Funding Information
N/A
Abstract
This case study explores a long-term university-community partnership focused on addressing homelessness, highlighting the principles of mutuality and reciprocity in achieving systemic change. Over nearly a decade, the partnership has evolved to engage university resources, faculty, and social work students through research, courses, and outreach activities, such as community surveys, the Point-in-Time Count, strategic planning, advocacy, and service system expansion. These collaborative efforts have contributed to enhanced public awareness, increased state funding, and the establishment of vital services, including a warming center. The case study also underscores the challenges inherent in community-engaged scholarship, including capacity constraints like funding and staffing and alignment issues of academic expectations with community needs. Despite these challenges, the partnership has succeeded in fostering meaningful student learning experiences and community-led solutions, providing a model for sustaining impactful university-community relationships. This article offers implications for universities and organizations considering partnerships to respond to community-identified needs.
Recommended Citation
Lucero, Jessica L.; Martin, Lucas; and Walters, Jayme
(2025)
"Bringing Mutuality and Reciprocity into Focus: A Case Study on Sustaining University-Community Partnerships for Local Systems Change and Student Learning,"
Transforming Communities: Vol. 2:
Iss.
1, Article 5.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/tcjournal/vol2/iss1/5
Included in
Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Community-Based Research Commons, Public Administration Commons, Social Work Commons