Our Programs
Criteria for Selection and Interconnections
The Engaged University’s program activities draw from the educational philosophies of John Dewey, Paulo Freire and Augusto Boal, as well as the 4H model of learning, employing head, hands, heart and health. At any one time, our program offerings are a function of the availablilty of staff, funding, partners and other resources.
At all times, the focus of our programs stems from an assessment of university strengths and community needs developed through university/community meetings, analysis and deliberations. From this two year process emerged the need to make our local communities ecologically sound and sustainable places where human and natural resources are cultivated, valued and protected.
We identified three key areas of need and concern:
1-healthy and empowered youth development and the nurturing of quality university-assisted community schools;
2-equitable and inclusive alternative local economic and community development that meet community identified needs;
3-diverse community arts and culture.
Each of our programmatic initiatives derive from these three core areas of focus. Many of our programs are interconnected and fit into all three areas.
Our Key Partners include:
Coalition for Civic Engagement and Leadership (CCEL), UMCP
Community Service-Learning (CSL), UMCP
Food Stamp Nutrition Education (FSNE)
Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) & Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers (MMYC)
Off Campus Student Involvement (OCSI), UMCP