ABCD Institute Training: An Introduction to ABCD
August 17, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. CST
August 24, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. CST
September 7, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. CST
September 14, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. CST
ACU/DePaul Online Conference on Community Engagement & Service-Learning: Pandemic, Pivots and Potentials Call for Abstracts deadline
August 15 (USA) / 16 (AUS) Online Conference
October 5-7, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. (USA) / October 6-8, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. (AEDT)
Save the Date: ACU & DePaul Online Conference on Community Engagement and Service-Learning: Pandemic, Pivots and Potentials
Australian Catholic University with DePaul University will host an online Conference on Community Engagement and Service Learning: Pandemic, Pivots and Potentials.
October 4-6 (USA) / 5-7 (AUS) 2021
Delivered over three* morning (AUS)/evening (USA) sessions, this online conference aims to explore the current ‘state of play’ for universities in responding to the challenges and opportunities for service-learning and university-community engagement in a ‘post-COVID’ world while taking the time to reflect on the responses and learnings from the efforts of the field during the pandemic.
Two years on from the inaugural ACU and DePaul Conference on Community Engagement and Service-Learning it is fair to say the world has changed substantially within and beyond the walls of universities. The global COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many of our ways of doing and being, and this includes university education. Those practicing service-learning and university-community engagement have been challenged to respond rapidly to the new landscape while being sensitive to the challenges of community partners.
With these challenges however there have also been opportunities for new ways of working together in partnership for the common good and social justice. This includes curriculum-based opportunities as well as research and scholarship Call for abstracts - Closes 15 August USA / 16 August AUS
Submit an abstract
We welcome the submission of abstracts for presentations related to the praxis, research, and scholarship of community engagement and service-learning.
Abstracts are to be limited to 250 words and presentations will be 20 minutes in duration. There will also be opportunities for a virtual poster presentation session. For details about the call for abstracts, please click here.
To submit an abstract, please send your abstract in word document format, with an abstract title in Times New Roman 12pt font with double spacing to acuengagement@acu.edu.au with the subject header ‘2021 Conference Abstract Submission’. Please also mention any plans to present with students and/or partners and if planning to use any technology (e.g., online polling or note boards).
Submissions close:
• AUS - Midnight (AEST) Monday 16 August 2021
• USA - 9am (CDT) Sunday 15 August 2021
More information and formal invitations to come.
We hope to see you online.
The Steans Center formed 20 years ago this year, bringing under one umbrella the Steans Center, Egan Office and ABCD Institute. As part of our celebration, we're taking a look back at different events and programs through the years. This month's flashback and flashforward is on Jumpstart, which was featured in our Fall 2007 newsletter.
Jumpstart began in 2003-2004 with 20 students at two preschools. Nearly 20 years later it is going strong under Jumpstart Site Manager Jeanette Estrada, with 23 students at 6 preschools contributing 300 community service hours per year. "The article mentioned Erie Neighborhood House and due to COVID we couldn’t partner with them virtually during the 20-21 year," Jeanette said. "We did, however, create newsletters for the teachers to implement the Jumpstart activities. The newsletters included videos of the Jumpstart tutors reading and each classroom received the materials needed. We were able to serve their 7 classrooms this way." Those classrooms are in addition to the 6 preschools they work with.
Fun Jumpstart fact: Jeanette began with the program as an undergraduate in 2010-2011, was Team Leader in 2012-2013 and 2014-15 and now is the Site Manager. Thanks for the dedication and amazing work, Jeanette!
Egan Student Spotlight - Jennifer Honeycutt
As the Schools Team Program Coordinator at DePaul, Jennifer oversees recruitment efforts, provides support to Egan's tutors and School Community organizers, and co-creates, develops, and implements events and programs. Jennifer works closely with the Council of Elders, which works with Egan’s staff and students to share their collective wisdom and knowledge to reinforce the vision and mission statement of The Egan Office. She began her work with The Egan Office as a tutor/mentor in the East Garfield Park neighborhood and quickly found herself inspired by the organization’s asset-based approach to community organizing.
Jennifer’s background is in comedy and theatre, having originally moved from Kansas to Chicago to complete her studies at the Second City Conservatory. However, her work at DePaul has instilled in her an unexpected passion for data, research, and analytics. She is active in the College of Communication’s Media Engagement Lab and serves as VP of Digital on the executive board of DePaul’s Public Relations Student Society of America chapter.
Jennifer received her BA in Public Relations & Advertising at DePaul and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Business Analytics at DePaul’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. Her research interests currently lie primarily in finding ways to use established marketing and public relations tactics to find solutions for pressing social issues.
Steans Student Spotlight - Libby Shafer
Graduate student Libby Shafer is working to save the Rusty Patched Bumblebee. A Harrison I. Steans graduate fellow, Libby launched Evanston Host Plant Initiative to help conserve the buzzy pollinator.
Libby and her work were featured in DePaul's Newsline last month; read the complete article here.
ABCD Institute Training: An Introduction to ABCD
The ABCD Institute is excited to announce and invite you to join us for our online summer workshop: An Introduction to ABCD!
What A dynamic 18-hour workshop introducing the core principles and applications of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) in the context of local communities. Presentations and discussions will occur in light of current conversations about equity and social justice and will enable participants to think deeper about responses to these challenges.
When and Where
August 17, 2021 - 9 am - 2 pm CST
August 24, 2021 - 9 am - 2 pm CST
September 7, 2021 - 9 am - 2 pm CST
September 14, 2021 - 9 am - 2 pm CST
Each session will include a half hour lunch break.
This will be a virtual training via Zoom and will meet over four Tuesdays with a break between the 3rd and 4th sessions. Participants are encouraged to attend all 4 sessions for group continuity.
Who Should Attend
People who seek an introduction to or refresher of ABCD in the context of communities of identity and place and want to know:
• How can my organization more actively support the concerns and efforts of local people?
• How does a community move toward a wider circle of people working together to realize goals?
• How do I make ABCD work in my neighborhood? Workshop Leaders The course will be led by three experienced ABCD Stewards affiliated with the ABCD Institute at DePaul University – Darryl Answer, Seva Gandhi and Brianne Peters. The Co-Founder of the ABCD Institute, John McKnight, will also make a guest presentation. Click on names for bios. Registration Fee Institution Based Practitioner - Large: $800 Employees of a non-profit whose annual budget is greater than $1 million. Institution Based Practitioner - Small : $600 Employees of a non-profit whose annual budget is less than $1 million. Community Based Practitioner - $450 Individuals who are not funded by an institution.
A limited number of partial scholarships are available and will be reviewed through an application process. Contact Kim Hopes, , for more information about scholarship applications. Please do not let finances stop you, if you want to be here - we want to have you!
Maximum Number of Registrants 25 participants on a first come, first served basis - register early!
Go to our Eventbrite site to complete your registration.
The Egan Office Team at Charles R. Henderson Elementary
Egan Office End-of-School Events
The Egan Office celebrated the end of the school year with events organized by their School and Community Organizers Josean Amill, Jonathan Dudley and Angela Guernica at Ericson Elementary (books and tote bags for summer reading), Charles R Henderson Elementary (games, face-painting, tasty food and more), Charles R. Nixon (Sixth Grade celebration).
Congratulations to all the students on a great year, and thank you to Angela, Jonathan and Josean for all your hard work on this and everything else!
Listening, being curious, is DeAmon Harges’ gift. It’s in his DNA. And like any good gift, the more he uses it, the more it expands, the greater the impact. When he listens, when he is curious and asks questions, he is better for it. His neighbor is better. His community is better. The world is better. His story reminds us to pay attention to the gifts within us and in each other, and as leaders, to pay attention to the gifts in our organizations and then to lean into those gifts.
Collaboratory Spotlight - CbSL Faculty Course-Based Community Engagement
Community-based Service Learning faculty are engaging students in communities through their course placements, and sharing it in Collaboratory. CbSL faculty participating in Collaboratory on-boarding sessions this Spring had the opportunity to add their community engagement activities to the Collaboratory portal; these entries focus on activities directly connected to their courses and completed by students placed at community organizations throughout the Chicago area.
Log-in and read about the ways in which community engagement is occurring through CbSL courses from these faculty and their activities:
Jennifer Whitelaw, Modern Languages, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences - Intercambio: Exchange of Language and Culture
Ester Trujillo, Latin America & Latino Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences - Cultural Capital Site Collaboration
Olya Glantsman, Center for Community Research, College of Science and Health - Collaborative Research to Support Justice Work.
If you'd like to learn more about Collaboratory, the university’s portal for collecting community engagement and public service activities, please contact Steans Center Associate Director Barbara Smith at bsmith@depaul.edu.
Steans Center Blog
The Steans Center has a blog! Check out the latest here.
If you missed this year's Service Speaks conference, you can catch it there, or click here to watch it on YouTube. Follow us on all your favorite platforms!
Steans Center Associate Director Helen Damon-Moore offers one on one consultations for Community-based Service Learning courses. In CbSL Workshop 101, we:
• Identify evidence-based best practices for teaching community-based service learning;
• Reflect on your beliefs about teaching and learning in the classroom and community;
• Consider the theoretical frameworks for community-based service learning;
• Discuss the types of service learning (direct service, project-based, advocacy, community based research, on-line, GLE);
• Consider the importance of reflection, cultural identity, and authentic partnerships of service learning; and
• Discuss a course or other teaching strategy that strengthens student learning and honors community partnerships.
Get national recognition for your community engagement work!
Each year, Impact Awards are given to faculty, community engagement professionals, and academic institutions who have demonstrated excellence in higher education civic and community engagement work and helped advance the public purposes of higher education. Individuals may be nominated by a colleague or submit an application on their own behalf. Applications due 9/15.
