About the Center for Community-Based Partnerships
An initiative of the Division of Community Affairs, the Center for Community-Based Partnerships’ role is to connect faculty, staff, students and community partners in research-based projects designed to solve critical problems identified collaboratively by community members and the University.
All academic disciplines are represented on a Council made up of campus and community members. The Council’s various committees oversee project funding, conduct an awards program, propose methods to integrate teaching and research, and seek outside funding “all with the goal of fulfilling the Center’s motto: “Engaging Communities and Changing Lives.”
CCBP’s functions revolve around the work of four offices:
Community Education
The vision of Community Education is to support the mission of Community Affairs by developing knowledge-based leaders and scholars who use creativity and research to produce positive outcomes at multiple levels — individual, group, community, state, nation, and world. Major projects include the Parent Teacher Leadership Academy, the STEM Entrepreneurship Academy, Swim to the Top, and Vision Days.
Contact
Dr. Daniela Susnara, dsusnara@ua.edu
BLAST Academy is a four-week summer learning and enrichment program developed and administered by the University of Alabama’s Division of Community Affairs and College of Education on the University of Alabama campus. The program’s objectives are to enhance student’s academic learning, physical well-being and to promote social, emotional, and life skill development.
Contact
Andrea Ziegler, amziegler@ua.edu
The success of the program depends on deep commitment by the entire educational community in Alabama, including superintendents, state Department of Education officials, principals, teachers, and UA faculty and students. PTLA received a national Magna Award in 2013 from the American School Board Journal and the National School Boards Association for outstanding contributions to public education.
The purpose of PTLA is to maximize the leadership potential of parents to prepare them to be active partners in the education of children in the community. Some 200 parents of children attending Tuscaloosa city and county schools have graduated from PTLA since 2008.
PTLA meets six times during the school year. Topics include Parents as Leaders, Helping Your Child Achieve Academic Success, Supporting Your Child’s School, School and Board of Education Relations, Safe and Healthy Schools, Supporting Connected School Communities. Sessions are presented as lecture, discussion and seminar and are led by outstanding members from all over the academic and public education community. A key component is a practical parent leadership project based on the classes that can later be applied in the schools.
Contact
Andrea Ziegler, amziegler@ua.edu
The STEM Entrepreneurship Academy presents science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to students in grades 9–12 in the context of entrepreneurship to encourage them to pursue majors and careers in the STEM areas. Using an inquiry and evidence-based approach, the STEM Entrepreneurship Academy seeks to master and apply scientific processes and skills; discover ways to market the results; improve teamwork and communication skills; write a professional business plan; prepare a budget; and network with STEM professionals. CCBP, STEM area UA faculty and students, and area city and county schools are among the partners. Each summer since 2013 a summer camp has been held in which students get hands-on opportunities in an atmosphere designed to encourage them to pursue majors and careers in STEM related areas. Thirty-seven students registered for the 2015 camp, which emphasized science concepts and hands-on activities.
Contact
Andrea Ziegler, amziegler@ua.edu
The STEM Showcase is a free science and tech fair for middle school students (grades 6–8). Winners will go on to participate in the annual Central Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair at The University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Contact
Dr. Daniela Susnara, dsusnara@ua.edu
Swim to the Top is a partnership of the University, Tuscaloosa city and county schools, Tuscaloosa County Parks and Recreation Authority, and Benjamin Barnes YMCA. The goal is to provide effective swim instruction to make at-risk children proficient survival swimmers. In addition to swimming lessons, children study math and reading, learn to play golf, and participate in a variety of fitness activities.
Contact
Dr. Daniela Susnara, dsusnara@ua.edu
The inaugural Vision Days, held during fall semester 2018, occurred on four separate days over two consecutive weeks. The event brought to campus more than 400 ninth graders from Alabama’s Black Belt region, as well as from typically underrepresented areas of Birmingham, to explore a variety of interests and possible majors at The University of Alabama.
Program and Partnerships for Community Engagement
Programs and Partnerships for Community Engagement is under the leadership of Dr. Nicole Prewitt. Dr. Prewitt’s work involves diverse groups and includes stakeholders such as non-profit organizations, higher education institutions, the faith community, the public health community, and the legal/criminal justice community. Major projects include Saving Lives, the Neighborhood Partnership Committee, and the Tuscaloosa Consortium for Higher Education.
Contact
Dr. Nicole Prewitt, nbprewitt@ua.edu
HomeFirst is a financial wellness initiative that serves Greene, Hale, and Tuscaloosa County individuals and families on their path toward first-time homeownership or foreclosure prevention. This program partners with Tuscaloosa Habitat for Humanity, The Housing Authority of Greene County, City of Tuscaloosa, Neighborhood Partnership Committee, HERO Housing, and the United Way of West Alabama.
Contact
Dr. Nicole Prewitt, nbprewitt@ua.edu
The Neighborhood Partnership Committee (NPC) is comprised of students, off-campus neighbors, business owners, community leaders, city officials, University police officers, city police, ABC Board officials, and University administrators whose mission is to improve the relationships among students, law enforcement and off-campus neighbors.
This program is designed to empower faith-based leaders and congregational members to engage in activities that will enhance their overall physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
Researchers and community partners have joined to develop and execute the health literacy model. The process is to build communication, trust and capacity, with a final goal of improving and sustaining healthy living by all participants in ways that relate to their faith. The focus is on underserved populations. The key pillars of the program are:
- Working closely with pastoral leaders that are committed and involved in the project.
- Working in faith-based environments that promote healthy eating and wellbeing.
- Training church advocates to motivate congregational members to eat a healthy diet, engage in physical activity, and maintain their physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
The Tuscaloosa Consortium for Higher Education (TCHE) was established in 1997 to encourage collaboration among Shelton State Community College, Stillman College and The University of Alabama. While each has a distinctive mission, this partnership has enabled faculty, staff and students of these three institutions to build on complementary strengths and to develop partnerships that will promote educational opportunity, support economic development and enhance the quality of life in the Tuscaloosa community.
Global and Community Engagement
Global and Community Engagement includes the Language Partners program, Global Café events, and other collaborations with our international community. Through the Language Partners program, participants of all ages practice English language conversation skills, discuss their experiences living in the U.S., and share cultural insights. Global Café events offer a space for international residents to interact with UA students, faculty, and staff.
Contact
Dr. Fran Oneal, foneal@ua.edu
Evenings at Global Café are opportunities to socialize and meet leaders from campus and community organizations. Global Café family fun game nights are times to relax, meet new people, and enjoy an evening of games and family activities. Free and open to the public.
Contact
Dr. Fran Oneal, foneal@ua.edu
Volunteer Conversation Partners who are native English speakers offer appointments for language practice and cultural learning. All are Welcome.
Community Engagement Research and Publications
Community Engagement Research and Publications works to connect and support undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty involved in community-engaged scholarship through a development model and enrichment seminars that provide enhanced opportunities for additional scholarly activities.
Contacts
Dr. Marybeth Lima, MLima@agcenter.lsu.edu
Krystle Dozier, jces@ua.edu
This peer-reviewed journal is published twice a year in print and online by The University of Alabama. Manuscripts are accepted from all academic disciplines and methodologies that advance the scholarship of engagement. Now in its ninth year, the journal is funded in part by the Engagement Scholarship Consortium. It has received high praise nationally and internationally not only for its content but also for its aesthetics (striking covers, photographs, color). A distinguished editorial board of 42 members represents leading institutions from throughout the United States and several foreign countries. Submit manuscripts and questions to jces@ua.edu. The editor is Dr. Nick Sanyal of the University of Idaho. To subscribe and to purchase copies of individual articles or issues, send an email to dkkennedy1@ua.edu.
Contact
Drew Pearl, SCOPE Advisor, apearl@ua.edu
SCOPE provides a framework for connecting students interested in community-engaged scholarship with resources to advance their scholarship. SCOPE’s goals are to increase the involvement of UA students in community-engaged scholarship activities; to connect students to resources such as faculty mentors, funding sources, and scholarly conferences and publications; to serve as a conduit for matching the research interests of students and faculty with identified community needs; to provide opportunities for training and technical assistance to SCOPE participants in order to enhance their knowledge and skills regarding engaged scholarship; to bolster the production of community-based research by students.
SCOPE members gain access to leading scholars, publications and programs through meetings and conferences that will advance their careers as engagement scholars. SCOPE holds meetings and supports conference attendance and participation.
Contact
Dr. Drew Pearl, apearl@ua.edu
The mission of The University of Alabama’s Student Community Engagement Center is to engage students and community partners in mutually beneficial partnerships to identify and address critical community opportunities by connecting engagement to the University’s missions of teaching, research, and service. The Student Community Engagement Center is located on the ground floor in the center of Capital Hall.
“An engaged institution is responsive to the needs of today’s students and tomorrow’s. It enriches the student experience by bringing research into the curriculum and offering practical experience in the world they will enter. It forms partnerships of faculty, students and communities to put knowledge and skills to work on today’s most critical problems”