Empowering Students to be Leaders

Civic Engagement through Community Partnerships

Mary Jo Guerico, Ed.D. – Community College of Allegheny County – Pittsburgh, PA

Diane McMahon, Ph.D. – Allegany College of Maryland – Cumberland, MD

The 26th Annual Conference of the Association of Faculties for the Advancement of Community College

Teaching, hosted by the College of Southern Maryland, La Plata, MD

January 7 and 8, 2016

Our BackgroundWe recently worked together at a

Peace and Justice Center in Pittsburgh, PA

called the Thomas Merton Center (TMC).

Mary Jo Guercio is a recent past TMC board

president and works as a Director/Instructor at

Community College in Allegheny County, PA.

Diane McMahon is a past TMC director and works

as a Director/Instructor at Allegany College of

Maryland in Cumberland, MD.

The two presenters founded a nationally known

student advocacy and leadership program at the

Thomas Merton Center.

Together they worked to provide “in the field”

civic engagement activities for students,

professors and grassroots organizers. In our experience students, community

organizers, and professors are looking for ways

to work together for economic and

environmental justice, peace and human rights.

TMC Anti-war march in 2003

that attracted 5000 people

In Pittsburgh, PA.

There is no peace without justice.

And there is no justice without a shared

nonviolent values-driven strategy.

CITIZEN ENGAGMENT

• Strategies that connect students, faculty, organizers, and community leaders, within a political and/or collaborative process designed to improve relationships and overall quality of life for all people.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP

• Connect students with civic engagement experiences that

focus on real life community challenges.

• Provide context (exploration of underlying issues,

decision-making processes and the evolution of power

dynamics) and;

• Work from a values-based framework focusing on

nonviolence, conflict-resolution, and compassionate

solutions that include the voice and leadership of people

being impacted by the problem.

COMMUNITY COLLABORATERS

• Seek out collaborators who focus on real life community

challenges.

• Develop a relationship that supports their objectives.

• Build projects that allow students to take on leadership

roles in designing community interventions.

• Provide context, support, and connect to intended

learning and community outcomes.

• Engage in feedback and reflection with partners.

IGNITE A PASSION FOR JUSTICE

Exploration of our passion for

social justice requires

intentional investigation of

values, beliefs and worldviews

before we begin to work on

solutions.

- Student learning process

- Collaborator conversations

Photo by Robert Lee Bailey

December 7, 2014

“Black Lives Matter”

University of Pittsburgh

Killing of black people by law enforcement officers.

Develop a

Values-Based

Framework

TEACHING FOR CHANGE

- Statistics show rising incidents of black people being

unjustly killed by police officers.

- RESEARCH (“Picking Up the Pieces” ACLU)

- Reflect on the findings related to location of power,

historical events, personal and community impact.

- REFLECT

- Explore underlying values related to how community

organizers are approaching the problem.

- AND FOCUS ON VALUES FRAMEWORK

CHALLENGES TO CONSIDER

Long Term Transformation vs. Short Term Reaction

Value-Based Framework

• Nonviolence

• Solution Focused

• Relationship Building

• Engage the Community

• Seek System Changes

Legislation

Training & Education

Awareness Raising

WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS US

• Social justice and involvement in community issues strengthens student engagement and multicultural competence.

(Einfield and Collins, 2008)

• The desire to impact the world in a positive way unites and drives learning for students, faculty and communities at the local and global level.

(Eyler, Giles Jr., Stenson, Gray, 2001)

• Engagement in real world issues and local concerns enhances and strengthens student leadership skills. (Ostrander, 2004)

…Engage students in opportunities to impact change at

the local, national and global level.

Professor Bill McKibben

Middlebury College, Vermont

Founder of 350.org.

People’s Climate March – September 21, 2014400,000 NYC

Look for

partners that

approach

Community

challenges

using a values-

based

framework

that students

can become

actively

engaged in.

Relate the Global to the Local

Students

from Frostburg

University

organizing to

stop local

fracking efforts

in Western

Maryland

February 27, 2014

Cumberland, MDChesapeake Climate Action Network – Maryland

…we help connect campus groups and student organizers

with action opportunities, strategic support and trainings.

Strategic Approaches….

- Student Interests / Clubs

- Join Organizing Campaigns

- Democracy Dialogues

- Community Forums

- Leadership Trainings

- Local Organizing Efforts

- Involvement in national

initiatives (350.org)

Powershift – Pittsburgh PA 2015

National Organizing Events

MLK Jr. 50th Anniversary March - August 28, 2013 250,000 attending

Potential Collaborator - American Friends Service Committee – working on ending racism

STUDENTS AS CHANGEMAKERS

Greensboro Four - Four African-American

students from North

Carolina Agricultural and

Technical State University

organized a nonviolent

protest at a segregated

Woolworth’s lunch counter

after watching a movie

about Gandhi. This action

was a major milestone in

the civil rights movement.

PBS Documentary - FEBRUARY ONE: The Story of the Greensboro Four

What are students PASSIONATE about?

Many things!! (Kumashiro, 2015)

• Peace and Nonviolence

Ending the Wars

• Economic Justice

Fair Wages / College Costs

• Human Rights

Prison / Human Rights Abuse / Racism

• Environmental Justice

Global Warming / The Future of the Planet

Prepare students to lead and organize for current and future challenges.

Community Colleges PriorityEngage, Retain, Graduate

• Students who participate in civic engagement learn more academic content (Gallini and Moely 2003).

• Cvically engaged students learn higher-order skills—including critical thinking, writing, communication, mathematics, and technology—at more advanced levels of aptitude (Cress 2004).

• Civic engagement increases students’ emotional intelligence and motivates them toward conscientious community action (Bernacki and Jaeger 2008).

• To be effective, civic engagement must be intentionally integrated into curricular and cocurricular learning goals. Students who are forced to volunteer or provide service can become resentful (Sylvester 2011),

Cultivate Leadership Traits

• Commitment and Perseverance

• Sharing of Time, Talent and Energy

• Awareness of Local and Global Challenges and Quality of Life

• Viewing the World from Another’s Perspective (Diversity)

• Learning from Failures and Continuing to Work for Change

• Humility, Wisdom, Integrity, and Authenticity

• Positive Outlook in a World Filled with Negativity

• Focus on a Strategy and Vision for Long-term Change

Empowering student leaders

Triangulate Teaching Strategy

• Promote Student Interest in Social Change

• Research Local and/or Global Challenges

• Explore Student / Local Context

• Connect to Collaborators

• Help Create Student Projects

• Research

• Reflect

• Focus on Values

STUDENT

PASSION

LEADERSHIP

SKILL SETS

LEARNING

AND

COMMUNITY

OUTCOMES

LEARNING PROCESS

• Engage: I’M PASSIONATE AND CONCERNED ABOUT…?

• CLASS ASSIGNMENT/PROJECT• Take time to find out what your students / faculty are passionate about

• Spend time at a nonprofit working on the issue

• Hold an activity/forum on the topic to raise awareness

• LOOK FOR POTENTIAL LOCAL/NATIONAL COLLABORATORS • 350.org

• Sierra Club

• NAACP

• Human Rights Coalition

IN THE CLASSROOM

• FOCUS ON INFORMATION GATHERING

• Survey the students to see what they are interested in

• Assign tasks that help them learn more about the topic

• Meet with experts in the community and find out how you can collaborate

• LIFT UP CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

• Ask students to create a project that will address community challenge

• Provide support and foundation to meet the project goals

• Ensure students are leading the process – speaking out – organizing for change

• REFLECT AND STRATEGIZE

• Assess and reflect on short term outcomes. Explore long-term strategy and

values. Give students the tools they need to continue working on their goals.

STUDENT LEARNING APPROACHES

• Discipline Based Commitment - (part of your major)

• Problem Based - (work on a particular community need)

• Capstone Work - (community need plus learning objectives)

• Service Internship - 10-20 hrs a week (on-going w/guidance)

• Small Group Action Projects - student / community research

• Extra Credit / Directed Study – individual arrangement made with instructor oversight.

Vanderbilt University · The Center for Teaching

FINDING COLLABORATORS

• Where to find civically engaged partners?

• What issues need to be addressed in the community?

• Find partners that are already addressing them

• Dialogue around shared valued and resource opportunities

• Explore partnership potential - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT)

• Build trusting relationships with your partners

• Create a shared set of guiding principals

• Engage students, faculty, and college administrators in the plan

SHARED PASSION AROUND THE ISSUES BIND COLLABORATIONS

FUNDING COLLABORATIONS

Collaborations are more likely to be funded then single organizations

• Foundations increasingly ask for grants to be joint collaborations

Colleges can help meet the research objectives of projects.

Students can conduct community surveys, participant observation, and data

research

• Faculty are often experts in specific disciplines

Partners that have been engaged in community and global civic

engagement issues are more likely to know about funding sources.

Political decision-makers may be able to assist in finding resources.

Colleges can help create white papers that are well documented and

researched which helps with funding efforts.

Questions and Answers

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bernacki, Matthew L., and Elizabeth Jaeger. 2008. “Exploring the Impact of Service Learning on Moral

Development and Moral Orientation.” Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning 14 (2): 5–15.

Cress, Christine M. 2004. “Critical Thinking Development in Service-Learning Activities: Pedagogical

Implications for Critical Being and Action.” Inquiry: Critical Thinking Across the Disciplines 23, 87–93.

Einfeld, A., & Collins, D. (2008). The relationships between service-learning, social justice, multicultural

competence, and civic engagement. Journal of College Student Development, 49, 95-109.

Eyler, J. S., Giles, Jr. D. E., Stenson, C. M., & Gray, C. J. (2001). At a Glance: What we know about the effects

of service-learning on college students, faculty, institutions and communities, 1993-2000 (3rd ed.). Nashville,

TN: Vanderbilt University.

Gallini, Sara, and Barbara Moely. 2003. “Service-Learning and Engagement, Academic Challenge, and

Retention.” Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning 10(1): 5–14.

Ostrander, S. A. (2004). Democracy, civic participation, and the university: A comparative study of civic

engagement on five campuses. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 33, 74-93.

Sylvester, Dari E. 2011. “Student Objection to Service-Learning: A Teachable Moment about Political and

Community Engagement.” In Cress and Donahue, Democratic Dilemmas of Teaching Service-Learning, 55–57.

RESOURCES

Civic Engagement and Student Success: A Resonant Relationship

http://www.diversityweb.org/DiversityDemocracy/vol15no3/vol15no3.pdf

Service Learning for Social Change: A Curriculum Development Workbook

https://reason.kzoo.edu/servicelearning/assets/7351_SL_for_Social_Change.pdf

Beyond the Usuals: Ideas to Encourage Broader Public Engagement in Community Decision Making

http://ncdd.org/rc/item/10141

Planning for Stronger Local Democracy

http://www.nlc.org/Documents/Find%20City%20Solutions/Research%20Innovation/Governance-Civic/planning-for-stronger-local-democracy-gid-nov11.pdf

Advancing Civic Learning and Engagement in Democracy: A Call to Action

https://www.ed.gov/sites/default/files/road-map-call-to-action.pdf

Ted Talks – online talks from experts focusing on social justice issues –www.ted.com

CONTACT INFORMATION

Mary Jo Guercio, Ed.D. Community College of Allegheny County (Pittsburgh, PA)

College Director, Community Training and Development

Mguercio@ccac.edu

Diane S. McMahon, Ph.D.Allegany College of Maryland (Cumberland, MD)

Service Learning / Civic Engagement Director

DMcMahon@allegany.edu