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Volume 5, Issue 10 December 19, 2023

Melissa Calabrese and Sarah Toothman |


Blue and Yellow logo: West Virginia University Center for Community Engagement

ACADEMIC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT NEWSLETTER

Volume 5, Issue 10

December 19, 2023
 
The WVU Center for Community Engagement (CCE) aims to leverage university knowledge and resources to support effective partnerships with communities that enhance discovery through community-engaged teaching, scholarship, and action. The Center supports faculty, staff, and students in working with external partners to meet reciprocal and mutually beneficial needs and advance WVU’s land grant mission.
With much to celebrate, we send wishes for a wonderful conclusion of the Fall 2023 semester. Once again, we are reminded that beautiful things happen when people come together to accomplish something bigger than themselves.  We want to express our gratitude to you and our community in this endeavor.

Thursday, December 21, is Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year!  Many cultures have celebrations this month that focus on light, hope, and meaning at this special natural moment in the year which is defined by darkness.  It's a chance to retreat, reflect, and replenish.  This is the season of coming closer to the rhythms and mysteries of life beyond our distractions -- it is one of the many gifts of hibernation.  

We've included resources in this newsletter to help you consider your academic community engagement practice. Please view our website and contact the CCE for more resources to guide your reflective practice.

Season's Greetings! However you spend this moment, we are wishing you joy.  The Center for Community Engagement will continue to be here for you in the new year with resources, connections, and support.
Text: Fall 2023 Achievements. The notable achievements of our community engaged scholars for the Fall 2023 semester. WVU Center for Community Engagement. 2648 Student Volunteers. 32468 Total hours. 849901 Impact Value. iServe. Do good. be better. go first.
    / Experience Service & Learning 
WVU CCE and WVU Honors College at Falling Run
The WVU Center for Community Engagement played a key role this semester in supporting The Honors College at West Virginia University Foundations program, fostering connections between 800+ honors students and their peer mentors with community partners.
 
Check out our latest video showcasing a unique service opportunity with WVU Falling Run and FirstEnergy Corp , where Honors students make a meaningful difference.
 
See more CCE initiatives here.
    / Attention Instructors 
A group of college students stand around a table while discussing a project.
Are you planning to facilitate a
service-learning course this Spring?
Fill out this form: 
https://bit.ly/46WUFju
    / Community Engagement Expo
The WVU CCE Community Engagement Expo (formally known as the Volunteer Fair) will be held Thursday, January 18th in the Mountainlair from 10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Students, Faculty, and staff are encouraged to attend to learn more about local service opportunities with non-profits and community organizations.
Community Engagement Expo. Photo of WVU students standing in a group outside. Text: Students, we want you to come meet our awesome Community Partners! Learn more about: Service/volunteer opportunities. Service learning projects. Internships. Community-based research. and more! Thursday, January 18, 10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Vandalia Lounge, Mountainlair
    / Academic Community Engagement Consultations
The Center for Community Engagement (CCE) works with faculty, instructors, staff, and graduate students within all disciplines to design or refine community engaged courses, programs, and reasearch.  The CCE is a resource hub; we aim to support your efforts in shaping impactful experiences for your students and partners.   

You're invited to schedule a conversation with the Academic Community Engagement team.
AmeriCorps West Virginia logo, blue and white
    / AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps VISTAs assist with building capacity and supporting the mission of host sites.  AmeriCorps VISTA members use their skills to develop, enhance, and sustain engagement programs.

VISTA members are awarded to West Virginia University, WVU Beckley, WVU Keyser, and Extension Service departments, colleges, and programs, including non-academic departments and programs.

Go to the Center for Community Engagement - AmeriCorps website to learn more about open positions or to become a host site.
 
/ iServe Support

WVU Faculty, staff, students, and community partners may schedule a 1:1 iServe consultation for personalized support with navigating the special features of WVU's volunteer management system.  Book your appointment by emailing iserve@mail.wvu.edu. 
 
/ Community Outreach  and Resources

Strong community partnerships take time to develop. Jumpstart your Community Engaged course or project by contacting the Center for Community Engagement today!
We gathered some innovative external opportunities to inform and support your community engagement work, and to share your perspective on important topics.
    / Curated Reading
Reframing Community Engagement in Higher Education
Edited by Elana Klaw, Andrea Tully, Elaine K. Ikeda
This book addresses assumptions and challenges inherent within community engagement as a catalyst for developing student's sense of civic responsibility at a time of social polarization. 


Self-Reflection Rubric for Inclusive Teaching 
Joe Brandy and Patti H. Clinton, Oct. 25, 2023
This rubric shared by IARSLCE overviews the pedagogy for inclusive teaching in service-learning courses.  It is intended to serve as a reflective formative function in one's self-assessment, not a summative one as part of any formal peer- or institutional review of an instructor's teaching. We hope it will help instructors reflect upon where their teaching is now, and where they might like it to be in the future.  
    / Request for Proposals
Democracy Renewal Project 2023 
Public Agenda seeks to support this movement to renew democracy with evidence of achieving full access to electoral participation for all citizens while strengthening trust and confidence in elections. 
Deadline: Jan. 15, 2024

Association for Advancing Participatory Sciences
Request for 2024 Symposia Speakers (Virtual)
This conference will build upon equitable partnerships; moving from data to impact; and discoveries and new frontiers. 
Deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
 
ARIS Creating a Toolkit for Advancing Research Impacts in Society
The Journal for Community Engagement and Scholarship and the Center for Advancing Research Impacts in Society invites submission of original manuscripts for a special issue presenting the challenges and opportunities in supporting Broader Impacts (BI). 
Notification Deadline: Jan 16, 2024
Manuscripts Due: March 19, 2024
2024 Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Meeting
The 2024 Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Meeting will facilitate exchanges of knowledge and develop a sense of community around our shared civic learning and democratic work. 
Deadline: Feb 5, 2024

Policy Research to Advance the Inclusion of Immigrant Families and Children
Policies for Action has issued a call for proposals focused on research about policies that can contribute to the full social, economic, and civic inclusion of immigrant families in American society. 
Deadline: Feb. 16, 2024, 3:00 P.M. (EST)

ASA Teaching and Learning Symposium 
"Intersectional Solidarities: Building Communities of Hope, Justice, and Joy"
Seeking submissions that address sociology's ability to convey knowledge, research critically, and offer solutions and interventions that social problems through teaching and learning in the classroom and beyond. 
Deadline: Feb, 26, 2024
    / Grants and Awards
Advancing the Science of Engagement PCORI Funding Announcement 
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute intends to release a PCORI Funding Announcement (PFA), seeking to fund studies that build an evidence-based engagement in research.
Deadline: Jan 9, 2024

NEA Big Read
Applications are now open for grants to support NEA Big Read projects between September 2024 and June 2025. NEA Big Read supports community reading programs designed around a single NEA Big Read book. The goal of this program is to inspire meaningful conversations, celebrate local creativity, elevate a wide variety of voices and perspectives, and build stronger connections in each community. Matching grants range from $5,000 to $20,000 each.
Deadline: January 10, 2024  

HHS Environmental Justice Community Innovator Challenge
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) and the Office of Minority Health (OMH) are seeking community-led strategies and tools to address health disparities in communities disproportionately impacted by environmental risks and hazards including those related to climate change, and the cumulative impacts of other stressors.
Deadline: Phase 1 | Jan. 30, 2024
Sparking Early Literacy Growth Grant Opportunity
The West Virginia Public Education Collaborative and Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation are looking for transformational ideas to pilot or expand projects that can improve reading and writing skills in West Virginia children. This includes communities and public organizations. 
Intent Form Due: Feb. 1, 2024

E4A Funding Opportunity: Indigenous-Led Solutions to Advance Health Equity and Wellbeing
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will award up to $4 million in grants through the Evidence for Action program to support research driven by Indigenous communities focused on advancing "upstream" solutions to promote health equity and well-being for Indigenous Peoples.
Briefs Due: March 1, 2024
 
EPA grants to support environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges. 
Deadline Nov. 21, 2024
    / Events, Workshops, and Conferences
Campus Compact's 2024 National Conference
"Compact 24, Now is the Moment Conference"
Theme: Higher Education Civic & Community Engagement as the Way Forward
Date: April 7-10, 2024 in Denver, CO. 

AASCU 2024 Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Meeting
This conference will facilitate exchanges of knowledge and develop a sense of community around our shared civic learning and democratic engagement work.
Date: June 5-7, 2024 | Detroit, MI
View more opportunities on the CCE webpage: 
https://communityengagement.wvu.edu/faculty-staff/opportunities
Please share updates about your Academic Community Engaged efforts by emailing serveandlearn@mail.wvu.edu or by filling out this Qualtrics form:  https://wvu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2gfaFOE62FiFfQq

The Center for Community Engagement team members are committed to:

  • Facilitating faculty and academic staff   in integrating civic and community engagement experiences seamlessly into their coursework, research, and programs.
  • Empowering students   to actively participate in positive change by providing opportunities for social action, leadership development, and meaningful engagement with civic and community initiatives.
  • Cr eating connections   between community organizations and dedicated students, faculty, and staff who share a common goal of promoting positive social change
Did you receive this Academic Community Engagement Newsletter from someone else? You can subscribe here . 
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The 2023 - 2024 WVU A.C.E. newsletters are developed by the A.C.E. team, including Melissa Calabrese (ACE Coordinator) and Sarah Toothman (AmeriCorps Service Learning VISTA).  Mason Arbogast (Civic Engagement Coordinator) and Alicia Erjavec (AmeriCorps Data VISTA) provide the data about community engagement.  We love hearing from you!  Please contact us if you have questions or suggestions about the newsletter content.

WVU Center for Community Engagement
serveandlearn@mail.wvu.edu
(304) 293-8762

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