Community Engagement Advocates
The Community Engagement Advocates are student leaders trained to facilitate dialogues around issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. These interactive workshops are designed to create brave spaces for students to explore a wide range of topics race, class, gender, sexuality, able-ism, religion, and community engagement. The CEA program works to foster a campus culture of inclusion, equity and empathy, to prepare students to navigate some of society’s most pressing challenges related to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Workshop participants will participate in interactive activities and open dialogues designed to help them grow in their self-awareness and awareness of others. These experiences will both challenge participants’ assumptions and perspectives while supporting a collaborative learning environment, through open and honest dialogue.
Community Engagement dialogues focus on preparing students for their work with New Orleans communities. Students explore issues of power, privilege and identity in the context of community engagement activities and develop a sense of civic responsibility beyond a deficit-based or charity mind frame. Participants will:
- Gain an increased knowledge of the New Orleans community while challenging common assumptions and stereotypes;
- Explore the power of language and potential positive and negative impacts of language in different cultural contexts;
- Consider the relationships between systemic causes for social issues and how they relate to their service projects;
- Gain tools to analyze community needs and assets through observation, deep listening and relationship building; and
- Understand the importance of reciprocal relationships and deep listening in the context of community engagement.
Campus-Based dialogues focus on building greater awareness, empathy and inclusion within the Tulane community. Participants will explore their social group identities, share personal experiences and opinions, and dive deeper into language, concepts and perceptions related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Participants will:
- Explore their identity in relation to others, looking through an intersectional lens at the way identity interacts with power and privilege;
- Explore terms, definitions and language around issues of identity, oppression and empowerment (including race, class, gender, sexuality, religion, politics, ability status, age and more);
- Consider the relationships between interpersonal, institutional and structural forms of oppression;
- Examine stereotypes, assumptions and beliefs which can lead to misunderstanding, prejudice, bias and bigotry;
- Work to build mutual understanding and positive relationships with peers across various backgrounds and experiences; and
- Practice and develop behaviors related to cultural humility, such as listening deeply, suspending judgments, cross-cultural communication tools and more.
Community Engagement Advocates are available by request to facilitate workshops for classes, service-learning courses, residence halls, student organizations and other Tulane organizations. Request a Community Engagement Advocate dialogue by submitting this form. Please submit all requests at least three weeks in advance.
Community Engagement Advocates are diverse leaders from across Tulane’s campus who are trained to facilitate dialogues and workshops related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Community Engagement Advocates commit to participate in a year-long training designed to help them understand and explore key social justice issues and facilitation methods. During the year, the training includes a variety of academic and experiential modules, covering topics such as facilitation, processing, pedagogy, race, class, gender, sexuality, New Orleans root culture and more.
Community Engagement Advocates go through a rigorous three-part certification process which includes observing facilitators, a content exam and mock facilitations. To apply to be a CEA, fill out the online application.
