, sit, or mingle makes many of them feel alone. Soon after, a young man talked about animal mistreatment and then another young man shared how unsafe it is for him to walk home at night after losing a friend to gun violence. Hearing these worries in quick succession showed how various generations in Rochester have different perspectives on safety, yet they both want the same thing: a place where people may live fearlessly. Speaking about animal maltreatment in the city, another speaker made the case that neglected animals frequently mirror larger patterns of neglect in local communities. These stories demonstrated the true interconnectedness of community issues. I had imagined, prior to the meeting, that City Council meetings were primarily procedural, with lengthy agendas, political rhetoric, and decisions occurring far away from daily life. Rather, those presumptions were questioned during the meeting. Council members had to sit with the weight of those experiences as people spoke with emotion, occasionally trembling or sobbing. I came to see that public places are extensions of community life rather than anything apart from it. The gathering showed that community involvement involves more than just volunteering or “helping”; it also entails paying attention to, seeing, and comprehending how actual people are impacted by governmental decisions.

I was able to make sense of what I saw thanks to Tania Mitchell’s paradigm for critical service-learning. Mitchell contends that by portraying communities as beneficiaries and students as helpers, traditional service-learning frequently perpetuates power disparities. Critical service learning, on the other hand, “focuses on social change and works to redistribute power” (Mitchell, 2014, p. 54.) This change of power was reflected in the City Council meeting.

Residents talked for themselves rather than experts or students representing the community. Their opinions influenced the agenda. Accountability was demanded by their stories. Additionally, Mitchell highlights that “an explicit commitment to social justice” is necessary for critical service-learning (Mitchell, 2014, p. 56.) By elevating the views of those most impacted by policy decisions, those dealing with gun violence, elderly people in need of green areas, and activists fighting for animal rights, the meeting exemplified this dedication. It served as a reminder that genuine engagement entails collaborating with communities rather than presuming their needs. My understanding of the meeting’s emotional impact was also influenced by Tricia Hersey’s Rest Is Resistance. Rest, according to Hersey, is a way to rebel against systems that dehumanize and deplete people. She claims that fatigue is a tool of oppression and that “rest is a portal for healing” (Hersey, 2022, p. 29.) Hersey’s argument felt genuine after hearing locals talk about their ongoing fear of gun violence, taking care of abandoned animals, or feeling alone in the absence of secure outside areas. Many Rochester residents are worn down by the mechanisms in their environment, not because they lack motivation. Hersey also highlights the communal nature of rest, stating that “we rest so we can imagine new worlds” (Hersey, 2022, p. 41.) Despite their weariness, the City Council meeting seemed to be a place where people were attempting to envision a better Rochester. By being present, speaking up, and refusing to remain silent, they demonstrated resistance.

Through this experience, I learned that Rochester is a city full of people who care deeply about their neighborhoods and who are willing to advocate for themselves and others. I also learned that community engagement is not always comfortable or uplifting; it can be emotional, frustrating, and heavy. But it is necessary. The meeting showed me that civic participation is not just about voting; it is about showing up in public spaces, telling the truth about what is happening, and demanding change. Moving forward, I want to approach community engagement with humility and intention. Instead of asking, “How can I help?”, I want to ask, “How can I work with communities to challenge injustice?” (Mitchell, 2014, p. 60.) I also want to incorporate Hersey’s emphasis on rest by recognizing that justice work requires sustainability. If I want to be involved in community engagement long‑term, I need to balance action with reflection and care for myself and for the people I work with. This means choosing opportunities that align with justice, not charity, and committing to listening before acting. Overall, attending the City Council meeting pushed me to rethink my assumptions about civic spaces, confront my own privilege, and understand community engagement as a shared responsibility. It deepened my connection to Rochester and reminded me that solidarity is something we practice, not something we declare.

��

References

Hersey, T. (2022). Rest is resistance: A manifesto. Little, Brown Spark.

Mitchell, T. D. (2014). Traditional vs. critical service-learning: Engaging the literature to

differentiate two models. In J. T. Mitchell (Ed.), Critical service-learning: A pedagogy

of social justice (pp. 50–65). Johns Hopkins University Press.

written by��Nima Mohamed, Spring 2026 CASC 202 Student

The post Student Reflections on Speak-to-Council Meeting: Solidarity in Practice appeared first on Bridging the Gap.

Day 1: An Unforgettable Kickoff

Every activity on December 27th was designed to unite hundreds of individuals from different chapters into a single, unified brotherhood. At the convention, there was a regular schedule that included thought-provoking Learning Labs for everyone, including guests, alumni, and active brothers. We welcomed the growth offered through these interactive sessions, an investment of materials and a branching of knowledge that we hoped to bring back to our home chapter, Mu Lambda. Notably during the Kickoff Celebration and Ice Cream Social, we were immersed in the roar of voices from every territory, a sea of chapter letters and one-of-a-kind merchandise. From sharing a scoop of ice cream with a brother from California, we were struck by how effortlessly APO erases distance.

Day 2: Governance and Procedure

Day 2 highlighted the importance of democratic processes and Leadership in Alpha Phi Omega. As Voting Delegates in representation of the Mu Lambda Chapter at the University of Rochester, we faced the formal, solemn responsibility of the Legislative Session, where the future of the fraternity is actively forged. As first-time delegates, it was transformative to be in the room where it happens, where chapters from across the country conduct official business, elect the National Board of Directors, and vote on proposals that will guide APO for years to come. Reflecting on having spent 12 hours on parliamentary procedure, this was a day of intense focus and obligation on shaping the fraternity’s future. We were truly living the full spectrum of APO leadership.

Day 3: The Heart of APO

Day 3 was unique as there were designated segments in our itinerary dedicated to Service, the foundational pillar of Alpha Phi Omega. We had the wonderful opportunity to work alongside brothers on impactful service projects with esteemed partners such as Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. Additionally, there was an on-site blood drive to donate to the American Red Cross, and opportunities through Special Olympics, as well as Gift of Life. The premise of community building continued into the evening with the Swag Exchange and Community Reception. The concept is simple: bring a piece of APO merchandise from your chapter and trade it with someone else. Looking back, this simple act of exchange is a celebration of our diverse chapter identities and a fun, sustainable way to build connections.

Day 4: Centennial Celebration

December 30th had finally arrived. This was the day we had all been waiting for, the grand culmination of the entire event: Alpha Phi Omega’s 100th birthday. This was not just the final day of a convention, but a once-in-a-century celebration, and we all knew we were part of something truly special. What was incredibly memorable was the “APO through the Ages Luncheon.” Seated in a grand hall, we listened, as a panel of Past National Presidents shared behind-the-scenes stories and revelations in our fraternity’s history. As evening fell, the excitement escalated with the Celebration Banquet. The pride in the room was prominent as chapters and individuals were recognized with national awards, and we officially welcomed the newly elected National Board of Directors who would lead us into our second century. But the moment that will stick with us forever was the Toast Song. Standing side-by-side around the perimeter of the space, you could feel the collective breath before the first note. In that moment, we were not just hundreds of members, we were one voice. During the Birthday Party, a cake was unveiled, and we all joined in the loudest, most heartfelt rendition of “Happy Birthday” we have ever heard. It felt special to be present at the moment APO officially stepped into its next 100 years.

Looking back on those four impactful days in Philadelphia, it is clear that the Centennial Convention was so much more than a milestone. It was a living, breathing demonstration of our cardinal principles. This convention was a powerful reaffirmation of the values that have guided Alpha Phi Omega for a century.

As we departed Philadelphia, we felt a renewed sense of purpose. We, the active members, are the torchbearers for APO’s next 100 years. Back in Rochester, we are carrying this momentum into action, through our ongoing service work to the community, new local outreach initiatives and sustained partnerships. We are also preparing to host our upcoming tri-sectionals conference in March, bringing together brothers from across the region together, just as we were united in Philadelphia. The Centennial Convention is a reminder that our work is not yet done, and APO’s legacy is not only maintained at the national level, but built within our local chapter as well. It is now our turn to carry the spirit of that Centennial Celebration in our hearts, to continue pushing the boundaries of Leadership, Friendship, and Service, and to make our own mark on this fraternity’s history.

written by Madison Zeng & Sree Chatterjee, members of Alpha Phi Omega, co-ed national service fraternity

The post More than a Milestone: Journey Through APO’s 100th Anniversary Convention appeared first on Bridging the Gap.

A major highlight for me was the range of sessions centered on women’s rights, education access, intergenerational collaboration and more. I especially appreciated that several workshops were led by Newman Civic Fellows. Hearing directly from peers making change on their campuses made everything feel more real and achievable. Those student-led spaces encouraged honest conversations, collaboration, and new connections, reminding me that progress happens when we learn from and support one another.

Beyond the structured and formal sessions, community bonding moments like the mocktail hour and river cruise gave us time to build friendships, network, and reflect together. I left the convening feeling empowered, supported, and excited for the year ahead, as well as more confident in my ability to contribute to meaningful change as a Newman Civic Fellow.

written by Ella French, TOUR Lead Tutor

The post Newman Civic Fellows Convening: A Student Reflection appeared first on Bridging the Gap.

Since 2021, Professor Stella Wang has partnered with the Ganondagan State Historic Site and the Digital Scholarship department at River Campus Libraries to explore the human and ecological histories of Rochester, especially its Haudenosaunee roots. Out of this partnership emerged , which Stella describes as “an interactive map that provides information about the natural world around campus, […] encouraging self-guided nature walks for a range of health, environmental, and relationship benefits while foregrounding the university-Native-community collaboration.” The map is continuously updated each semester based on Story Maps created by students in Being Homo Sapiens Sapiens, and topic-specific research pieces by students in the translation course – all guided by the continued collaboration with Ganondagan.����

Charley Pecora ‘29 shared that she takes frequent nature walks herself, but going on a campus nature walk led by Trish Corcoran, Onondowaga/Seneca naturalist and writer, helped her connect with the natural environment of Rochester, which will be her home for the next four years. Charley’s reflection nods to the importance of fostering relationships not only with local residents, but with nature.����

On October 30, students presented one of their course projects – an individual Story Maps digital writing project with a companion, hands-on, multimodal project involving a small canvas sling bag and a prior visual design workshop with Cole Reuben, Onondowaga/Seneca historian and interpreter at the Rock Foundations, Rochester Museum of Science Center, and Ganondagan. They set up their presentations at tables in Lam Square, allowing for intimate conversations about their research. Stella, Trish, and Blair Tinker (GIS-specialist, who ran a map-making workshop for students’ Story Maps) were also on site to chat and add further context to the students’ work.����

Refreshments prepared by Saul Schuster and Haley Christoff of Turtle Island Homestead added an additional layer to the event, highlighting the cultural significance of White Corn, a staple crop of the Haudenosaunee. Unlike sweet corn, White Corn is high in protein and has a lower glycemic index. Additionally, it can’t be eaten “green.” Rather, it needs to be dried out, shucked, and cooked in hardwood ashes to remove the hull. All of this is done by hand. Saul and Haley featured this staple crop in a butternut squash bisque with kernels of White Corn and cornbread, alongside a coconut chia pudding and sweetgrass and sage tea. Saul and Haley explained that White Corn represents resiliency, with heirloom seeds dating back at least 1,400 years in spite of European colonialist attempts to destroy the crop. “You destroy the crop, you destroy the people,” Saul said. Preserving and cooking with White Corn is a way of connecting with ancestors, past and present. Saul joked about meeting Haudenosaunee elders who will insist that they are making corn soup wrong! Everyone has their own recipes, which reveal personal and communal (hi)stories.����

Through guided campus nature walks and embellishing canvas sling bags, students have the opportunity to develop their own relationship with these histories. For her project, Alexa Prouty ‘29 researched the environmental benefits of repurposing old buildings. On her sling bag, she paid homage to a dead tree that she saw on the guided walk with Trish. She learned that dead trees can be used as homes for animals, which she represented with a Labubu doll keychain. Far from detritus, the dead tree is still integral to the environment. This is in stark contrast with the human-made trash that pollutes the environment, which Alexa represented with glittery sequins at the bottom of the sling bag.����

For Charley’s project, she researched the Red Oak, a tree indigenous to Turtle Island (North America) that has evolved to be highly adaptive to the effects of climate change. Although the Red Oak is not immune to the risks of climate change, it is known for its abilities to resist fire, retain water, and host a large community of insects, birds, and other animals. Charley reflected that the Red Oak could help us learn how to help ourselves – only take the resources that we need and leave the rest to other species in our community.��

To learn more about the groups featured in this blog, see:

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written by Megan Lovely, Program Manager of Community-Engaged Learning

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This year LEAP has been made possible thanks to CCE’s partnership with Allendale Columbia School, our wonderful and dynamic LEAP staff, our reliable snack donor, and the Warner School of Education for their unwavering support!

LEAP End-of-Year Celebration

On April 26, 2025, Glenn Cerosaletti, Director of the Center for Community Engagement, joined the Learning, Exploring At Play (LEAP) staff, along with the kids and their families, to joyfully celebrate the students’ achievements during the LEAP graduation. The event marked a meaningful close to the year, highlighting the growth, dedication, and community spirit shared by all involved.

See our LEAP Graduation ’24-’25 video

LEAP Field Day: Learning Beyond the Classroom

At the end of the academic year, the LEAP staff organized a Field Day to give students the opportunity to explore new and engaging forms of learning beyond the traditional Saturday sessions. The event allowed kids to experience hands-on activities, outdoor games, and creative challenges that promote fun, teamwork, as well as curiosity in a relaxed environment.

LEAP All-Staff Training

Before the commencement of LEAP Saturday sessions, all LEAP staff are trained on classroom management, mood regulation, creating effective communication skills, and team building.

The Associate Director, Team Leaders, Tutors, and LEAP Kids Celebrate Together

On April 26, 2025, the LEAP graduation was filled with joy and pride as Dr. Halima Therese Gbaguidi, Associate Director of the Center for Community Engagement, joined the kindergarten through fifth grade teams to celebrate the remarkable progress of the LEAP students. The event captured the spirit of growth and community, with smiles, laughter, and heartfelt recognition of the students’ achievements.

written by Dr. Halima Gbaguidi, CCE Associate Director

The post LEAP (Learning & Exploring at Play) Program Highlights – June 2025 appeared first on Bridging the Gap.

Earl Bumagat

Community Organization: TRANSFORM Research Center at Mt. Hope Family Center

Project Title: “Disseminating Information with TRANSFORM”��

Community Advisor: Dr. Catherine Cerulli��

Faculty Advisor: Stephanie Ashenfelder

“I worked with Transform Translational research…. and what they do is …conduct research into…prevention and intervention methods for child abuse and maltreatment…Throughout the semester I have worked on editing their unused footage and clips into shorter videos and clips that could be used for more accessible, more learnable, and more engaging content. We want to use these clips, post it across their social media platforms, and… tie it in with their social media monthly initiatives and campaigns that they go into…A lot of it will be for a backlog but it’ll be content that’ll be useful for the future.” – Earl Bumagat

Audrey Chung

Community Organization: GiGi’s Playhouse Rochester��

Project Title: “Strength in Motion: Enhancing Motor Skills & Independence in Children with Down Syndrome”��

Community Advisor: Haley Everett��

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Stephen Sulkes MD

“So I’ve been working with GiGi’s Playhouse, a nonprofit down the road that works with people with Down syndrome…I’ve been working with the kids’ fitness and cooking programs, and testing their motor skills [with] different exercises and food preparation. The fitness mainly works on… flexibility, endurance and motor skills.….. People with Down syndrome have low muscle tone…..which means they need constant activity and movement to sustain their muscle … We’re basically testing their motor development and how we can introduce these habits at a young age so that they learn how to maintain a good lifestyle.” – Audrey Chung

Johari Hemphill��

Community Organization: Archive of Black History & Culture (ARHC) under the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County’s Local History & Genealogy Division��

Project Title: “The ‘Divine 9’ and First Archive Collections Project”��

Community Advisor: Antoine Mcdonald��

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Molly Ball

“My work was getting some archives training and helping them [ARHC] process some of their first four collections, one of them being the Bobby Johnson collection, who was a local poet and activist. [These archives] have been or you can go access them at the local library … Additionally, we’re working on finishing the Charles Price collection… Another part of my work was reaching out to some collections that we identify as being essential to the archive, one of them being the National Panhellenic Council, otherwise known as the Divine Nine. [The Divine Nine] is a group of nine historically Black Greek letter organizations: five fraternities and four sororities, that all have chapters here established in the greater Rochester area that have been around as early as the [1940s.] So a large part of my work was reaching out to them, creating an email template….. identifying an assessment of what materials they have, what we need and what we want, and then creating a timeline of how we’re gonna gather materials and then process them and make them accessible to the public.” – Johari Hemphill

Sab Lin

Community Organization: Girls Rock! Rochester��

Project Title: “Visions and Paradoxes of a Feminist Nonprofit and Social Movement”��

Community Advisor: Amanda Ashley��

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Kristin Doughty

“I did my work on Girls Rock Rochester, which is a local nonprofit organization that is also a social movement with over 100 camps across the US and internationally…I first started volunteering there 2 or 3 years ago and since then it’s expanded into a much bigger project….[For my Capstone, I decided] to put on a community event for trans visibility which I hosted about a week and a half ago and the point of it was just to create a safe space for trans youth and… just come together, grab a snack, have some community….” – Sab Lin

Aliza Lopez��

Community Organization: Kids Thrive 585��

Project Title: “The Nexus of DEI & Health Literacy: Democratizing Cultural Health Resources and Workshops for Diverse Youth in Rochester”��

Community Advisor: Dr. Megan Lasaponara MD��

Faculty Advisor: Dr. April Luehmann

“So for [my project,] the question was how can we promote cultural health in RCSD.… because …standardized exam results…, as well as…health literacy rates in the Rochester City School District are pretty low, especially for marginalized populations such as Latino and Black students. I wanted to try to find…a way that we can better appeal to them and make content and material that’s more engaging and make sure that it really applies to them, so that they can… increase their health literacy rate and increase their health outcomes…So the first thing that I tried to make was a resource navigator. I put together a list of resources [that] I could classify… into two different categories. One of them was virtual resources, so…databases of different phone providers that serve marginalized demographics, such as, for example, databases that serve the Latino population. [The second category] is in-person resources, so Rochester has quite a few community-based clinics such as those for BIPOC or LGBTQ populations…all of these platforms and resources would be listed on the organization [Kids Thrive 585]’s website…The second part [of my project, is the] lessons and workshops that would be done at schools. I want to create a written report of recommendations and potential frameworks that the school districts, as well as community colleges, can use if they’re trying to revise their curriculum or if they’re trying to make more health-related activities for students.” – Aliza Lopez

Jiola Paco

Community Partner: Arnett House

Project Title: “Increasing Job Readiness in Unhoused LGBTQ+ and Trafficked Youth”

Community Advisor: Kelly Sciarratta

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Stefanie K. Dunning.��

“My project is increasing job readiness in unhoused LGBTQ+ and trafficked youth. LGBTQ+ youth are at a 120% higher risk of homelessness. There are also many unmet needs within this community, 17% and 18% of these needs are emotional stability and support, and employment, respectively. So I decided to work on the employment aspect because I am a student interviewer for the University of Rochester and I want to use my skills where I can, so I created this ‘getting rid of job application stress’ workshop…and then, at the end, we’re doing a thrifting trip with CCE funding in order to get them job appropriate attire and then we’re going to do a fashion show when we get those items. We also do self-confidence workshops…this just helps them visualize the end goal in order for them to take the steps to move towards it.” – Jiola Paco��

Suzanna Rainbolt��

Community Partner: Rochester Sexual & Reproductive Justice Taskforce (Roc SRJ)��

Project Title: “Let’s Talk About Sex: Focusing on Community-Based Information System to Rethink Sexual Health Information”��

Community Advisor: Jilian Quigley

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Rachel O’Donnell

Paige Schneider��

Community Partner: Rochester Ecology Partners��

Project Title: “Youth Environmental Health Education in Rochester”

Community Advisor: Christopher Widmaier��

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Sandra H. Jee, MD, MPH

Zihan Wang��

Community Partner: Brightstar Community��

Project Title: “The Impact of Street-Level Outreach on Local Economic Communities: Exploring Economic Stability Through Grassroots Engagement”��

Community Advisor: Sue Kirby��

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Kristin Doughty

These students have gone above and beyond by applying their education to community work outside of the classroom and putting what they’ve learned during their time at U of R into meaningful action. We can’t wait to see what these students go on to do and we’re confident that they’ll continue to succeed and thrive, as they’ve already made sustainable positive social change and left their mark on the Rochester community.

If you’re a student interested in pursuing the Community-Engaged Learning Certificate or a faculty member interested in receiving a Community-Engaged Learning Course Operating or Course Development Grant, feel free to email cel@ur.rochester.edu with questions or go to the CEL page of CCE’s website to learn more.��

written by��Lily Bencivenga, CCE Administrative Coordinator

��

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Prior to the start of Compact25, Drs. Gbaguidi and Nelms attended The Research University Civic Engagement Network (TRUCEN). TRUCEN allows Campus Compact active members to share information, perspectives, and tactics for how research institutions promote civic engagement in their communities and campuses. Day 1 (March 29) focused on new member orientation and networking, followed by an opening plenary cocktail reception and a welcome dinner at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.

On Day 2, the group departed for Emory University from Marriott Marquis early in the morning. They spent the full day at Emory, whose hospitality was outstanding. After some welcome introductions from the TRUCEN leadership committee, the group broke into different deep-dive workshop sessions to discuss “civic and community engagement during turbulent times.” Members in their respective workshops came together to discuss, address, and share insights into the most pressing issues in their collective work.

After a top-notch lunch, participants dove into the “Resistance, Resilience and Healing as a Community Engagement Professional.” This session allowed members to acknowledge and process the vulnerabilities, risks, and challenges they are navigating in higher education and across communities. TRUCEN members had to select one of three sessions whose primary focus was to explore different approaches for recognizing the stressors and working towards healing and resilience. Dr. Gbaguidi selected the “Story Circles” session facilitated by Lynn Blanchard, the director of the Carolina Center for Public Service at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At that workshop, she was reminded of the power and value of storytelling as a listener and a hearer, which aligned with the presentation Lovely would be giving at Compact25. During the break, some students also gave a tour of Emory University and provided some insightful context.

Lovely joined Drs. Gbaguidi and Nelms for the first day of Compact25 on March 31 and enjoyed a powerful performance from the Atlanta Women’s Chorus.��

At the networking dinner, Dr. Gbaguidi made some connections with professionals in the field. The majority at the table shared it was their first time in Atlanta and suggested they go for a city excursion. One of the women who lived in Atlanta volunteered to take them for a city tour. Dr. Gbaguidi created a WhatsApp group to organize the outing, and the group grew from four to twelve participants from different states and institutions. It was an incredible way to engage with the Atlanta community, observe, continue the conversation, and connect with professionals in different fields.

On the last day of the conference, Lovely had the opportunity to present an author’s talk for her forthcoming book, . Drawing from over 200 stories, interviews, and photographs, this book is an in-depth study of community building at a Baltimore City farmers market. “The best way to learn about this book is to experience it,” she told the 28 conference participants in her breakout session. Participants were guided through a storytelling and art-making exchange based on the book’s Story Seeds engagements. They then used these stories to identify a shared sense of community, and brainstormed how to facilitate storytelling in their own communities on and off campus to cultivate belonging, unity, and civic engagement. Participants identified a range of applications for storytelling, including using it to facilitate connections among volunteers at a community garden; as an entrypoint for difficult dialogues; and archiving university programs. One participant said that she learned more about fellow conference attendees in the five minutes of sharing stories than three days of networking, which emphasizes the connective power of focused conversation.

In summary, TRUCEN and Compact25 were excellent opportunities for professional development, to boost the visibility of the Center for Community Engagement and �����Թ�, and to find ways to work and collaborate with others in the field. These annual conferences are just two avenues for professional development available to the University of Rochester faculty, staff, and students now that the university is a member institution. More information can be found at .

written by��Megan Lovely, CCE’s Program Manager of Community-Engaged Learning & Dr. Halima Gbaguidi, CCE’s Associate Director

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