Reflections from the Institute for Community Engagement and Civic Leadership

Community College of Philadelphia’s Institute for Community Engagement and Civic Leadership, known as the Institute, works to connect students, faculty and staff to on- and off-campus volunteer and civic engagement opportunities in Philadelphia. “The Institute essentially is a hub for community engagement and addressing different issues of public concern here in the city,” said Michael Miles, senior Community Engagement specialist for the Institute. The goal of the organization is to ensure all members of the CCP community have access to community engaged learning opportunities and experiences.

The Institute offers a variety of programs for the campus community to get involved in, ranging from one-time opportunities to semester-long and even yearlong programs. "We have Semester of Service, which is a way that students can go out into the community and go on different service projects, volunteering at different organizations in the city,” said Olivia Edwards, Community Engagement specialist for the Institute. “We also have various semester-long programs, like Adopt-A-School, where you can work in elementary schools to tutor students and assist teachers, or Next Steps AmeriCorps, which is a yearlong service program that's part of the national organization AmeriCorps.”

Earlier this year, the College was honored by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education for commitment to community engagement. CCP is the only community college in Pennsylvania to recieve this recognition and is one of only 237 colleges and univeristies across the country to be recognized. “With that, it really just...upholds the mission of the College and the Institute,” said Michelle Lopez, director of the Institute. “In terms of...what I would like CCP to be known for or recognized for...[it’s] being a community-engaged institution.”

But what is most gratifying for members of the Institute is the progress that students make over their time at the College, especially those who choose to get involved with the Institute. “I think for me, the most rewarding part about working at CCP is seeing students grow and develop over time and really see them gain confidence and grow into the leaders that they are,” Olivia said. She is proud to be a part of so many students’ journeys at CCP and to see the community spirit that arises from the volunteer opportunities that the Institute offers.

As the College celebrates 60 years as an institution, faculty, staff and students are looking forward to the next six decades. “In the next 60 years, I hope CCP continues to grow as a leader in access and opportunity while becoming the premier institution for community engagement,” Michelle said. “My hope is that the College continues to be a place where learning, service and collaboration come together to create lasting impact for our students and for the city.”

The Institute is always open to collaborating with partners across the city to bring even more opportunities to students and to mutually benefit the wider Philadelphia community. You can learn more about the Institute here.