The work of the Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching and Service is collaborative in both spirit and practice.  Collaboration is at the core of what the Center does, as captured in the words of the mission statement: "In order to advance justice and the common good, the Center promotes and integrates community-based research, teaching and service by collaborating with diverse partners and communities." What does that mean?  It means at least three things.

First, the Center operates on a model of shared teaching and learning.  Each person has something to contribute and each has something to learn.  No one person knows all the issues or has all the solutions. Through on-going conversation and common action we teach and learn from each other and, ultimately, help make a difference.

Second, and implicit in the first, the Center conceives of its work as essentially relational.  It is about developing and deepening partnerships on campus and in the broader communities in which we live, from the local to the national to the global levels.  The Center is committed to working with others who share a broad vision of social justice, who believe that higher education is an important arena for advancing that vision, and who see direct or indirect service opportunities as unique vehicles for examining and expanding social justice.

Third, the Center is committed to the belief that positive social change can occur through long-term commitments fostered in and through partnerships.  Partnerships are not created in a moment; they take time and resources.  Nor are they sustained in an easy way; they take deliberate attention.  The Center is dedicated to the idea that it is through partnerships that individual and community lives can be changed.  Good partnerships will enable more people to attain the knowledge and skills they need to be active participants in their communities. Working collaboratively, partners can help bring about necessary changes to make those communities healthier, move vital and more just.

If you would like to collaborate with the Center for Social Justice, please review the Mission-Based Criteria for Partnerships between the Center for Social Justice and Community Organizations.