Community Outreach & Engagement Update
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2025 Community Engaged Scholarship Forum: Call for Proposals and Award Nominations
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The University of Pittsburgh’s annual Community Engaged Scholarship Forum is requesting proposals for workshops and posters as well as award nominations.
Submissions are due Friday, January 31, 2025
This year's forum theme—Reducing Barriers, Creating Opportunity—continues last year's conversation around the vital conditions for community resilience. The forum will showcase cross-sector and multi-organization approaches to community-informed scholarship that reduces barriers for our region. CESF takes place March 4, 2025.
All members of the Pitt community (faculty, staff and students) are invited to submit a workshop or poster proposal and nominate someone for one of the forum's awards.
2025 CESF Collaboration Champion Award
The CESF Collaboration Champion Award is presented by CESF to recognize a member of the University of Pittsburgh community or a community partner who has made significant contributions to the University of Pittsburgh’s culture of collaboration, further sustaining and supporting the institution’s commitment to strengthening communities through teamed work. The Award is open to any member of the greater Pittsburgh region as is not limited to the University of Pittsburgh community.
Submit a nomination for the CESF Collaboration Champion Award.
2025 Tracy Soska and John Wilds Outreach and Engagement Leadership Award
The Tracy Soska and John Wilds Outreach and Engagement Leadership Award is presented by CESF to honor a faculty member or staff engagement professional who serves the University of Pittsburgh through their outstanding dedication to University-community connections. Through their contributions, the awardee strengthens our institution’s knowledge, understanding, practice, and reflection on the opportunities of community-based collaboration. Nominees must have been employed by the University of Pittsburgh for at least five (5) years from award conferral (on or before March 7, 2019).
Submit a nomination for the Soska and Wilds Award.
2025 Workshop Proposals and Poster Presentations
While the individual efforts of teams and communities have resulted in shining examples of what is possible through engaged scholarship, our society requires increasingly interconnected approaches to problem solving that result in partnerships advancing multiple aspects of community resilience. The Forum invites you to join us to explore opportunities to work across organizations, disciplines, and sets of solutions that mobilize previously disconnected efforts in creative ways.
For more information about the 2025 Community Engaged Scholarship Forum, visit the CESF website. Questions? Contact Jamelle Price at jap260@pitt.edu.
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Regional Capacity Building Initiative's Fundraising Readiness Training Sessions
Are you new to fundraising? Want to get your board and staff excited about fundraising? Not sure where to start?
This series of workshops is for organizations that are new to fundraising or looking to ramp up their fundraising efforts. Participants will identify specific steps to get their organizations, board, and staff ready for a comprehensive fundraising strategy.
Designed for the Executive Director or Development staff from smaller organizations with budgets of approximately $150,000 – $1,000,000, each session will include actions to implement immediately.
Find more information and sign up. To learn more about the Regional Capacity Building Initiative, visit https://nonprofit-capacity.org/about/.
National Day of Racial Healing Program
The theme for this program is "Understanding and Navigating Racial Anxiety: Cultivating Transformative Racial Healing". This event invites participants to engage in meaningful dialogue and reflection on the personal and collective steps needed to foster racial healing in our communities. A complimentary lunch will also be provided for all attendees. Please check out the email or event calendar link below to learn more.
Event Calendar Link: National Day of Racial Healing Program - University of Pittsburgh
Registration Link (will close when capacity is met): National Day of Racial Healing Program Registration
Pitt's 2024 Community Impact Report
As a community-engaged, anchor institution, Pitt is uniquely situated to help make a difference in the well-being of our neighbors. The 2024 Community Impact Report exemplifies just some of the hundreds of extraordinary partnerships and programs that are happening across Pitt and within our region. Explore the 2024 Community Impact Report.
Nominations open for the 2025 Pitt Sustainability Awards
Do you or someone you know embody the spirit of sustainability at the University of Pittsburgh? Since 2015, the Pitt Sustainability Awards have recognized faculty, staff, students, and groups for their outstanding contributions to campus sustainability.
Nominate Pitt students, faculty, staff—or even yourself!—who have gone above and beyond for sustainability at Pitt in any of the three award categories: Sustainability Award, Erika Ninos Student Leadership Award and Student Sustainability Champion.
Nominations are due Monday, February 17, 2025. To submit a nomination, visit the awards form.
Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation summer research opportunities for Pitt students
*Please review each program description for specific application process and program details.*
Summer Research in Sustainability
Open to all Pitt undergraduate and master's students in all fields and majors. Application link. Deadline to apply: February 17, 2025
Intended for Pitt undergraduate and master's level students interested in gaining hands on experiences related to the broad topic of sustainability. ALL majors are eligible to apply. The 10-week program runs May 12 - July 18, 2025, and provides a $5,000 stipend.
Collaborative Research Opportunity with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Surveying the Woody Vegetation across Powdermill Nature Reserve to Track Change Over Time
Open to all Pitt undergraduate students. Sophomore & Junior students preferred. Application Link. Deadline to apply: February 17, 2025
The Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation is pleased to present a unique summer research opportunity in partnership with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History at their facility at the Powdermill Nature Reserve. This full-time, 12-week program runs May 19 - August 8 with compensation at $16/hour. Housing is available on site.
Frederick Honors College Brackenridge Sustainability Scholars
Open to all Pitt undergraduates. Application Link. Deadline to apply: February 26, 2025
The Frederick Honors College Brackenridge Fellowship is an interdisciplinary, $4,000 award which annually supports undergraduate students seeking to complete research or a creative project over the summer. To enhance this undergraduate opportunity, the Mascaro Center has collaborated with the Honors College to provide an additional $500 of support to students conducting research in areas related to sustainability.
Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation Announces 2025 Funding Program
The Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation (MCSI) is pleased to share its 2025 grant initiatives. Each of these programs aims to help faculty and students engage in sustainability research, education and outreach.
MCSI Research Seed Grants in Sustainability
(open to all Pitt faculty)
Application Deadline: Monday, February, 17, 2025
Full RFP and Application
MCSI is requesting faculty seed grant proposals for interdisciplinary sustainability research initiatives. MCSI aims to catalyze and expand Pitt’s research capacity to accelerate equitable solutions to pressing sustainability challenges.
The John C. Mascaro Faculty Programs in Sustainability
(open to all Pitt faculty)
Application Deadline: Monday, February, 17, 2025
Full RFP and Application
MCSI is pleased to announce the continued support of Faculty Awards in Sustainability. The John C. Mascaro Faculty Awards are designed to enhance the university’s mission of interdisciplinary excellence in sustainability research and education.
MCSI Undergraduate Summer Research in Sustainability
(open to all Pitt undergraduate students)
Student applications open January 13, 2025
Application link will be available on this page.
Deadline for students to apply is Monday, February 17, 2025
The goal of the URP program is to provide students with unique opportunities to go beyond classroom curriculum and develop their own ideas on hands-on research while working under the guidance and mentorship of Pitt faculty.
Questions? Reach out to Gena Kovalcik at gmk9@pitt.edu.
Applications open soon for next round of EDIA mini-grants
Starting in January 2025, the Office for Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion will be accepting another round of proposals for EDIA Mini Grants, aimed at advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives on campus.
The program encourages faculty, staff, and students to submit requests for grants of up to $2,000 to fund projects that align with the University's mission to build a more inclusive community.
Proposals should focus on enriching multicultural experiences, creating a welcoming environment, and improving recruitment and retention of under-represented groups. The next cycle will open on Jan. 2nd and run through Jan. 27th. More information can be found online.
Nominate a community champion during the K. Leroy Irvis Black History Month
Mark your calendars for the University’s annual K. Leroy Irvis Celebration of Black History Month. This event will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Alumni Hall, Connolly Ballroom.
The national theme for Black History Month 2025 is “African Americans and Labor,” a reflection of the pivotal role that the work of African Americans played in shaping our country’s history. This year we will highlight and celebrate the accomplishments of seven individuals who demonstrated their commitment to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility across the Pittsburgh region.
Nominations for community champions are being accepted through Wednesday, February 5, 2025 from the public in seven categories:
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Aspiring Ally: Recognizes an individual new to DEIA work who actively supports inclusion within their community or at the University.
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Social Justice Advocate: Honors an individual dedicated to addressing systemic inequities and advancing social justice efforts.
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Creative Changemaker: Celebrates a staff member who transforms the culture of DEIA at the University or in the community through innovative approaches.
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Inspiring Leader: Recognizes a graduate or professional student leading DEIA initiatives within the student body and serving as a role model.
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Campus Leader: Recognizes an undergraduate student who demonstrates a strong commitment to DEIA within the campus community and who leads by example among their peers.
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Alumni Advocate: Honors a Pitt alumnus who has championed DEIA principles beyond their time on campus, making a significant impact in their professional or community life.
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Faculty Champion: Recognizes a faculty member at the University who has shown exceptional dedication to fostering an inclusive and equitable educational environment.
Nominate a community champion.
The Center on Race and Social Problems (CRSP) in the School of Social Work proudly launched the Black Pittsburgh Satisfaction and Retention Survey
This initiative reflects the ongoing commitment to advancing racial equity and addressing critical issues impacting Black and African American residents in the Greater Pittsburgh Region. The survey aims to capture the lived experiences, opportunities, and challenges of Black and African American individuals and families, helping us build a stronger, more inclusive Pittsburgh.
Check out an event recording and recent media coverage:
Participants are encouraged to complete the survey and share the link with others. For more information or to participate, please visit https://www.blackpittsburghsurvey.org/.
In 'community classrooms' across PIttsburgh, Pitt students are learning to be engaged physicians
The relationship and trust established between a patient and physician is crucial for high-quality care. While empathy and clear communication strengthen this relationship and patient outcomes, research suggests many physicians and medical students don’t effectively communicate, resulting in decreased health literacy and patient adherence, among other challenges.
Through the School of Medicine's Community Alliance Program (CAP), Andy McCormick and Maya Ragavan are teaching Pitt med students to be exceptional communicators who consider patient perceptions and experiences as primary metrics for success.
Learn more about the Pitt Med's Community Alliance Program, an Engagement Intersections presenter, in Pittwire.
Congratulations to the Institute for Learning at Pitt’s Learning Research and Development Center (LRDC) for receiving a $1 million grant from the Hewlett Foundation!
The Hewlett award will fund an 18-month planning grant for the institute and nonprofit collaborator The New Teacher Project to study the establishment of cross-school networked improvement communities to work on specific problems of practice. Learn more about the project on Pittwire.
Congratulations to Cafe Momentum on being a recipient of the Pittsburgh Steelers Social Justice Match Fund!
Congratulations to Cafe Momentum for receiving $71,000 from the Pittsburgh Steelers Social Justice Match Fund! Check out their announcement on LinkedIn.
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Spring 2025 Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion-Civic and Community Engagement Institute
Register for the Transform Mid-Atlantic's upcoming institute: Linking Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion with Civic and Community Engagement in the Post-Affirmative Action Era.
This day-long institute is designed to bring together campus teams to co-create and engage with colleagues from other institutions around assessing particular challenges and opportunities to create a campus culture of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) through civic and community engagement (CCE) partnerships and initiatives. Participants will have an opportunity to learn from their colleagues who have used TMA's JEDI-CCE Institutionalization Rubric - designed to to align with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) Standards for Accreditation and the components of the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement - to understand challenges and opportunities for their own campus, and implement solutions.
Special Guest Speaker & Facilitator:
Dr. Nyeema Watson, Senior Vice Chancellor for Strategy, Diversity and Community Engagement, Rutgers University-Camden
This event takes place on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the University of Maryland College Park, 3972 Campus Drive, College Park, MD 20742.
Register online. Cost is $85. Please e-mail Gavin Luter, luter@transformmidatlantic.org, for more information.
The Program to Enhance Organizational Research Impact Capacity (ORIC) 2025-2026 Cohort
The application process for the 2025 - 2026 ORIC Cohort will open January 8, 2025 and submission deadline is February 28, 2025.
The Program to Enhance Organizational Research Impact Capacity (ORIC) is a signature program of ARIS designed to assist institutions in developing and expanding their in-house expertise needed to effectively support innovative Broader Impacts (BI) efforts. Visit the ORIC webpage for more details.
Campus Compact Engaged Scholars Initiative Information Sessions
Attend an informational session to learn more about the Engaged Scholars Initiative program and application process. ESI is a one-year leadership and professional development program designed to develop a diverse group of early career faculty and staff in the civic and community engagement field. This year we are running two cohorts. The first is for individuals and the second is for teams from institutions who want to go through the process together. We will accept up to three individuals from each institution. It is a members-only program. Your organization must be a member of Campus Compact to participate.
Informational Session dates/times:
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Tuesday, January 21, 2025 4 to 5 p.m. (ET)
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Thursday, January 23, 2025 10 to 11 a.m. (ET)
Register for the event or learn more about the Engaged Scholars Initiative.
2025 Call for Proposals Now Open for the IARSLCE 25th Anniversary Conference
The International Association for Research on Service-Learning & Community Engagement's (IARSLCE) 25th Anniversary Conference will be on August 13-15, 2025 in Durban, South Africa. Proposals are being accecpted right now that are connected to the theme, Celebrating a Quarter Century of Impact: Reflecting on Our Mission and Charting Inclusive Future Directions. The deadline to submit is February 3, 2025.
For more information and to submit a proposal, head to the call for proposals page.
Join the 2025 Practitioner-Scholar Community
The Practitioner-Scholar Community experience will be offered again in early 2025. The applications will be released on January 13 and due January 31, with the cohort beginning in mid-February. IARSLCE invites people who anticipate applying to fill out an interest form so they can reach out with priority information and track capacity as they will be offering only 40 spots for this upcoming cohort. They will host two information sessions on January 9th, the first at 12pm PT / 3pm ET / 8pm GMT and the second at 12pm SAST / 6pm HKT / 9pm AET.
To learn more about this opportunity, visit the IARSLCE website and complete the interest form to receive updates.
Addressing Wicked Issues through Community-Engaged Scholarship - 2024-2025 Series: Youth and Gun Violence
The addressing wicked issues through community-engaged scholarship initiative takes a deep dive into some of the most critical issues threatening our communities and explores how we—higher education community engagement professionals, practitioners, and scholars—can make a difference.
Each year, participants will engage in a series of webinars and discussions that explore how knowledge about a particular issue is being generated and how people can come together to put that knowledge to good use—creating local solutions to these wicked problems. This series is jointly hosted by Campus Compact and the Academy of Community Engagement Scholarship (ACES).
Program Series:
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Wicked Issues series: Addressing youth gun violence through community-engaged research - January 22, 2025, 3 to 4 p.m. ET
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Wicked Issues series: Addressing youth gun violence through community-engaged teaching & learning - February 19, 2025, 3 to 4 p.m. ET
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Wicked Issues series: Addressing youth gun violence through student-led civic engagement - April 16, 2025, 3 to 4 p.m. ET
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Wicked Issues series: Addressing youth gun violence through anchor strategy & community partnerships - May 14, 2025, 3 to 4 p.m. ET
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Wicked Issues series: Addressing youth gun violence wrap-up and closing conversation - June 4, 2025, 3 to 4 p.m. ET
Register for the series.
Call for Proposals open for 2025 CUMU Conference
At the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU), we champion the vital connection between urban and metropolitan campuses and their communities, recognizing that “place” transcends mere geography. The connection with our cities and regions shapes institutional missions and gives rise to partnerships with the potential to transform individual lives and regional vitality.
The 2025 CUMU Conference—The Power of Place—explores how campuses nurture and build upon local assets to promote social and economic mobility, drive regional development, and foster community well-being.
Bring your campus’ work to the best conference of the year!
Submissions due March 10, 2025.
We invite proposals that showcase impactful work, critical perspectives, and innovative ideas. Proposals may highlight ongoing or completed work. Submissions should align with one or more of the following tracks:
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Social and economic mobility
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Anchor strategies for regional transformation
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Institutional mission and infrastructure
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Educational pathways
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Civic and community engagement
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Measuring impact and storytelling
The CUMU conference offers a range of formats that afford participants different methods to access and engage with innovative ideas.
Learn more and submit a proposal. Have questions about the conference proposal process? Join us on Tuesday, February 4, 1 to 2 p.m. ET, Zoom. Register here.
Preparing and Evaluating Engagement Dossiers
In this workshop, Rod Williams, vice provost for outreach and engagement at Texas Tech University, will discuss how to frame your dossiers, incorporate important components, and report impact. This session will also address strategies to evaluate engagement dossiers in external reviews and on primary promotion committees.
Date and Time: January 22, 2025, 12 to 1 p.m. ET. Register online.
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Greater Hazelwood
Career Counseling in Hazelwood
Are you or someone you know looking to get connected to employment opportunities within the University of Pittsburgh? Interested in career counseling, resume/cover letter support, and University employment workshops?
Connect with Celiwe Jones on Jan. 23, Feb. 6, Feb. 20, Mar. 11, and Mar. 25 at the Greater Hazelwood Family Center – Lower-Level Conference Room (5006 Second Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15207) anytime from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can also connect with Celiwe directly by emailing crj44@pitt.edu or calling 412-290-2285.
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Hill District
Upcoming Seminar: An Imperfect Voice: Labouring to Witness
Join Dr. Valmont Layne, Programme Director for New Archival Visions at the Humanities Research Centre, University of Western Cape in South Africa, for a seminar as they reflect on what a life of activism, artist engagement and activism can mean for working at the seam of the new.
This seminar takes place Thursday, January 16 at 5 p.m. at the Community Engagement Center in the Hill District, 1908 Wylie Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
Upcoming Communiversity Courses:
Wicked Problems Innovation
This course brings together residents, Pitt Law and Business students, and faculty to tackle vacant lot development in the Hill District and Hilltop communities. This course focuses on negotiating leases and writing grants, while working directly with partners to propose the best policy approaches to clean and green Pittsburgh's vacant lots.
Join this course every Wednesday beginning January 15, 2025 through April 16, 2025 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Community Engagement Center in the Hill District, 1908 Wylie Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Register online.
The Role of Social Justice in Action, Advocacy and Accountability for Policy Change
This seminar led by Dr. Noble Maseru provides an action oriented dialogue to improve community health and well-being. It will address disparities in depth to prevent premature death and disease and establish strategies to eliminate those inequities.
Participants will tackle the inequities through data analysis, assessing the social impact and effectiveness of agencies/systems. Participants will select agencies/systems to review for their accountability and usefulness for achieving economic vitality, community health, and social equity.
Join this course every Tuesday beginning January 14, 2025 through April 1, 2025 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Community Engagement Center in the Hill District, 1908 Wylie Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Register online.
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Homewood
New Course: Authoritarianism and the Destruction of Democracy
Join the Community Engagement Center in Homewood for a five-week course on authoritarianism and the destruction of democracy on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. from January 28 through February 25. This discussion course is offered in partnership with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Pittsburgh. Participants can attend sessions either in-person at the Community Engagement Center in Homewood, 622 N. Homewood Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15208 or online.
To register, contact Vernard Alexander by emailing vla19@pitt.edu or calling 412-383-0830.
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The Office of Engagement and Community Affairs distributes a variety of newsletters full of community updates, volunteer opportunities, and more. Sign up for all of our newsletters, or share this link with a friend, to get connected today! www.community.pitt.edu/newsletter
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