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Community partnerships are key to how CCEL promotes civic and social responsibility to Spartans. Our partners serve as co-educators by welcoming students and training them to connect with the communities they support. To maintain these relationships, CCEL provides opportunities throughout the year for partners to connect with us and asks for feedback to improve our communication strategies.

One touchpoint we provide for our community partners is an annual gathering to discuss their work and how we can best support it. On April 8, 2026, we hosted a gathering at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center. The program included a lightning panel about the work of partner organizations Allen Neighborhood Center, the Refugee Development Center, and United Way of South Central Michigan. Roundtable discussions centered around initiatives supporting community health and well-being, education, and social equality in Greater Lansing followed the panel.

Based on feedback received at the 2025 community partner gathering, CCEL also introduced a community partner newsletter, CCEL Community Connect, in December 2025. Published each semester, this newsletter provides a space for campus and community readers to learn about public events and calls for support submitted by our partners. With the variety of organizations in Greater Lansing working toward social change, this publication allows us to build new bridges within our network.

The newsletter’s Featured Student Volunteers section highlights the connections between our students and their community partners. This includes student volunteer spotlights submitted by our partners to celebrate exceptional community-engaged Spartans for their commitment to the public good. Also shared are student reflections about how connecting with partners has made an impact on their education.

“Engaging with the Tenant Resource Center [of Mid-Michigan] has been one of the most transformative experiences of my time at MSU,” said third-year economics student and former Community Engagement Scholar Sumaiya Imad for a spring 2026 newsletter feature about community engagement. “I have seen how community-based organizations like the TRC can serve as critical points of intervention, providing both immediate support and pathways to stability.”

The newsletters also include community partner commentary about the significance of student engagement in their programs. For the fall 2025 edition, Refugee Development Center (RDC) volunteer coordinator Savanna Hamed said, “Volunteers are an essential component of RDC programs, and they allow us to expand our services to a wider pool of clients.” This feature focused on the collaboration between the RDC and Community Engagement Scholar Jannet Garcia. “Jannet’s role has expanded capacity within our Student Success team, which means we are able to meet with more students on a regular basis,” Hamed said.

In between these events and newsletters, CCEL stays in touch with our partners through check-in surveys and open meeting times. We look forward to continuing our collaborations with our partners as we develop new methods and programs to stay in touch with their work!