Strengthening Ties: Innovative Cross-Disciplinary Approaches to Community Engagement

• In Event: Strengthening Ties: Innovative Cross-Disciplinary Approaches to Community Engagement

Abstract

This proposed symposium aims to highlight the crucial role of community building in educational settings. It features four distinct projects, each utilizing Collaborative Action Research (CAR) and practitioner-university faculty partnerships. In these partnerships, the 2024 Ohio Teachers of the Year from various Ohio State Board Districts have collaborated with university faculty to develop and conduct CAR projects across diverse fields. This symposium will demonstrate the varied applications of CAR in different educational contexts and its capacity to strengthen community connections through art, music, community service, and CAR itself. The four project findings will be discussed at the symposium through interactive dialogues, aiming to highlight successful strategies for community engagement. This session aims not only to share valuable insights from the projects but also to explore CAR's transformative potential in strengthening educational and community relations.

Authors

• Grace H. C. Huang, Cleveland State University

• Frederick H. C. Karem, Cleveland State University

• Rick Breault, Ashland University

• Ling Zeng, Ashland University

• Timothy Hubbard, Deer Park Junior-Senior High School

• Jennifer Best, Fairless Elementary School

• Amy DeRodes, Old Fort High School

• Karla H. C. Hamlan-Mansour, Cleveland State University