Spring Community-Based Learning Breakfast Celebrates Partnerships
Written by Kari Borne
On April 24, faculty and staff and representatives from area schools and organizations gathered to celebrate partnerships at the Spring Community-Based Learning (CBL) Breakfast. Over 30 people attended the breakfast to learn more about opportunities to collaborate and reflect on another successful year of community-based learning.
Several long-time partners shared their past experiences with CBL courses. Representatives from Fairhaven Senior Services, Whitewater Unified School District,Tree House Child and Family Center,New Beginnings APFV, and Community ESL of Whitewater gave presentations on projects that included marketing campaigns, language instruction, and intergenerational storytelling.
The event also celebrated a record-breaking spring semester of CBL enrollments, with over 500 students engaging in service-learning and community-based research and coursework. Chancellor King presented Dr. Rossi Ivanova from the Department of Literature, Writing and Film, with the Exemplary CBL Practitioner Award. Jorge Islas-Martínez of the Whitewater Community ESL Program and Brian Robinson of Fairhaven Senior Services were selected as the Exemplary CBL Community Partner Award recipients. And, communication sciences and disorders student Brenna Davies was presented the Exemplary CBL Student Award.
The Community-Based Learning Program was established in 2015 to support the mission and core values of UW-Whitewater by providing opportunities to help students succeed in their academic programs and community partners thrive through collaboration and reciprocity. More than 30 courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels are designated as CBL courses, and an average of 300 students enroll in CBL courses each semester. UW-Whitewater was classified as aCommunity-Engaged University by the Carnegie Foundation in 2015, and has applied for reclassification in 2025, with results expected in December.
From left to right:
Dr. Rossi Ivanova from the Department of Literature, Writing and Film receives the Exemplary CBL Practitioner Award.
Jorge Islas-Martínez of Whitewater Community ESL Program selected as Exemplary CBL Community Partner Award recipient.
Brian Robinson of Fairhaven Senior Services presented with the Exemplary CBL Community Partner Award.
From left to right:
Undergraduate student Brenna Davies receives the Exemplary CBL Student Award.
CBL director Dr. Jodie Parys speaks to participants at the spring CBL breakfast.
A panel of community partners present examples of collaborations with student and the spring CBL breakfast.