For Immediate Release:

 Open Registration for CoRAL Conference on Community-Driven Research and Social Change in the National Capital Region
Third Annual Conference to take place on April 29, 2006

 

Washington, DC ? The Community Research and Learning (CoRAL) Network announces open registration for its third annual Conference on Community-Driven Research and Social Change in the National Capital Region, taking place on April 29, 2006.  The conference will feature university-community initiatives in the Washington metropolitan area, highlighting the role of community-based learning and research (CBLR) in promoting social change and transforming communities in greater metro DC.  Professors, students, and community members will report on findings from recent joint studies, best practices in building community partnerships, and innovations in CBLR pedagogy.  Trinity University President Pat Maguire will deliver the keynote address to launch the one-day conference on this growing movement among DC?s higher education institutions. CoRAL will hold the conference in the Mary Graydon Center at American University on Saturday, April 29, 2006.

Twelve concurrent sessions will explore community-based learning and research in the context of social issues as well as academic disciplines.  Issue tracks are designed to inform a wide audience and curriculum-based workshops are targeted towards classroom instructors. Presentation topics range from housing research in DC to incorporating CBLR principles into math and science courses.  A networking lunch offers the opportunity for attendees to meet prospective research partners representing the three primary stakeholder groups ? community members, university faculty, and students. ?The CoRAL Conference has been a great resource for our organization, not only to make connections with university professors in the interest of collaborating, but also to hear about new developments in the pursuit of social justice in DC,? said Eugenio Arene, executive director of the Council of Latino Agencies.  ?I recommend attending the conference to my colleagues at other local community organizations because it is a forum for learning about how to better serve neighborhood residents by leveraging the research capabilities and resources from DC?s universities.?

Nearly two hundred participants have attended each previous CoRAL Conference, and CoRAL expects to exceed that number this year, reflecting the burgeoning interest in CBLR as a tool for community revitalization.  ?CBLR is an opportunity for universities to affirm their commitment to their host communities while promoting academic achievement and pedagogical innovations ? and DC-area universities have seized upon the idea,? said Elizabeth Shrader, CoRAL Network executive director. ?The Conference is a critical venue for discussing the role of local universities in shaping the future of DC.?

For more information on the CoRAL Conference and to register, please visit www.coralnetwork.org.  Registration will close on April 15, 2006.

About CoRAL Network

The Community Research and Learning (CoRAL) Network is a consortium of community-based organizations and higher education institutions in the Washington DC metropolitan area engaged in community-based learning and research (CBLR) to promote positive social change and advance social justice in the national capital region.  CoRAL provides technical assistance to faculty, students, and community organizations embarking on CBLR initiatives by conducting trainings, serving as an information clearinghouse, and fostering institutional structures that support CBLR.  For more information, please visit:

www.coralnetwork.org

 

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