Community Engagement Institute

One-day event focuses on curriculum building, community partnerships, social change and advocacy 

Point Park University hosted a one-day Community Engagement Institute Sept. 6, 2019, which focused on "Building Foundations” for individuals working in higher education and community engagement.

Participants joined the Department of Community Engagement at Point Park University for a day of education, best practices and networking, and attended breakout sessions in curriculum building, campus and community partnerships, and social change and advocacy.

Amanda Wittman, the associate director for community-engaged curriculum and strategy at Cornell University presented “Finally! A Usable Methodology for Evaluating Community Impact: Ripple Effect Mapping.”

Wittman’s primary work is to support faculty and future faculty (graduate students) who are interested in community-engaged teaching and research. She also works with students and staff who find their way to the Office of Engagement Initiatives looking for a place where they can consider changing the world in positive ways. Wittman received her Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh in political science and international relations.

Meggan Lloyd, a Ph.D. in community engagement graduate student who directed the project for the department as her practicum, said the one-day event is an unprecedented opportunity to interact with other professionals in the field.

“Collaboration is vital when working towards transforming communities, and the Institute offers participants a way to network and learn from one another, as well as gain knowledge in the foundations of community engagement,” said Lloyd.

Please check back for details about the next Community Engagement Institute.