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Home : Community Engagement & Service Learning

Community Engagement & Service Learning

The Department of Chicano Studies strives to create, foster and strengthen community-university relationships. The development of collaborations with our partner sites continues a long-standing history among the Latino students, educators and community members from across the community. Our approach to civic engagement is asset-based and premised on the notion that the rapidly growing and still emergent Latina/o community in Minnesota is facing an important crossroad in its development where efforts to promote civic engagement must include plans to increase direct civic participation. Enhancing the public voice and visibility of the Latino community is crucial to community development and empowerment at multiple levels. We believe that community collaboration provides opportunities for resource sharing, the mutually beneficial exchange of ideas and capacity building that enhances the long-term sustainability of efforts.

The Department of Chicano Studies integrates community engagement as a core value to our teaching and social mission and educational access is seen as a fundamental right and a form of community empowerment.   Our community partner sites include Academia Cesar Chavez in St. Paul, El Colegio and Juventud Conectada in south Minneapolis and Centro Campesino in Owatonna, MN.  We have a strong commitment to pipeline issues and a significant focus on the K-12 experience of and for Latino students and families.  Some opportunities for community involvement include tutoring and mentoring through the Department's service-learning class, working with community organizations on a research or final project as part of a class requirement, specific course(s) on community engagement and social justice or completing an internship at one of the many local organizations and groups interesting in hosting a Chicano Studies intern.

Additionally, the Department often becomes involved in issues of importance to the Latino community and seeks to support efforts which promote a Latino-centric agenda and strong community voice.

Chicano Studies is proud to be one of the founders of the MN Network of Latinos in Higher Education.  Please see their webpage for more info and to get involved

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