The Community Engaged Institute for Social Change aspires to cultivate a network of social change agents who build solidarity through education, collaboration, and action.
This collaboration between the Community-Based Learning Program (CBL) and the Office of Civic Leadership Development (CLD). is an experiential learning program focused on civic engagement and social change. As a cohort, student organizers and faculty examine the past-present-future of issues impacting our communities. Participants engage in learning, teaching, and taking action together; fostering a culture of community engagement at PCC based on respectful curiosity that centers the voices of community members.
CEISC is an interdisciplinary learning community that serves as a complement to students’ classroom experience. This year-long experience gives students an opportunity to build community with instructors, engage in experiential learning around community-based issues, and develop systems-based thinking skills. Through this work, students will learn what it means to be a change agent and how they can contribute to systemic change through partnerships and coalition-building. All Civic Leadership Development Student Organizers are expected to participate as a part of their role.
CEISC is an action-oriented space for building community partnerships tied to course(s) with a CBL component. This year-long opportunity allows for instructors to integrate Community-Based Learning (CBL) into a course while developing an institutional culture of community engagement & partnership.
All full and part-time faculty teaching in PCC credit-bearing programs from any discipline are eligible to apply for the Institute. Each accepted faculty member receives a stipend for their participation during the Institute.
All cohort members participate in workshops and training around the following themes, concepts, and issues:
Social Change through a Social Justice lens
Critical Self Reflection
Civic Engagement and Community Engagement
Principles and Paradigms of Mutual Aid
Systems of Oppression, Power, and Privilege
Intended Outcomes
By participating in CEISC, students will…
Identify how their personal identities interact with community needs.
Articulate a critical consciousness perspective of community needs.
Facilitate group discussions with peers centered on community needs.
Independently research issue areas and relevant stakeholders.
Plan and implement an engagement activity that addresses a community need.
Core competencies and skills: Focal points for the student participants
Individual Identity Development
Collaboration
Communication skills (public speaking and dialogue facilitation)
Research
Planning / project management
Intended Outcomes
By participating in CEISC, faculty will…
Establish collaborative relationships with PCC Programs/Depts (i.e. the Office of Civic Leadership Development, Community-Based Learning Program) in order to engage students inside and outside of the classroom
Build an interdisciplinary community of practice with PCC students, instructors, and staff
Establish reciprocal relationships with community group/organizations for sustainable partnerships
Develop* a community-based learning assignment/project based on needs identified by community partners
*Please note that the emphasis is on designing a CBL component rather than classroom implementation during the cohort experience.
Core competencies and skills: Focal points for the faculty participants
Build reciprocal and sustainable (long-term) relationships with students and community partners
Recognize Positionality & Power Dynamics
Research through a community and social change lens
Information Literacy around social issues
Critical Reflection
Support student-driven/issue focus
Leverage PCC resources for curriculum development and course support
1-on-1 mentoring for curriculum development by the CBL Program
Funding support for community engagement activities for your CBL assignment/project (ex: program fees, community guest speakers, materials/supplies) by the Office for Civic Leadership Development
Dedicated student leader to support community partnerships and engagement related to your CBL assignment/project
Research support by PCC Librarians