In the context of service-learning and/or internship programs during the COVID-19 era (and beyond), what does it mean to support participation and voice amongst community partners? How can global educators push students to be more critically reflective about their own positionality as it intersects with their aspirations for participatory development? This session uses case studies of student and host partner experiences to spur reflection and discussion about these crucial questions. We will discuss these cases in Zoom breakout rooms and work to brainstorm optimal responses to each situation. The session draws upon the work of Omprakash (www.omprakash.org), a Seattle-based nonprofit working to help universities build ethical global partnerships and support students with critically-reflective training and mentorship. The session will also include details about the free, open-access online learning programs that Omprakash is offering in response to COVID-19—see https://www.omprakash.org/facing-pandemic—to help universities a) engage with the pandemic from a critical, intersectional lens attentive to issues of power and inequality; 2) attend to crucial...

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many institutions had to rapidly shift from in-person to online learning. The Fusion Course aims to provide critical training and support for faculty as they adapt to online teaching and offers instruction for how to integrate community engagement methodologies into existing curricula to improve the quality of course delivery and foster student engagement. Through this faculty development course, learn how to infuse community-based learning into online courses to give students hands-on, real-world experience that will strengthen learning, create connections to the larger community, and improve student retention rates. Three sessions will be offered this summer: July 13-24 July 28-31 (accelerated one-week session) August 3-14 Questions? Contact Sally at sally@mainecompact.org.

In this interactive webinar, we will highlight promising practices in building community-engaged experiences and courses online. Webinar presenters will comment on a range of topics, including: reimagining face-to-face civic and community engagement in an online environment incorporating effective learning design, digital tools, and assessments engaging community partners, students, and other stakeholders through online platforms naming and addressing barriers to access including how racial disparities and bias are encoded online a Q&A with participants related to community-engaged learning online in the context of COVID-19 Several of the participants contributed to E-Service Learning: Creating Experiential Learning and Civic Engagement Through Online and Hybrid Courses edited by Katherine Nordyke and Jean Strait (Stylus, 2016), and participants in the webinar will receive a discount code for the book.

webDemocracy works best when all perspectives are included, but college students face unique barriers to participating in civic life. This panel will present how the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement and Dukes Vote are building the capacity of students as they lead 2020 Census and voter engagement initiatives. Presenters will discuss how students developed and implemented a campus civic engagement plan and what they’ve learned as best practices and strategies for achieving full participation even in a time of global crisis. Nonpartisan campus-wide student-led civic engagement initiatives are central components to lifelong participation in democratic self-governance. The presentation will consist of a panel of JMU students that have first-hand experience building and implementing a campus civic engagement action plan. Participants will be introduced to best practices for conducting census outreach (deadline for response extended to October 31, 2020), and voter education and mobilization, and developing and advocating contingencies during a time of global crisis that prevents in-person social interactions....

wIn response to COVID-19 and the call from community partners in Tampa Bay, the University of South Florida’s Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships moved quickly to facilitate collaborations for online mentoring and tutoring. By utilizing resources at the University and community organizations’ close ties to families in Hillsborough County, a new pathway to prevent K-12 learning loss during COVID-19 emerged. USF’s College of Education recognized the urgency for practicum students and student tutor employees to continue learning and working during the pandemic. College of Education (COEDU) students were connected with local community organizations to host online tutoring and mentoring sessions with K-12 youth. The central mission of the program was to prevent K-12 learning loss during COVID-19 in Tampa Bay while COEDU students continued their education and employment in the spring/summer semesters. Key stakeholders across the University also provided support to transition from in-person to online K-12 student support. These efforts sought to build the foundation for an online...