What are the responsibilities of institutions of higher education to the cities in which they reside? What creative and innovative roles can institutions play in promoting equity and flourishing, particularly in marginalized and underrepresented parts of their cities and communities? What strategies can universities use to be better partners to their surrounding communities?
During this regional event, universities, community partners, and city officials were brought together to explore the vocation of the university as it relates to the city in which it resides. City officials and community leaders shared perspectives on civic engagement at colleges and universities, and considered the impact—both positive and negative—that this work can have on the community. Using Grand Rapids as a model, participants discussed best practices and lessons learned for relationships between higher education institutions and their cities, and for explored civic engagement and place-based learning with students. An emphasis was placed on listening to community voices in order to align institutions more closely with their communities and to promote justice and flourishing within the city. Panel discussions and breakout sessions featured topics such as Hearing from and Responding to the City; Problems and Perils of Place-Based Learning; Building New Partnerships; and Finding Unity across Divides. Throughout the event, participants discussed pedagogies and institutional policies and explored case studies of engagement that they can take back to their own universities, programs, and cities. The event was hosted by Calvin University in partnership with Aquinas College and Cornerstone University.
Watch our video recap below to learn more about this event.
Schedule of Events
Thursday, May 16, 2024
5:15pm
Conference Welcome
Kevin den Dulk, Associate Provost, Calvin University
David Cunningham, Executive Director, NetVUE
5:15pm
Discussion of Shared Conference Reading
Self, World, and the Space Between: Community Engagement as Vocational Discernment
Darby Ray, Donald W. and Ann M. Harward Professor of Civic Engagement and Professor of Religious Studies, Bates College
Jason Stevens, Associate Professor of English, Cornerstone University
5:15pm
Dinner and table discussions
Dinner by The Candied Yam
Friday, May 17, 2024
8:50 am
Welcome and Introductions
Alicia Córdoba, President, Aquinas College
Kevin den Dulk, Associate Provost, Calvin University
9:00 am–10:00 am
Keynote Panel: Hearing from the City
Moderator: Kevin den Dulk, Associate Provost, Calvin University
Addie Donley, Community Organizer, Urban Core Collective
Brandon Davis, Director of Oversight and Public Accountability, City of Grand Rapids
Dennis C. Triggs II, Director for the Center of Employment and Economic Success, Urban League of West Michigan
10:15 am–11:15 am
Keynote Panel: College and University Leaders
Moderator: Katharina Häusler-Gross, Aquinas College
Alicia R. Córdoba, President, Aquinas College
Greg Elzinga, Interim President, Calvin University
Sheila Jones, Provost and Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs, Grand Rapids Community College
11:45 am–12:45 pm
Preparing Students to Engage with Unseen Communities
Moderator: Brigid Avery, Director of Career, Engaged Learning, Aquinas College
Trina Edmondson, Workforce Development Manager, Disability Advocates of Kent County
Jenn Schaub, Director of Community Building and Engagement, Dwelling Place
Joy Sparks, Executive Director, Fresh Coast Alliance
1:45 pm–2:45 pm
Breakouts: Community Organizations and their Academic Partners
Partnering on Community Health Needs
Description: This presentation will describe the 23-year impact of integrating community based participatory research into a community academic partnership between a nursing program and 4 diverse, under-resourced urban neighborhoods in Grand Rapids. Nursing faculty will share the results of researching resident driven solutions to resident identified health concerns including lack of access to health care and mental health. In addition, a community resident will share her experience of being an active participant in the partnership for nearly 10 years and the effect of this partnership on her community and herself.
Datasha Chapman, Community Member
Mary Molewyk Doornbos, Professor Emerita, Calvin University
Gail Zandee, Associate Professor of Nursing, Community Partnership Coordinator, Calvin University
Navigating College-Community Partnerships: Insights from Upcycle Bikes and Treetops Collective
Description: This session delves into the intricacies of college partnerships with community organizations like Upcycle Bikes and Treetops Collective. Attendees will explore the dynamics of navigating relationships between colleges/universities and community organizations, with a focus on sharing best practices, discussing challenges, and identifying potential pitfalls. This session promises valuable insights for those involved in or interested in fostering successful college-community partnerships.
Rick Ambruster, Executive Director, Upcycle Bikes
Jessica Bowen, Executive Director for the Center of Sustainability, Aquinas College
Suzanne Callahan, Adjunct Professor of Business Administration, Aquinas College
MaryAnne Flier, Cross-Cultural Community Manager, Treetops Collective
J. Satya Lendrum, Chair and Assistant Professor of Sociology, Aquinas College
Cards of College: A Vocation Exploration Game
Description: Aquinas College has developed an interactive tool to gamify vocational discernment and simulate the many choices for academic and community engagement during the college journey. In this session, you will have the opportunity to play the game and be inspired to create your own gamified experience. Cards of College was produced with funds from our NetVUE Vocation Across the Academies grant.
Brigid Avery, Director of Career Engaged Learning, Aquinas College
3:00 pm–4:00 pm
Keynote: Embrace Your Place So That All Flourish
Gail Heffner, Director of Community Engagement, Calvin University
1:45 pm–2:45 pm
Breakouts: Nuts and Bolts of Community Partnerships
Partnering with Nonprofits
Description: In this session, we will explore best practices for working and partnering with community partners, how to create reciprocal relationships, and hear from our student community partner coordinator. Discussion will center on some of the challenges with balancing the needs of students and of the non-profit and strategies for making this type of partnership work and how to effectively involve student voices and leadership in this work.
Annie Mas-Smith, Director of Service-Learning Center, Calvin University
Partnering with Non-English Speaking Communities
Description: This session will explore how to bridge the language gap and build partnerships with non-English speaking organizations, fostering community engagement between higher education institutions and their communities.
Michael Pasquale, Professor of Linguistics and Chair, Humanities Division, Cornerstone University
Developing a Clemente Course (for Adult Learners)
Description: This session provides an introduction to the nationwide, award-winning Clemente Course in Humanities. Clemente Courses offer free humanities courses to students 150% below the poverty line. By removing barriers such as cost, food, childcare, transportation, books, and computers, Clemente Courses offer opportunities to adult learners who have had reduced access to humanities-based higher education. The goals of Clemente Courses are to ignite student’s imaginations for education, increase civic engagement, and create pathways to bright futures for themselves and their families. This session will focus on crucial steps and best practices for starting your own Clemente Course including building community-campus partnerships and developing resources and systems for adult students at your university.
Shaq Anthony, Lead Organization Specialist, Corewell Health
Abbie Lipsker, Director of Continuing Studies, Calvin University
Martin Spence, Professor of History, Cornerstone University
Jason Stevens, Associate Professor of English, Cornerstone University
5:45 pm
Dinner
Dinner by El Globo
Saturday, May 18, 2024
9:00 am–10:15 am
Panel: Research on Community Needs
Moderator: Craig Mattson, Professor of Communication, Calvin University
Gail Zandee, Associate Professor of Nursing, Community Partnership Coordinator, Calvin University
Hennie Schoon, Visiting Professor and Social Work Field Director, Calvin University
10:30 am–11:15 am
Breakout Groups: Vocation and Community Engagement Discussion
11:30 am–12:15 pm
Can Higher Education Provide Unity Across Divides?
Noah Toly, Provost, Calvin University
12:15 am–12:30 pm
Closing Remarks
David Cunningham, Executive Director, NetVUE
12:30 pm
Boxed Lunches and Departure
This event is made possible by the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE). NetVUE is administered by the Council of Independent Colleges with generous support from Lilly Endowment Inc.