Goal 3 | Empowering members of our networks to positively impact our community Objective | Build community capacity
A budding partnership at Oak Street Garden
As spring made its way across southwest Michigan, so too did 16 graduate students from Western Michigan University’s strategic management course make their way into Kalamazoo’s Oak Street Community Garden. Under the direction of Dr. Tim Palmer, WMU professor of management, the students arrived in the garden in advance of the growing season ready to embark upon a service-learning project. The group was charged with revitalizing the garden—a community space that features a patio, shed, library, numerous vegetable plots and a variety of flowers. Little did they know, they would be planting the seeds for a hearty partnership between WMU and neighborhood residents.
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The “Dirt” on the community garden project The partnership was initiated by residents of the neighborhood and arranged by WMU’s Office of Service-Learning. Founded in 2010, the Office of Service-Learning pairs professors and students with community members each semester to fulfill course objectives and meet communityidentified needs. Unlike volunteerism, service learning empowers community members, faculty, staff, and students to work together to make change. These projects encourage students to creatively solve real-world issues, and always include a critical reflection component. Working alongside one another, students and residents spent hours planting, weeding, mulching, preparing vegetable plots, removing old lumber and bricks, and building the framework for a new walkway to the garden shed. The service-learning garden project was a cumulative experience for Palmer’s students, as it emphasized the importance of resident leadership, neighborhood beautification, relationship building, and community engagement. Palmer has incorporated servicelearning into his courses for several years, and works with numerous nonprofit organizations across Kalamazoo and its surrounding communities. “I integrate service learning into all of the classes I teach,” Palmer said. “Pairing our students with community partners through service learning is critical to help our students understand the rich tapestry that is community.”