As a result of the complexity and interconnectedness of diversity issues on campus and in society, many colleges and universities are turning to their local communities to develop innovative partnerships and learning opportunities. These dynamic connections between campus and community have become an important new frontier for diversity learning. In order to learn how to forge stronger multicultural communities, students are engaged in hands-on experiential and research projects in local and global communities, often with people they knew little about before entering college. In that process they are cultivating important practical skills -- listening, empathy, fairness, dialogue, conflict resolution -- in order to solve problems collaboratively.

This section highlights the expanding opportunities for community involvement and course-based service learning. It describes ways to form effective campus/community partnerships, projects that highlight dialogue as a means and citizen engagement as a goal; and resources that enhance the likelihood of producing solid educational experiences for students.