C-EL Summit
This annual community-engaged learning summit gathers community leaders and university affiliates to share their experiences working with students in community-engaged contexts and to build and strengthen meaningful partnerships. Each year focuses on a different dimension of community-university partnerships. Read below to learn about previous themes.
2026—Action in Concert: Summit for Collective Impact
May 8, 2026
On May 8, 2026, 76 people from the University of Rochester and Greater Rochester community gathered at Staybridge Suites for the second annual community-engaged learning summit, “Action in Concert: Summit for Collective Impact.” Co-sponsored by the Center for Community Engagement, Partners for Campus-Community Engagement, and RASE (the Commission on Racial and Structural Equity) led by Urban League of Rochester, this summit was intended to gather across the sector of community-university partnerships in the spirit of joining our efforts to address issues of mutual concern. Breakout presentations included how to embody motivation-to-action; immigrant farmworkers advocacy efforts; redistributing surplus medical supplies and equipment to promote health equity; how to build impactful teams; creating sustainable pathways from homelessness to leadership; and leveraging cross-sector workplace collaboration to improve financial stability of community members. You can read more about the summit in our blog post.
Breakout Session
Nancy Chin (left) and Quinae Brooks (right) present "Building Collective Impact Through Lived Experience" based on their respective roles at the Bethany House.
Morning Session
Attendees pack the room for the morning plenary session about collaborative leadership.
Breakout Session
Attendees review materials from ALICE at Work, a program of United Way.
Lunch
Students from the University of Buffalo.
Lunch
Attendees share lunch and conversation, including Annette Ramos (right) from Monroe County Board of Elections.
Breakout Session
Gulsinam Akhmadzhanova presents about her work with InterVol, a volunteer organization that redistributes surplus medical supplies and equipment to nonprofit partners locally and to communities in need globally.
Breakout Session
Community-engaged learning faculty Rose Pasquarello Beauchamp and Anne Wilcox demonstrate a partner exercise in their interactive workshop about embodying motivation to action.
Keynote Panel
Dr. Shaun Nelms, Vice President for Community Partnerships at the University of Rochester, speaks about collaborative leadership in the opening keynote panel.
Breakout Session
Representatives from Alianza Agrícola present about immigrant farmworker advocacy efforts.
Morning Session
Attendees gather for the second annual community-engaged learning summit, "Action in Concert: Summit for Collective Impact."
2025—Building Resilient Relationships
May 13, 2025
The 2025 summit was intended to gather across the sector of community-university partnerships in the spirit of building resilient relationships. There were more than 82 individuals who joined us, with 53% coming from our Greater Rochester community and 47% connected to the University of Rochester by employment. Of these individuals, we had more than 20 unique organizations represented; 4 local collegiate institutions represented, in addition to all three branches of the University of Rochester – Eastman School of Music, River Campus, and URMC.
Action Planning
Juliet Sullivan asks a question during the action planning session.
Action Planning
Katie Thomas listens intently during the action planning session.
Closing Remarks
Robin Losito gives the closing remarks.
Action Planning
Halima Gbaguidi asks a question during the action planning session.
Action Planning
Working group two during the action planning session.
Thanksgiving Address
Cole Reuben presents the Ganö:nyök (Thanksgiving Address) to open the day.
Keynote Portrait
Erin Thompson from the M.K. Gandhi Institute delivers the keynote address.