Community engagement spotlight: seeds, weeds and earthly needs
In June, Assistant Professor of Health and Human Services Finn Bell wrapped up the first semester of the brand new course Seeds, Weeds and Earthly Needs: Collectively Surviving the Climate Crisis. Over a celebratory potluck dinner, students presented oral histories gathered from community members. The oral histories provided insight on how nearby communities have evolved over time, with themes of resilience and collectivism. Thanks to Assistant Professor Bell and alum Sasha Kindred for facilitating this course and providing such a great example of how to value the lived experiences of our community members.
Ask OCEL: How soon should I engage a community partner for an upcoming research project, grant application or course?
National best practices encourage faculty to have formed a relationship with a community partner before a research or teaching opportunity arises. We realize this ideal may not always be possible, so the next best answer is as soon as possible. Our most successful engaged faculty seek support from OCEL at least one semester in advance for community-based coursework and at least six months in advance for federal grant submissions. This advanced planning allows OCEL to best connect you to a community partner and, if necessary, other service units on campus to support you. It also allows for your potential community partner to co-create the project with you and participate in shared goal development and decision making.
C萝莉社U registration is open
Early bird registration for the annual Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities conference is open The conference will take place Oct. 26-29, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. Attendees will benefit from panel discussions, roundtables and community experiences designed to teach the latest best practices in higher education community engagement. 萝莉社-Dearborn is a member institution and is eligible for early bird pricing and a 15% team discount if five or more 萝莉社-Dearborn affiliates register. While OCEL cannot support registration fees, we can coordinate the 15% team discount. Please email Molly Manley if you鈥檙e interested in attending the conference this year.
