The Learning Community Approach: On-the-Ground Insights for Larger Organizational Change

A Learning Community can help organizations gain input from their community, drawing on expertise of lived experience from community members. It’s a process of co-creation of vision and direction where LC members, organizational leadership and the research/facilitation team are equal members of the team.

We used the LC approach while working with an international home-visiting agency to implement new curriculum to help parents foster healthy ethnic-racial identities in young children. This was a wonderful and highly rewarding experience for all involved – community members were not just heard, but led the work. The LC approach is adaptable and empowering, and we’re excited to share parts of our journey to help participants find ways they might implement something similar to solve problems they face.

Presenters:

Nathan Jorgensen, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher, Equity Research Action Coalition, FPG Child Development Institute

TK Musa, Graduate Student, Public Policy, UNC and Research Associate, Equity Research Action Coalition, FPG Child Development Institute

Danielle Allen, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, Public Policy, UNC and Equity Research Action Coalition, FPG Child Development Institute

Preston Benally, Program Manager, Chicanos Por La Causa

Location: Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (UNC’s Spangler Building, Rm 128) (Click here for a helpful map!)

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