Community Partners

David & Frances Brain Center for Community Engagement
(440) 826-2403, BrainCenter@bw.edu

Call for Projects 2023-24 - This document highlights community service events and service-learning courses currently seeking project partners and proposals. Contact a Brain Center staff member to share ideas or request additional information.

The David & Frances Brain Center for Community Engagement (formerly the Office of Community Outreach) partners with many community organizations throughout Berea and the Greater Cleveland community. Community partnerships are an integral component of the Brain Center for Community Engagement. Partners serve as co-educators working together to develop contributing, compassionate citizens. Each year the Brain Center partners with over 75 local non-profit and civic organizations through academic service-learning, community service, internships and immersion experiences.

Throughout the academic year, the Brain Center for Community Engagement develops community engagement opportunities through which students, faculty and staff can participate. By partnering with your organization, not only are we able to support your mission, but you are helping college students to foster important civic and leadership skills.

Non-profit organizations looking to develop new partnerships with the Brain Center are encouraged to meet with a staff member to discuss opportunities to build mutually beneficial projects grounded in learning and action.

Project Affinity Community Partners

Community partners are an essential part of the Project Affinity summer immersion program. Community partners contribute time and expertise to supervise the student participant; and $100 to help defray the cost of student stipends, room and board.

Day of Service Community Partners

Each fall and spring, the Brain Center for Community Engagement hosts a campus-wide service day in conjunction with organizations in Berea and the Greater Cleveland area. Students, faculty and staff come together to serve with a number of different organizations. Participants serve in a variety of ways such as cleaning, sorting food, decorating for the holidays, raking leaves and spending time with older adults at a retirement community.

Service Learning Course Partners

Service-learning brings learning to life by combining academic course content with community engagement opportunities. Students apply new academic knowledge and skills through course-based projects with community partners, across disciplines including public health, communications, psychology, nutrition and more.

Non-Profit Internships

The BW Career Network by Handshake is a web-based platform providing Baldwin Wallace students with employment opportunities, career mentors and relevant resources based on career interests. Create a profile and connect with BW students.

General Requests for volunteers

The Brain Center welcomes service requests from community partners seeking individual or group volunteers for one-time or ongoing projects that may not be met by current Brain Center programs and events. The Brain Center cannot guarantee a student response, but we will make a request known by posting the opportunity on our internal web portal and sharing with relevant campus organizations and departments. Students are then responsible for contacting any partner with whom they would like to work. Special requests from individuals or those involving service in a private residence (e.g. tutoring, yard work, etc.) or transporting individuals (e.g., to appointments, schools, etc.) are not able to be promoted.