About
Us
What
does the Center for Citizenship and Community do?
The Center for Citizenship
and Community of Butler University, founded in 1996, coordinates
and develops activities that fuse together university and community
resources for the common purpose of improving our urban environment.
The Center is non-partisan and coordinates service learning (academic
learning linked to relevant community service) and internship opportunities
for students with community-based constituents. It also convenes
forums on issues of interest to the communities that lie both within
and beyond Butler University.
The Center is a university-wide
undertaking with community support that seeks to instill within
students and community members alike, the belief that social practices
informed by intellectual inquiry can bring about positive change
for individuals, city households, and the community as a whole. |
How does the Center for Citizenship and Community develop its programming
ideas?
The Center seeks input from the various community constituents
with which it works. It also welcomes suggestions from neighborhood
residents and community organizations concerning its programming.
For example, during the development of the HUD sponsored Community
Outreach Partnership Centers (COPC) program,
the Center's director created an Advisory
Board that grew to over 50 individuals and representatives
from civic, political, cultural, educational, medical and neighborhood
nonprofit organizations.
Citizen input is continuously sought through the Center's representation
on boards throughout the city, including the Martin Luther King
Service Center and the Maple Road Development Association.
The Butler University/Butler-Tarkington Operational Team (BBOT)
is another group that meets regularly. Founded in 1999, the
group consists of Butler-Tarkington neighbors and Butler University
faculty, staff, and students. BBOT seeks to build consensus
among neighbors and the University on issues of perennial concern
(e.g. student rentals, parking, and noise). In the fall of
2000, Butler University began distributing the educational brochure,
"Home Life:
a student guide." The brochure represents
the collaboration effort undertaken by the neighborhood and Butler
University representatives to improve living conditions for everyone
in our neighborhoods.
|
What is the university's commitment to the Center for Citizenship
and Community?
The Center has the full support of Butler University President,
Dr. Bobby Fong. Numerous faculty, staff, and students donate
expertise and time to the Center's ongoing programming and program
development. The Center is incorporated within the university's
operating budget. Members of the Butler Community and the
broader community also assist Dr. Brabant in her continual efforts
to locate support for the Center's outreach activities through external
funding sources. The staff of the Center consists of Dr. Brabant,
Dr. Braid, a student research assistant, and student ACEs. To
Staff Page
|
How can I learn more about the Center or become involved with it?
Contact Dr. Margaret Brabant, Director at (317) 940-9683 or Dr. Donald
Braid, Associate Director at (317) 940-8353 dbraid@butler.edu. |
|
| The
Center for Citizenship and Community
Butler University, 4600 Sunset Avenue, Indianapolis IN 46208 (317)
940-9683
For more information, contact Dr. Margaret Brabant at: mbrabant@butler.edu |
