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Community Partners

Our work with community partners is guided by two main goals:

  • Community impact: In order to increase the potential for positive impact, we develop in-depth relationships with particular organizations, focus our efforts on specific issues, and bring multiple resources to bear on those issues.
  • Student learning: We provide a sequence of opportunities that allows students to gain significant knowledge and experience over the course of their time at Brown.

We offer the following ways for community organizations to engage with the Brown community:

  1. Introductions and connections:
    • Community Service Opportunities Fair , held in September and February of each academic year, brings dozens of organizations to campus for them to meet and discuss their work with hundreds of Brown students and staff.
    • The Swearer Bulletin, published weekly during the academic year, includes announcements of community events, volunteer opportunities, and jobs. Email Swearer_Bulletin@brown.edu to join or post to the list.
    • RI Community Jobs is a clearinghouse of information about jobs in the nonprofit sector in Rhode Island.
  2. Work-Study and AmeriCorps opportunities:
    The Swearer Center administers both Community Work-Study and AmeriCorps Scholarships for Service placements for Brown students. Contact Claudia_DeCesare@brown.edu for more information.
  3. Fellowships:
    For students who wish to work intensively on a particular issue or with a particular organization for a summer, the Swearer Center offers fellowships that provide funding and support for that work. For a community organization, a student on a fellowship could provide full-time support with work on research, policy, or development and implementation of a new program. Since all fellowships require sponsors, community organizations can work with students to develop a proposal for consideration.
  4. In-depth, focused program strategies:
    The Swearer Center works intensively with a targeted set of organizations on the focus areas and in-depth strategies that guide our community programs. These programs engage Brown students in ongoing partnerships and work developed in collaboration with specific organizations. Contact our staff to discuss ways your organization can get involved.