“Course-based community-engaged learning (CEL) opportunities provide excellent opportunities for students and the community alike. Curricular opportunities support students in developing key academic, personal, and career-related skills, while also providing a valuable service to the community. In HMB490: Health in Community, students are placed with community organizations. In their placements, they observe how the organization serves its populations, participate in the organization by helping in a meaningful and impactful way, collaborate on a major course project and deliverable that meets a need of the organization, and learn about becoming effective advocates for vulnerable populations. My connections and collaborations with community leaders, staff and community members have been incredibly enriching. Indeed, as a course instructor, I feel I have grown and learned in authentic and invaluable ways that are impossible within the classroom. As CEL instructors, we are given the privilege to work closely with community members to the benefit of all of us.”

Learn more about Franco Taverna