DU - Center for Community Engagement to advance Scholarship and Learning

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DU - Center for Community Engagement to advance Scholarship and Learning

CCESL's vision is a university collaborating with communities to improve lives.

We promote this through collaboration for the public good characterized by mutual benefit, fierce optimism, tenacity, rigor, democratic participation, and inclusion. The CCESL (Center for Community Engagement to advance Scholarship & Learning) staff works with students, faculty, on-campus partners, and the community through a community organizing framework. Community organizing is about people wor

king together for systemic social change. It is about developing collective self interest by working with others and taking action on issues the community cares about through true democracy, where the power is with the people. Community organizing is not about the short-term mobilization of bodies, protests or rallies. It is about achieving long-term change through building powerful, public relationships; influencing and negotiating with government, corporations and institutions; achieving direct representation; and holding decision makers accountable to the people through public action. We are committed to developing active citizens as identified in our student learning outcomes.

07/07/2026

On June 20th, and the University of Denver’s Center for Community Engagement, celebrated the official launch of the Mile High Weaver Awards with a Summer Garden Party. The Awards will support people across Denver, with micro-grants up to $2,500, who strengthen connection, belonging, and the social fabric of our neighborhoods.

At the Garden Party, community members, neighborhood leaders, and civic partners gathered to hear about the awards program, with remarks from: Fred Riley, Executive Director of Weave: The Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute, Evon Lopez, neighborhood leader from the Valverde Neighborhood Association, and Anne De Prince, Associate Vice Provost for Public Good Strategy and Research at the University of Denver.

The Mile High Weaver Awards is made possible through a growing collaboration between Denver INC and with faculty mentorship from Stefan Chavez-Norgaard from the Scrivner Institute of Public Policy called the Denver Civic COLab.

Learn more about the Mile High Weaver Awards here: https://www.denverinc.org/weave . Applications are now open!

06/26/2026

Last Month, Gals Who Garden marked the grand opening of a new garden and food forest at Florence Crittenton High School in Denver’s Valverde neighborhood. This milestone was made possible by years of teamwork with the Valverde Neighborhood Association, SustainEd Farms, The Park People, Denver Public Schools, and the University of Denver. Take a look behind the scenes to see what made this project possible, and relive highlights from the ribbon-cutting ceremony!

To learn more about the project, visit https://bit.ly/GalsWhoGarden

Video created By a Faculty-Student Team in the Department of Communication & Media Arts at the University of Denver.

06/08/2026

On Friday, May 29th, Gals Who Garden—a project to launch a garden and food forest at Florence Crittenton High School in Denver’s Valverde neighborhood – officially launched with a ribbon-cutting. The event was a celebration of multiple years of collaborative work by the Valverde Neighborhood Association, SustainEdFarms, The Park People, Denver Public Schools, and the University of Denver. CCESL students lead a block-printing activity for attendees to walk away with a t-shirt or bag commemorating the event.

After the loss of an EPA grant, funding from the Colorado Garden Foundation, Kid’s Gardening & Meyer’s, Sprouts Foundation, Denver Public Schools Office of Sustainability, and the Denver Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency made the launch of the garden and programming possible.

To learn more about the project, visit https://bit.ly/GalsWhoGarden

05/22/2026

We extend our congratulations to all the recipients of the 2026 Public Good and Center for Community Engagement (CCESL) Awards! This year’s honorees have demonstrated exceptional dedication to serving the community, advancing the public good, and inspiring others through their leadership and commitment.

The Public Good Student of the Year award recognizes students with exceptional commitment to the public good, demonstrated by applying their skills to address public problems, organizing others for action, or demonstrating dedication to service and critical reflection.

🌿Public Good Student of the Year Awardees:
Halcyon Levi (.levi)
Sophie Perfetto ()
Mateo Mazariego-Halpern (.Maz)
Jenna Anain ()
Jessica Jimenez

The CCESL Photo Showcase honors students whose photos best capture the pathways of Think, Connect, Act, and Reflect, using creative images to highlight meaningful community engagement.

📸Photo Showcase Awardees:
Reina Ortiz (.ortiiz)
Hannah Meisels ()
Bryanna Rodriguez Ramirez

05/20/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 Photo Showcase Award Winners! This year, we are proud to recognize three outstanding students whose submissions exemplify community engagement and impact:

- Reina Ortiz (.ortiiz), whose first photo, taken during a large anti-ICE protest at Denver’s capitol, captures the powerful turnout and solidarity of the Latino community in the face of fear and adversity. Her image reflects the ongoing struggle for safety, dignity, and cultural preservation amidst nationwide immigration challenges.

- Hannah Miesels (), whose second photo was taken at the launch of Cocina Libre’s second cookbook, captures an immigrant chef sharing his featured story with his sons. Her work powerfully illustrates moments of pride that challenge dominant narratives and celebrate immigrant stories.

- Bryanna Rodriguez-Ramirez, whose third photo highlights her work as a program developer intern at Girl Scouts DreamLab, where she helps reimagine the space and introduce new equipment for young scouts. Her efforts, including piloting creative tools like a Cricut, foster engagement and innovation among participants.

Each winner exemplified community impact through both their visual artistry and written storytelling, helping us share powerful moments and stories that resonate throughout our organization.

05/19/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make last week’s 4th Annual Public Good Celebration such a wonderful, joy-filled event!

Students, faculty, staff, and community partners came together across four events to share, recognize, and celebrate the amazing research and creative projects happening across DU. From inspiring conversations to hands-on showcases, the day was a beautiful reminder of all that’s possible when our community comes together.

We’re so grateful to everyone who showed up, shared their work, and helped make the day so full of connection, learning, and impact.

05/13/2026

Today is the day! Join us for the Public Good Celebration! Enjoy free professional headshots at 11 am in CCOM 1100 📸, the Photo Showcase Reception at 2 pm in the Community Commons Art Gallery, and the Student Signature Work Showcase at 3 pm in CCOM 1700.

Enjoy empanadas and boba tea🧋while viewing this year's photo entries, then visit the Resource Fair and Research Showcase.

05/12/2026

Sneak peek behind the scenes 👀

We're getting ready for tomorrow's Public Good Celebration at the Community Commons! The day will kick off at 12pm with the Student Lunch for your Future (Open to all students!) where you can drop in, get a free professional headshot, and enjoy an empanada lunch 🥙

Then stop by the Community Engagement Photo Showcase, check out the photos, and enjoy some boba tea 🧋

Finish the day by stopping by the Impact Resource Fair and the Student Signature Work Showcase, where over 100 students and their mentors will be sharing the amazing collaborative work they're doing. 📒

Go to ccesl.info/celebration or swipe to see the full schedule of events ---> no registration required to attend. We hope to see you there!

05/01/2026

Volunteer at FloCrit on May 12th! 🌱 Join our volunteer event at Florence Critton High School, which supports parenting and pregnant mothers. This is an opportunity to support a transformational outdoor learning space that expands access to sustainability and nutrition education, as well as hands-on environmental engagement, for students and families. Be part of something meaningful!

Sign up at sustained farms.org/events

This volunteer day will start at 12:30 pm and wrap up at 4:30 pm. We look forward to seeing you there!

04/24/2026

Join us at the 4th Annual Public Good Celebration for the faculty workshop, "Writing Research for a Public Audience," where you'll discover effective strategies for sharing your research with a wider audience. Editors from The Conversation and DU faculty will provide practical tips on pitching and publishing stories that resonate beyond academia.

Two sessions available on Wednesday, May 13
Session 1: 9:00–10:15am | Burwell 220
Session 2: 10:30–11:45am | Burwell 220

Learn more and register: https://airtable.com/app6KL9zMHjHUuXni/pagXtwpa1gGnMlJjE/form

What is the Public Good Celebration? Learn more: https://academicaffairs.du.edu/content/2026-public-good-celebration

Address

Community Commons, Suite 1100 2055 E. Evans Avenue
Denver, CO
80208

Website

https://www.du.edu/ccesl/

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