You'll also be exposed to some of the complex questions surrounding public service work, such as: How can we genuinely respect the skills and capabilities of our partners in collaborative projects? How can Brown students forge authentic relationships with community partners? Where do community impact and undergraduate learning intersect, and where do they diverge? What does an engaged campus look like?

Using the categories on the left, you can explore our current programs by issue area (housing, education), type of work (tutoring, advocacy) or participant group (elementary school students, men and women in prison).

Most programs recruit new volunteers at the start of each semester, but some accept volunteers on a rolling basis or have summer or winter break opportunities.

If you are interested in a particular program, please contact the student coordinator or staff supervisor to find out how to get involved.

More About Community Programs

Our community programs aim to address three sets of objectives:

Community Impact - Realizing significant and sustainable impact requires us to choose specific focuses and bring programs, people, and approaches together around particular issues. Strong, long-term relationships with community members and partner organizations are an essential component of success.
Student Learning - We offer a variety of opportunities for students: from brief introductory immersion experiences to advanced leadership roles that require intensive time commitment and an understanding of complex community dynamics. These experiences are designed to help students develop the skills and knowledge necessary to "lead lives of effective action."

Creation, Dissemination and Application of Knowledge - Beyond simply conducting work in the community, we wish to encourage research and analysis that can be helpful to communities and the field more broadly.

With nearly 30 different community programs, the Swearer Center offers a variety of community opportunities for Brown students. However, we understand that our programs won't meet the unique needs and interests of all individuals seeking community work.

Never fear... our knowledgeable staff can help point you in the right direction. Attend one of our events, schedule an appointment with a staff member, or just stop by and say hello.

You can also visit the Student Activities Office or the Volunteer Center of Rhode Island to learn more about volunteer opportunities that are not sponsored by the Swearer Center.