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.