[URBANTH-L]Call for Participants: Trinity College's Institute for Urban Learning and Action

[Angela Jancius]

Call for Participants: Trinity College's Institute for Urban Learning and
Action

Trinity College's Institute for Urban Learning and Action will convene again
on May 31-June 3, 2005 to help colleges, universities and activists build,
broaden, and sustain their community engagement.  This year's Institute will
have a special focus on creating, caring for and advancing partnerships
between academic institutions and their surrounding communities.

Colleges and universities increasingly seek urban engagement to bridge the
campus and the community. Last year, representatives of more than 40
colleges, universities and community organizations convened for one week in
Hartford to build community and college teams and create strategies for
change on their campus.  Participants have said the institute gave them
"time to plan systematically with institutional partners" and to "hear what
others institutions are doing." Another said, "we are now ready as a team to
meet with our Dean and administrators." Participants should plan to focus on
one important issue at the Institute with the hopes of leaving with a
concrete action plan.

The Trinity Institute addresses the challenges of sustaining and adapting
partnerships by drawing on nationally-recognized faculty, including Barbara
Holland, Director of the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse, national
donors, including the Kellogg Foundation, federal agencies, local and
regional foundations as well as the rich array of experiences among the
participants themselves. Participants spend their time interacting with
speakers, visiting project locations in the community, and collaborating
with their colleagues in workshops and in small consultative sessions.
Participants depart with a new project or plan and with an understanding of
challenges and opportunities facing other campuses.

The Institute hosts 8-12 teams of 4 participants drawn from college
administrators, faculty, students and community members.  Participants come
from institutions and communities with some experience in urban engagement
and community learning. They should represent a cross-section of their
campus and must include at least one member from the community.

Speakers and workshops will focus on how individuals and organizational
structures can strengthen partnerships. Special sessions will be devoted to
evaluation, fundraising, dissemination, and strategies to maintain
institutional support. Individual thematic sessions will allow participants
to address topic-specific needs such as health professions, organizing
community knowledge, creating partnerships with secondary schools, and
creating programs at liberal arts colleges. Sessions will also offer
practical advice and support on writing proposals, obtaining funding from
the government and other agencies, using internships as an opportunity for
reflection and community service, and combining academic study with
community organizing.

Community engagement models at Trinity include a technology center, an
historical archive center, a community film project, a center to build and
support grassroots organizing groups, a faculty community learning program,
student volunteer groups, academic internships and an administrative office
of community relations.

Foundation underwriting allows us to offer the Institute for $400 per person
including room, board, and registration, with participants paying their own
roundtrip transportation costs to the Institute site. One community member
for each team will receive free tuition and a $100 stipend for
participating.  This single tuition subsidy can be split among multiple
community members if a team includes more than one. Please call or write
with any questions.  Todd Vogel, Director, 860-297-4274,
Todd.Vogel at trincoll.edu, www.trincoll.edu/UG/UE/TULA