Augsburg University is committed to being a contributing member of the neighborhood we call home, Cedar-Riverside, and the broader communities that make up Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The Sabo Center stewards this commitment by leading Augsburg’s university-wide place-based work and anchor institution strategy, as well as serving as the touch-point for community-based learning in Cedar-Riverside and Minneapolis.
Place-Based Community Engagement
The Sabo Center leads university-wide work around place-based community engagement. We steward long-term relationships with individuals, community groups, and organizations in and around Cedar-Riverside, building learning opportunities for our campus community that are supportive of the work of our off-campus partners. Guided by principles of equity and reciprocity, we build and maintain relationships and connect Augsburg with the neighborhood through initiatives such as Campus Kitchen.
Nationally, the Sabo Center is a member of the national Place-Based Justice Network, a group of twenty member institutions that participate in annual summer institutes, continuous learning opportunities, leadership retreats, and other activities focused on place-based community engagement in higher education.
Neighborhood Tours
Understanding the history and contemporary culture of our neighborhoods is an essential part of building supportive and generative relationships with the communities we live, work and learn alongside. Want to learn more about Cedar-Riverside and Seward, how Augsburg shows up, and where to get the best coffee and eats in our neighborhoods? Tours can be themed around topics like transportation, community development, collective and cooperative economics, and more! Students, staff, faculty and community members are all welcome to request tours. Send inquiries to Jenean Gilmer (gilmerje@augsburg.edu).
Community-Based Learning
Every year, numerous courses at Augsburg include an experiential learning component that connects students with community organizations through research, field trips, guest speakers, and public impact projects. Students also participate in community-based learning through co-curricular opportunities like Campus Kitchen, Augsburg Local, and more.
Interested in learning how to connect with communities through your work at Augsburg? Want to build a community-engaged learning course? Looking for a speaker to bring to your class, event, or student group? Email Jenean Gilmer at gilmerje@augsburg.edu with any questions or to set up a meeting.
Partners
Augsburg has a long history of engagement in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood.Since the early 1990s, dedicated staff and faculty have established and maintained numerous partnerships with local neighborhood organizations and individuals, connecting students, faculty, and community members. Today, we work with The Brian Coyle Community Center, The Cedar Cultural Center, Afghan Cultural Society, KFAI Community Radio, Trinity Lutheran Church, ReDesign Community Developers, and many more. Sabo staff supports planning for the Annual Brian Coyle Multicultural Dinner and Women’s Night Out, and the city’s best block party, Cedarfest. Reach out to Jenean Gilmer (gilmerje@augsburg.edu) or Steve Peacock (peacock@augsburg.edu) to learn more about how to support and collaborate with our neighborhood and partners.