Community Building and Social Change

Minor: Yes

Overview:

Emory Community Building and Social Change Fellows Program The Emory Community Building and Social Change Fellows Program is an intensive twelve-month program that introduces a talented, dedicated, and diverse group of Emory undergraduates to the challenges and opportunities for building community in contemporary urban America. Launched in 2002 with a seed gift from the Kenneth Cole Foundation, the program quickly has become a national model for connecting classroom to community. Through academic coursework, an intensive 12-week summer field experience, local and national site visits, small group meetings, and a public presentation of work, Emory Community Building Fellows have the opportunity to see first-hand the critical role that collaboration plays in the resolution of important public problems. They also begin honing the skills needed to transform their passion into meaningful actions for the greater good. Upon graduation, Fellows go on to graduate study and careers in law, medicine, business, policy analysis, social services, education, and more. They continue to improve the human condition, wherever they go. Click here for more information on the Fellowship Program. The Community Building Fellows Program benefits not only the students, it also provides immediate action on significant community issues in metro Atlanta. The summer field experience engages the Fellows as collaborators with community building efforts throughout metro Atlanta. Proposed and selected by the community, the collaborative community building projects address issues related to affordable housing and community development, health, education, the environment, and social justice. The skills and capacities of both students and community partners grow as a result, and real change takes place – today. Click here for examples of past Fellowship projects. The Emory Community Building and Social Change Fellows Experience Community Building Fellows enjoy an exciting year of classes, workshops, site visits, work, social activities, and meetings with a variety of community builders from the business, nonprofit, government, and faith sectors. Their Fellowship experience looks like this: Fall Semester Take POLS/SOC/CBSC 370A Community Building and Social Change Apply to become a Community Building Fellow Receive and accept invitation to become a Community Building Fellow Spring Semester Fellows Welcome Weekend Retreat (January) Take POLS/SOC/CBSC 370BWR Planning and Evaluating Community-Based Initiatives Evaluate and select collaborative community building projects Meet community partners Skills building labs Prepare workplan for summer projects Summer Work for 12 weeks on collaborative community building projects Take POLS/SOC/CBSC 370C Practicum in Community Building and Social Change Weekly Wednesday evening dinners Site visit to community building projects in another city Site visits to local community building projects Final reports and all deliverables due Presentation of project results to Atlanta community leaders

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