Outreach and Engagement

Well it has been an interesting couple of days. I'm actually at the Hampton Inn in State College, PA. I'm attending the 9th Annual Outreach Scholarship Conference at Penn State. It is interesting this world that I walk between; the academy and the community through my work with United Way. I'm here because my way was paid for as a result of the research I'm doing on Boar's of Directors at school. The faculty person I work with and I are one of four pairs of faculty/student researchers. All of our projects are doing research that is based in our local communities and the four pairs are being studied. A friend of mine labeled it "rats studying rats." In many ways that is true because we are actually participants who are helping design the research as we go. It is what is labeled Participatory Action Research. It is fascinating stuff.

Anyhow. I've been going to sessions that focus on how the academy does community based research. I feel like saying, "Hello. I've been doing this kind of community building work for the last 18 years of my professional life. It is fascinating to me how the academy is so much in the forefront of so many things, but challenged by the ability to work in community. In so many ways the social change meetings I've attended. Shoot, even my homeless conferences, are all about building partnerships. My work helping Wake, Durham, and Orange County to develop their 10 Year Plans to End Homelessness were all about building community partnerships. It is quite fascinating. Why is the academy so far behind? And this is the engagement and outreach folks at Universities; many of whom have land-grant missions.

Anyhow, this is one of those times where I'm not sure why I am here. There is a purpose for me to be here. However, I've no clue why. This is one of those where I have to trust spirit and go with it. I found myself shutting down yesterday, but today, I've really tried to stay open to possibilities. Mystery has put me here for a reason. I'll see where it takes me.