Ginsberg Center staff regularly meet with local community partners in the social sector (nonprofits), civic sector (government agencies) and education sector (k-12 schools) partners in Southeast Michigan. We gather and collect their community-defined priorities to share with university partners.
Meet with Ginsberg staff to explore our database of relevant opportunities that align community-defined priorities with your:
- Teaching: topics, learning objectives, and/or discipline-specific skills
- Research: current or potential projects for you or your students
- Service: relevant opportunities to which you can lend your time and expertise
- Academic Programs: content area or skills
- Explore multiple examples of ways to connect with community-defined priorities.
- Complete our Support Request Form to set up a meeting.
How can I...
[CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITIES]
- Use our Connect2Community web portal to explore volunteer opportunities in southeast Michigan. This online portal keeps a real-time list of individual and group opportunities to meet community-identified needs. Connect2Community is managed by the Ginsberg Center in partnership with EMU's VISION Volunteer Center and the United Way of Washtenaw County.
- We know from past natural disasters and emergencies that initial waves of volunteers often become fatigued, creating the need for replenishment and respite personnel. The Covid-19 pandemic has proven to be no diffferent; so we ask that you please check the portal regularly for new opportunities to contribute to our community as needs arise and shift.
- Learn more about how to search by interests and other filters (including remote opportunities) here.
- We support collaboratives that bring together university and community partners around similar community-identified prioritities that can not only build community capacity in these areas but also give faculty and students the chance to practice skills and meet educational goals.
- As an example, the Ginsberg Center coordinates the Community Technical Assistance Collaborative (CTAC), which focuses on data and evaluation. If you are interested in learning more about CTAC, contact us at [email protected].
- We also support issue-based collaboratives, allowing university and community partners to regularly connect and strategize to support and develop ongoing partnerships.
- Contact us at [email protected] if you would like to learn more, join one of these collaboratives or explore other potential collaboratives with us.
[ESTABLISHING EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS]
- Be mindful that not all organizations’ timelines will match the University’s academic calendar, so reach out early enough to be able to work through scheduling challenges.
- To find a partner through the Ginsberg Center, we recommend contacting us at least a month in advance. Budgeting extra time to connect with partners has become even more critical as partners continue to adjust to the pandemic.
- At the first meeting, have an open conversation to discuss and establish mutually agreed upon expectations.
- We recommend documenting in writing the expectations for a partnership.
- This Summary of Expectations template may be useful to use with the organizations involved in your teaching or research.
- For support with implementing these recommendations, contact us to set up a consultation.
- If students will be working remotely, it is important to discuss what virtual engagement will look like with students and partners ahead of time – expectations, communication plans and relationship building
- Numerous community partners have shared the challenges of working with students effectively when partners have no prior knowledge about the course or program from which students are engaging.
- We recommend instructors first contact community partners, prior to having students initiate contact.
- Reach out to partners prior to the start of the class or program to provide background information including course/program objectives, hours or project. requirements involving the community partner, length of requested involvement, etc.
- Discuss with the partner how they would like to be involved.
- If you are considering asking students to find their own opportunities as part of your class and do not plan to contact community partners in advance of students initiating contact.
- Have students contact partners in the first 2 weeks of the semester, well in advance of when an assignment is due
- Have students learn more about the organization prior to initiating contact
- Provide students with a summary of the course context they can share with partners when they initiate contact, including course objectives, hours or project requirements involving the community partner
- Help prepare students to work effectively with community partners.
- The Community Engagement MOOC offers online training for ethical engagement.
- The Ginsberg Center offers additional support to prepare your students:
- We offer introductory and follow-up workshops to prepare students that can be tailored to your needs.
- Ginsberg Center staff can also work with you to support your use of the MOOC. Contact us to set up a consultation.
[MANAGING LOGISTICS]
- In recognition of the significant contributions partners make to student learning, we recommend compensating community partners for their time and effort.
- Have an open conversation with partners about how they would like to be compensated, since partners' preferences vary.
- Some partners prefer to not be compensated directly, but rather to have funds go directly to the organization. Other partners have mentioned preferring in-kind support such as volunteer hours from students or other forms of support.
- The partner/organization may also need to complete a W-9 vendor form to be listed as a vendor within the UM system. To allow funds to be directed to an organization, partners can submit an invoice detailing the service provided.
- The Ginsberg Center offers faculty grants for community engaged research and teaching in partnership with several other units on campus.
- Additional funding opportunities are also listed on the Engaged Michigan site.
- Contact us at [email protected]if you have any questions about these funding opportunities.