August 2026

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Welcome Allen Hillery to the Swearer Center and CEDEC

The Swearer Center is pleased to announce that Allen Hillery started as an associate director focused on the Community-Engaged Data and Evaluation Collaborative (CEDEC) on August 3. Allen comes to Brown from the City University of New York (CUNY). As a distinguished lecturer and director of the Data and Society Initiative at CUNY’s Macaulay Honors College, Allen has provided students with experiential learning opportunities that also benefit public and nonprofit agency partners in New York. In 2025 and 2026, Allen has also taught a course in Brown’s online Data Science: Governance, Policy and Society (DSIO) program, addressing ethical issues related to data access, bias, security and stewardship that are important to CEDEC. Learn more; he can be reached at [email protected] and [email protected].

Last Chance to Register for 8/19 Community-Engaged Research and Teaching Retreat

Want to connect with an inspiring array of colleagues at Brown and community partners who care about reciprocal, impactful community-engaged scholarship? This annual event on Wednesday, August 19, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., at 225 Dyer St. will include a mix of lightning talks,  breakout discussions and networking activities. While the primary participants have been faculty, we also welcome staff with responsibilities related to community-engaged research and/or teaching. Registration will close  August 7 unless the event fills up earlier (as happened last year). Learn more and register.  With questions, please email Cara Mitchell.

Support for State Clearances for Students in Engaged Courses and Research
Students engaging with partner organizations that work with minors or other vulnerable populations may be required to complete certain state clearances before they begin. Through Engagement Preparation Days (EPD) each semester, the Swearer Center provides logistical and financial support for clearances for students in CBLR courses and/or involved in faculty-led community-engaged research, as well as Swearer-affiliated programs. Students have three Fall 2026 EPD options at the Swearer Center, 2 Stimson Ave. (Saturdays, September 12, 19 and 26 from 1-3:30 p.m.) and need to bring their government-issued ID and share the community partner and the course they are engaging with. Students will receive their clearances back by encrypted Virtru email within two weeks after they attend an EPD. More detailed guidance around clearances can be found here. Brown’s updated Minors Protection Program and requirements are available here.

Community-Based Learning and Research (CBLR) Course Mini-Grants

The Swearer Center offers CBLR Course Mini-Grants (maximum $500) to instructors of undergraduate and graduate courses at Brown, in order to support the implementation of high-impact community-engaged learning experiences and the compensation of community-based partners. Applications for Fall 2026 and Winter 2027 courses will be accepted through UFunds on a rolling basis through December 3. With questions, please email Julie Plaut.

Community-Engaged Research Foundational Trainings

After a successful Spring 2026 pilot of a hybrid foundational training on community-engaged research with colleagues from 13 academic units, the organizing and facilitation team plans to offer additional rounds of this same training to interested faculty, staff and postdoctoral fellows in Fall 2026, Spring 2027, and June 2027. If you have questions - or would like to receive the expression of interest form by email when it is available - please contact Cara Mitchell.

Opportunities to Connect and Shape Community Partnerships

• The Advance RI-CTR Community Engagement Studio program is seeking community members, patients, caregivers, advocates, service providers, and others interested in sharing their perspectives to help improve health research in Rhode Island. Please share with people who might like to join the program’s mailing list and be a paid community expert in a Studio.

• The university’s Office of Community Engagement invites departments and divisions to share information about community events and organizations they sponsor and to consider participating in a coordinated co-sponsorship model. (Learn more.)  

This summer saw many stories of community engagement across the university including:

• Providence High Schoolers Help Design a Health Program Built for Them (News from Brown)

• Challenging History on Juneteenth: Newport’s New Center for Black History and Research Collaboration with Brown (News from the Simmons Center)

• Initiative Led by Brown Researchers Boosts Mental Health Support in RI Public Schools (News from Brown)

• Elementary Students Uplift Their Voices in Brown Poetry Program (News from Brown)

• Brown’s Small Business Supplier Summit Builds Bridges Between Campus, Local Businesses (News from Brown)

• IBES Expands Undergraduate Research Opportunities with New Assistantship Program (Institute at Brown for Environment and Society News)

• Education Student Creates Handcrafted Doll Set to Celebrate Local AAPI Museum Anniversary (Education Department Community Engagement and Impact News)

• David Felipe: Empowering Communities through Access to Education, Mentorship (News from Brown)

Do you have stories - or events, congratulations, announcements, grants or other opportunities related to community-engaged teaching, research or partnerships that you’d like shared with colleagues at Brown? Please email any suggested content to Julie Plaut.

EVENTS

GRANTS, AWARDS, FELLOWSHIPS

PRESENTATION & PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITIES