By Lissa Schwander, Associate Professor & Field Director of Social Work at Central Michigan University & Campus Compact 2023-2024 Intercultural Development Fellow
You’ve probably heard the saying, “those who can do, those who can’t teach”. As a professor of social work, I feel like I’ve lived these words for a long time. “Real” social workers are out there in the world making change. My work is simply to equip future change makers, give them the tools they need, help them to think critically about the world around them and then send them off to do good work in the world. I think this is often true of many of us in higher education, the classroom, the scholarship, the academy all separates us from the work of the “real world”.
My work with Campus Compact this year has me thinking about the space between. In many ways, the work of community engagement professionals represents this space between; between the classroom and the “real world”, between institutions of higher education and the communities in which they are situated. Community engagement professionals, whether professors with primary duties in the classroom, or directors and leaders of institutes, centers or programs are involved in work that is uniquely situated in this space between and as a result, need skills and tools that are unique to this space.
As I’ve engaged the work of intercultural development in the higher education/community engagement space, I’ve come to realize that the work requires unique skills and tools, including those connected to intercultural development and DEIJB. In the current climate for institutions of higher education, particularly those with statewide legislation limiting DEIJB efforts, spaces of community and civic engagement have become increasingly important. How do we as citizens and members of communities that represent all kinds of difference continue to learn to understand one another and work toward a common good? Community engagement professionals exist in these spaces between all kinds of difference, individual identity differences but also institutional and structural difference that can both promote and support engagement across difference, but also limit and challenge such engagement.
Questions remain about how to do this well. As I come to the official end of my fellowship with Campus Compact, the work continues. We are piloting a curriculum for community engagement professionals within institutions of higher education. We would also like to invite you into the conversation. Please consider joining us in the Intercultural Development Learning Community starting in January 2025.
Intercultural development in practice
Read these stories from across the country that illustrate the different ways institutions and students are helping to build intercultural understanding.
Grand Valley State University hosts 26th Annual Multicultural Conference
Grand Valley State University’s 2025 Multicultural Conference will focus on the theme, “Using a Nervous System Approach for Intercultural Interactions and Decreasing Polarization.“ More →
Oberlin gathers identity-oriented student offices into new space as part of Center for Intercultural Engagement
Oberlin College recently gathered many of its identity-centered student offices into a newly renovated space to facilitate an intersectional approach to supporting students. More →
Elon University welcomes cohort of 8 faculty and staff to The Intercultural Development and Education to Action (IDEA) Institute
These faculty & staff will spend a year as part of this cohort to further their intercultural learning and critical thinking abilities. More →
Campuses across the country celebrate cross-cultural exchange during International Education Week 2024
Many Campus Compact member campuses, including University of Rhode Island, Saint Michael’s College & University of Nebraska Omaha hosted talks, cultural events, and more to build connection across cultures during International Education Week.More →
Get involved: intercultural development
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Join our new Intercultural Development Learning Community to participate in a cohort-based program to understand and enhance your own intercultural competency. Registration is open now, and space is limited. Sign up today!
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Check out Dr. Shawn Ginwright’s book, The Four Pivots: Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves and related programming from Flourish Agenda for tools and resources that encourage you to focus on restoring humanity to achieve better activism and stronger collective leadership.
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Learn how to develop your intercultural sensitivity with the book, Cultural Sensitivity Training: Developing the Basis for Effective Intercultural Communication by Dr. Susann Kowalski.
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Read the book, Exploring Cultural Dynamics and Tensions Within Service-Learning by Dr. Nicole Webster and Dr. Trae Stewart to explore the cultural values of service-learning and the tensions created when this is at odds with the values of others.
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Watch "Cultural Humility: People, Principles and Practices," a 30-minute documentary by Dr. Vivian Chávez, that mixes poetry with music, interviews, archival footage, and images of community, nature and dance to explain what Cultural Humility is and why we need it.
Join Campus Compact
To leverage the full benefits of Campus Compact at your institution, join our coalition. Campus Compact membership offers valuable information, powerful networks, and opportunities to work collectively with peers across the country.