Social Work Lunch and Learn

Join us as we continue our monthly community engagement learning series throughout Spring 2026, where we will showcase our campus work in community engagement. Discover how faculty, staff, students, and partners are building meaningful collaborations to address societal needs and create lasting change. These sessions will showcase innovative projects, success stories, provide examples for building trust and fostering collaboration, and provide opportunities to connect.

Our third event of the series will feature Robert O'Connor, Department Chair, Social Work Department.

Metro State Social Work Department’s BSW program is one of the most unique social work programs in the nation¹. At the heart of this program is its mission and design featuring culturally responsive community engagement, preparation, and representation.

Please join us to learn more about how the department operationalizes it’s mission to produce more than 45,000 hours of direct student engagement each year, and how it’s Community Research and Advocacy course successfully incorporates a community based participatory research framework.

Everyone is welcome to join us via Zoom—come learn, share, and be part of the conversation! No registration is needed.

¹Reaffirmation site visitor, CSWE (2-19-2026).

Note: We use AI for accessible transcription and captioning, but sessions will not be recorded - come for the live conversation!

To request accommodations for a disability, contact Accessibility Resources at 651.793.1549 or accessibility.resources@metrostate.edu.

This series is built on the belief that meaningful change happens when vision meets action. It gives every college and school a space to showcase how they are turning community engagement ideals into concrete steps that strengthen partnerships and create real impact. Together, we’ll explore what it looks like to build trust with intention, communicate with clarity, and collaborate in ways that honor community expertise. We’ll dig into the full arc of engagement—from the first conversation to project development, implementation, and evaluation—so participants leave with strategies they can use immediately.

This is a space for rolling up our sleeves. For learning how academic knowledge and community wisdom can work side by side. For designing projects that respond to real needs, elevate local voices, and move us toward more equitable outcomes. By sharing practical tools, lived experiences, and examples from across campus, this series empowers all of us to take purposeful steps toward stronger partnerships and lasting change.