iSchool researchers present community engagement research at ESC 2024

iSchool researchers will present their work at the 24th Annual Engagement Scholarship Consortium (ESC) International Conference, which will be held on October 9-10 in Portland, Oregon. The theme of the 2024 conference is "Pathways to Prosperity: Building Sustainable Futures through Community Engagement."

Teaching Assistant Professor David Charles and Teaching Associate Professor Martin Wolske will participate in the preconference, Engagement Academy for University Leaders (EA) Seminar, on October 7. This interactive session will feature testimonies, readings, and group discussions to address community engagement work in higher education.

At the Outreach and Engagement Practitioners Network preconference on October 8, Pathways for Change: Advice and Tools from Boundary Spanning Changemakers, Wolske will serve on the panel, Organizing Diverse Coalitions to Change Campus Culture to Support Community Engagement.

Jorge Rojas-Alvarez, PhD student in the Institute of Communication Research and research affiliate at the Community Data Clinic (led by Associate Professor Anita Say Chan), was selected to participate in the preconference, Emerging Engagement Scholars Workshop, an intensive professional development program for advanced doctoral students and early career faculty, on October 7-8.

Wolske will present "Locally Relevant, Globally Connected Prosperity: A Community Informatics Vision Statement" at the ESC conference on October 9. In his talk, he will introduce a proposed roadmap for navigating the complexities of society, technology, and global collaboration.

On October 10, Associate Professor Maria Bonn, Charles, and Wolske will present, "Engaged Unit Programs: an iSchool at Illinois Case Study," which they coauthored with Teaching Assistant Professor Brandon Batzloff. In their talk, they will share the iSchool's experience as an inaugural member of the University of Illinois Engaged Unit Program.

Also on October 10, Rojas-Alvarez will present "Connecting Technologies for Crisis: Champaign County Resources Project's Journey in Fostering Accountable Relationships and Technological Empowerment," which he coauthored with Chan and two of the Community Data Clinic's community partners, Danielle Chynoweth (Cunningham Township Supervisor’s Office) and Lynn Canfield (Champaign County Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Boards).