Civic Innovations (CI), a strategic initiative, addresses needs of disadvantaged youth and is a collaboration between Wagner College and youth serving agencies on Staten Island (SI), one of five NYC boroughs. CI promotes two program strategies: Community-Connected Departments (CCDs) and a Youth Advocacy Consortium (YAC). The model transforms college and community by implementing institutional and curricular changes that integrate service-learning pedagogy and civic engagement values, while utilizing college student and faculty expertise to enhance lives of disadvantaged youth. The model coordinates services and provides a means for community-based organizations to share resources and collaborate.

In the CCD model, six academic departments revise courses addressing needs of partnering organizations and disadvantaged youth. CCD courses are developed with community youth-serving organizations and involve 1200 Wagner College students in related S/L activities. The academic, social, and leadership needs of 8,000 disadvantaged youth are addressed by college students, who serve as role models, mentors, and tutors.

Wagner will develop and facilitate a Youth Advocacy Consortium (YAC) that links youth agencies to resources, encourages collaborations and improves access to colleges. The YAC will be a hub of information that fosters increased S/L opportunities, volunteering, and community engagement. It is a means to build alliances across agencies, to resources and to direct volunteers to appropriate programmatic needs.

Civic Innovations is generously supported through funding from The Corporation for National and Community Service’s Learn & Serve America Program [Grant number 06LHHNY002].