CUMU Conference 2019

In the spirit of calling attention to the innovative ways educators and community leaders can address racial, social, political, and environmental unrest, we turn our attention to the methodology of Community Learning Exchanges (CLEs). The CLE explores and utilizes the skills, assets, and expertise of the local communities, and invites them into critical conversations with community leaders and other key stakeholders. Since 2008, the CLE has been convening diverse individuals from across the country to engage in collective, place-based learning experiences that stimulate inquiry, dialogue, and action (Guajardo, Guajardo, Janson & Militello, 2016).

The work of the CLE is guided by the philosophy that transformational and powerful change occurs by uniting the power of place and the wisdom of people. This philosophy is enacted by the CLE theory of change, which invites participants to look at our families, our neighborhoods, our communities, and our organizations with an eye for relationships, assets, stories, place, politic, and action (RASPPA). The RASPPA theory of change creates the cognitive, affective, and relational space in which CLE participants can begin to come together and share their collective gifts. This generative process allows for understanding of collective challenges from multiple perspectives and then opportunities to co-construct solutions to those challenges that, when enacted together, can lead to sustained and empowering action and change.