The Place-Based Justice Network (PBJN) is a learning community committed to transforming higher education and our communities by deconstructing systems of oppression through place-based community engagement. Place-based community engagement is defined by the PBJN as a long-term university-wide commitment to partner with local residents, organizations, and other leaders to focus equally on-campus and community impact within a clearly defined geographic area.
Recognizing the opportunity to learn by coming together, the Place-Based Justice Network's twenty members participate in annual summer Institutes held at member campuses, monthly continuing learning video conference Zoom calls, leadership retreats to exchange ideas and lessons learned in place-based community engagement. The purpose of the network is to transform higher education and our communities by deconstructing systems of oppression through place-based community engagement.
The Place-Based Justice Network includes:
To build community, share best practices and develop relationships with other colleges and universities engaged in parallel work, over the past three years the Center for Community Engagement has hosted a series of convenings in collaboration with over 25 universities across the United States and Canada. We have formalized these gatherings by creating and facilitating a more cohesive national network: the Place-Based Justice Network.
To learn more or join an upcoming call or gathering, please see our website.
Kent Koth explains the role of the Center for Community Engagement as a part of the Seattle University Youth Initiative
We define place-based community engagement as “a long-term university-wide commitment to partner with local residents, organizations, and other leaders to focus equally on campus and community impact within a clearly defined geographic area”
Seattle University's Kent Koth and Erica K. Yamamura