As an offshoot of the HEIF grant work, this initiative focuses on the necessity of centering equity in community engagement practices. Stemming from a central argument of our Critically Engaged Civic Learning research, this initiative also argues that the term “service-learning” is problematic as it invokes inequitable power dynamics that inherently privilege one group over another, with more privileged groups providing “service” to marginalized groups. This initiative seeks to weave together a larger national conversation among community engaged faculty and practitioners to de-center the idea of service from our language and practices, recover the multifaceted histories of deep and rich approaches to community engagement, and uphold a central lens on equitable practices that not only benefit students and universities, but also community partners, community members, and communities writ large.

Presentations

Baker, A., Lynch, C., Reiff, J., Smarr, R., Vincent, C., & Ward, E. (2022). Centering Equity in Civic Engagement Praxis and Language: Meeting the Moment. Plenary session presented at the Campus Compact Compact22 Conference.

Vincent, C., Lynch, C., & Ward, E. (2022). Where is the Equity in Service-Learning and the Field of Civic Engagement? Virtual session presented at 108th AAC&U Annual Meeting.

Vincent, C., Lynch, C., & Moore, S. (2021). The Future of Service-Learning: Why Are We Still Using This Language? Virtual session presented at the International Association for Research on Service-Learning & Community Engagement virtual gathering.