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• Civic Engagement is committed to developing reciprocal and sustainable partnerships with local schools and community-based organizations, with an emphasis on developing relationships with organizations in our immediate community: Lower Merion Township, West Philadelphia, and Norristown.
• Our goal is to connect faculty, student scholarship, educational field placements, summer internships, work-study job opportunities, and volunteer services with the local community to facilitate a reciprocal sharing of resources and assets. Open and ongoing communication is a priority for us when developing and maintaining these relationships. Special attention is given to creating opportunities for community partners to have input into our programs.
• Civic Engagement approaches each connection with off-campus community organizations as a new relationship that may develop into a partnership. The initial connection might be through one student volunteer experience, a Praxis placement, a Summer of Service internship, or through one of our other programs. 
• By creating opportunities for frequent communication and feedback around these initial connections, we can explore other possibilities for collaboration and understand each other's needs and assets. This often results in new linkages between organizations and other programs we sponsor. Our key partnerships are those that are most integrated into our programming and are most sustainable.

Rights of Community Involvement

• To know about the community organization/partner, its policies, people, and program
• To have guidance and direction
• To do meaningful and satisfying work
• To have a voice in activities and planning
• To be given proper orientation and training
• To be aware of safety concerns and risky behaviors
• To be supported in work done at the site
• To have access to resources and training workshops to support and enhance community involvement in work

Responsibilities of Community Involvement

• To be open and honest with leaders, community partners, and community members
• To make realistic commitments and fulfill all commitments
• To prepare before working with the community by attending orientation and attending ongoing training and reflection sessions
• To commit to continued learning about the community partner and challenging oneself to be a better participant through dialogue, reading, and training workshops
• To enter into service with humility, enthusiasm, commitment, openness, and a willingness to learn
• To ask questions, treat people respectfully, listen, and learn
• To appropriately seek guidance and direction
• To be prompt and dependable
• To respect confidentiality and privacy and the individual circumstances of community members
• To be an appropriate role model, particularly when working with children
• To be flexible
• To ask for help when you need it
• To realize that you are not the only one giving

Suggestions

• Dress comfortably and appropriately
• As in any metropolitan area, use common sense (e.g., don't leave personal belongings unattended, recognize your comfort zones, and find support to challenge your boundaries)
• Make a genuine effort to get to know people at the community site (e.g., community members, staff, building personnel, etc.)

Civic Engagement would like to thank Civic House, a community service and learning collaborative at the University of Pennsylvania, for using their material.

Students wishing to volunteer on their own can ask us for recommendations of organizations to contact and can receive reimbursement (50%) for their travel expenses.

Civic Engagement also maintains a directory of local opportunities in non-profit organizations if you'd like to volunteer on your own, find summer internships, or find Praxis Independent Study field placements.

Select your area of interest to learn more:

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