The Community Classroom is a series of courses offered to community members and residents taught by UT faculty, staff and community partners. These classes are designed to marry theory and practice and to offer a specific skill, knowledge, or expertise to support the work of community members engaging with advocacy/activism efforts, or other community-based work.
It is our goal to break down the barriers that can come when working and learning in a formal educational setting and create a reciprocal and dynamic space that informs exposure, dialogue and best practices. We offer both 4–6-week courses and a 1.5 – 2 hour (hands on) class. The fees range between $5.00 – $25.00
Upcoming Community Classroom Courses
Community Connection Through Restorative Circles
Thursday, March 30, 2023 (6:00 – 7:30 pm)
The Children’s Haven Association
1908 Chicon St., Suite A
Austin, Texas 78722
In partnership with the UT Center for Community Engagement, the Office for Inclusion and Equity and Step Up Texas will host a session as part of CCE’s Community Classroom Series. This event will provide participants with an overview of restorative practices and an opportunity to experience engaging community voices through restorative circles.
Space is limited to 30 people.
Please RSVP by Friday, March 24, 2023
Registration Fee: $15.00
Need a registration fee waiver? Contact Stephanie Lang at stephanielang@austin.utexas.edu
Available parking spots at Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church
(1710 E 20th St, Austin, TX 78722)
Previous Community Classroom Courses
Fall 2022
Navigating Grief and Loss: Thriving with a Heavy Heart. The Amen Group in Partnership with the UT Center for Community Engagement Community Classroom Series held two sessions with Theresa Libios. These faith-based, interactive discussions on Grief and Loss reviewed the stages of grief, highlights from the book Grief is Love: Living with Loss, facilitate a small group discussion, and closing prayer. The goal of these sessions was to help participants explore their own experiences with grief and loss, learn new ways of understanding grief and how to respond to it, and the importance of connecting with others and their faith for needed support.
Instructor:
- Theresa Libios, licensed professional counselor, EDMR therapist, and CES doctoral candidate.
SPRING 2021
Human Centered Advocacy was a virtual 4-week course hosted by the Community Advocacy and Healing Project (CAHP). This course provided a framework on how community members can advocate for sustainable change through a cultural, mindful, healing, and human-centered lens. Participants learned to create, audit and adapt strategic plans for small businesses, creative projects, and community-oriented spaces.
Instructor:
- Fatima Mann, Founder of CAHP, Lawyer, Yoga Instructor
FALL 2020
Community Education Exchange was a virtual 4-week course hosted by UT Austin’s Institute for Urban Policy Research & Analysis (IUPRA). This course provided community members with policy tools and resources that can be used to communicate information to city leaders related to their concerns for equity in the city’s K-12 public education. Participants learned about policymaking, specifically on how to write policy briefs and policy recommendations.
Instructors:
- Dr. Danielle Wright, Associate Director of IUPRA, UT Austin College of Education
- Dr. Tracie Lowe, Assistant Director of Assessment, IUPRA
- Annika Olson, Assistant Director of Policy, IUPRA
- Rickey Lowe, Research Associate, IUPRA