"I Can Show You Better Than I Can Tell You": Black Women Leading Through Service

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 11
  In Roundtable Session: Re-Examining Place-Based Interdependencies Toward Equitable Education

Abstract

Service-learning combines academic coursework with volunteer community service. Its key components include coursework, community service, course credit, and reflection. These components focus solely on the perspective of student volunteers. While these volunteer efforts are valuable, recognizing the rich history of volunteer service within the communities being served is important. The dedication to service within these communities can be a beacon of light to service-learning programs seeking to revamp outdated models that rely on volunteers who enter underserved communities for short periods of time before returning to their own lives. Redefining the outcomes of service-learning programs must begin with the legacy of volunteering among African American educators in local communities.

Author

• Tamera Denise Moore, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte