Advancing Collective Impact through Place-Based Community Engagement
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18060/29435Keywords:
place-based community engagement, Higher Education, Urban Communities, Communities, Community-university partnerships, Collective ImpactAbstract
Higher education institutions and the community are becoming increasingly interdependent to protect and promote democracy and human rights. This requires a renewed focus on ways to address urban challenges at scale through measurable and consistent actions. To effectively address urban community challenges, it is crucial to employ a place-based approach. Understanding the significance of this approach, Montclair State University elevated the impact of its interventions by integrating a place-based approach to its community engagement strategies and restructuring its institutional infrastructure. Through these steps, the university intends to form a deeper connection to the local communities, transform both the campus culture and the local community, and improve opportunities for economic mobility. This led to the creation of the Paterson One Square Mile initiative, designed to bring the University’s resources, faculty, and students together to support and advance the Paterson community. Additionally, through the generous support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the university was able to advance the initiative by establishing Eastside High School as a University-assisted community hub offering wraparound services, including academic support, health services, and counseling for students and families.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Iris DiMaio, Pariwish Abbasi, Bryan Murdock , Celia Hernandez
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