Community engagement in the United States, and indeed across the globe, is more important than ever. Social welfare retrenchments, globalization, economic insecurity and changing levels of social capital have challenged the most marginalized people to have their voices heard and needs met. Community engagement is one of the central mechanisms for fulfilling the promises of a democratic society.

The CPSP serves as a nexus connecting the university to the community. Our focus is on meeting the needs of community organizations by connecting them with faculty and students that can help them to advance their mission and build their capacities. We provide students with the opportunity to engage with public and non-profit organizations in exchange for elective credits. With 400 organizations to choose from, CPSP offers a wide range of opportunities for faculty engagement and student volunteering.

Besides the obvious benefits to a diverse group of constituencies and organizations, community engagement offers a variety of rewards to students. This includes a sense of satisfaction, deepening levels of compassion and personal growth, as well as nurturing a lifelong commitment to civic engagement. Community engagement is a challenging endeavor that gives student-citizens the chance to reflect on salient issues in a democratic society. These issues include diversity and discrimination, the roles of the non-profit and public sectors, as well as consideration of individual career goals.

We are creating new partnerships between community organizations, faculty and students that will deepen the capacities of communities to address their needs. We hope you choose to become a part of this important endeavor.

Sincerely,

Loretta Pyles, Ph.D.
Director, Community and Public Service Program
Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare
Contact us at 442-5683 or Swalsh@albany.edu