How can the University support community partners participating in shared community engagement initiatives?
Given its size and complexity, engaging UBC as a partner may be a daunting experience for potential community partners in the absence of an internal champion or contact. Many Canadian and American community institutions have adopted organizational models to support their community engagement priorities and access for community partners.
I think community engagement is about sharing research with community partners of all types – grassroots groups, local regional, federal and international governments, business circles, and community organizations. For example the work done at the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) is recognized has having a significant impact on community activism, government policy, and business investment. HELP also engages the UBC community directly with numerous public research expositions and open research retreats throughout the year. I believe this organization is a prime example of successful community engagement.