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Abstract
Service-learning has the potential to create mutually beneficial relationships between schools and communities, but little research explores service-learning from the community’s perspective. The purpose of this study was to (a) understand how community-based organizations (CBOs) benefited from partnering with students and (b) examine whether organizational capacity (e.g., organization size) or employee vision (e.g., belief in the abilities of children) had a greater impact on the extent to which organizations benefited from their partnerships. The sample consisted of 129 CBOs that received a grant from K-12 students engaged in a service-learning program. Organizational capacity was more predictive of CBO behaviors, such as involving students in service projects and interacting with students, whereas employee vision was more predictive of positive CBO beliefs, such as the future potential of their partnership. This study helps service-learning practitioners and researchers understand how to better support CBOs that wish to form meaningful partnerships with schools.
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Author Biographies
Joanna D. Geller is a PhD candidate in community research and action at Vanderbilt University and is also a senior research associate at the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Her action research focuses on providing youth, families, community stakeholders, and teachers with a voice in their schools and communities.
Natalie Zuckerman is the officer of community partner relations at New York Cares in New York City. She has over 5 years of experience in non-profit and education program development, evaluation, and implementation, including as a community development fellow at Common Cents. She holds a Master’s in Education in Prevention Science and Practice from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a bachelor of science in applied psychology from New York University.
Adam Seidel is the director of operations at Roxbury Prep Lucy Stone Campus, a growing middle school located in Dorchester, MA. Prior to this role, he served on the founding staff as the director of special projects at another Roxbury Prep middle school. Before working directly in schools, he worked at Common Cents for 9 years, serving multiple roles, including managing director, national program director, and community development fellow. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Politics from Oberlin College and a Master’s in Public Administration from Baruch College.
