School of Urban Education 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 second event of the series will feature Victor Cole with the School of Urban Education (UED)—this year celebrating its 25th anniversary at Metro State University.

Previously known as the Urban Teacher Preparation (UTP) program, UED opened its doors with its first classes in fall 2001, after a Minnesota legislative mandate was passed. In those years, every teacher candidate who attained a teaching degree and licensure has completed 640–720 hours of practicum and student teaching in the 7-country metro area. Modestly, with an average of 20 graduates a year, UED/UTP students have been engaged in community for more than 340,000 hours. UED continues this work along with key events for completers, new pedagogic researchers, and community partners working in a framework of emancipatory/liberatory education model.

Join us to hear about UED’s community engagement work as they highlight their:
• Completers Celebration
• Partnership Summit 2026
• New Researchers Night
• The School of Urban Education Silver Jubilee—25th Anniversary Homecoming
• And more!

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

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.