The Edward Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning

We are a community and civic engagement center with a mission to cultivate and steward equitable partnerships between communities and the University of Michigan in order to advance social change for the public good. Based upon this mission, our vision is for inclusive democracy; thriving, diverse communities; and equity and social justice.

We accomplish our work by:

Empowering students to engage in positive change through social justice education, leadership development, and meaningful civic and community engagement experiences..
Supporting faculty and academic program staff efforts to connect socially just civic and community engagement experiences to coursework, research and programs.
Connecting community organizations with students, faculty, and staff that are invested in positive social change.

At Ginsberg

Our blog shares emerging stories around Ginsberg's work at U-M and in the communities beyond. From profiles to match stories to announcements, you'll find a wealth of information below.

PNC Foundation Grant Enables Six Fellowships to Partner with Community Organizations

This year, thanks to a $20,000 grant from the PNC Foundation, Ginsberg was able to fund six PNC Fellowships to partner with community organizations in Ypsilanti and Detroit.

Dr. Neeraja Aravamudan Named New Director of the Ginsberg Center

The Ginsberg Center is pleased to announce that, following a national search and in close consultation with key stakeholders and campus leadership, Dr. Neeraja Aravamudan has been selected to serve as the next director of the Center.

Apply for the 2022-23 Newman Civic Fellowship by 5 pm Jan. 2, 2022

The Ginsberg Center now invites students to apply for the 2022-23 Newman Civic Fellowship, a year-long program that recognizes and supports outstanding community-committed students

Keeping Students Invested in Democratic Engagement

From the Annual Report: Much of the Ginsberg Center’s work with students is dedicated to providing education and opportunities to practice civic engagement, with the hopes of instilling lifelong habits of democracy (such as voting, education, and engaging in dialogue) that will, in turn, impact social change for the greater good.

Connect2Community Team Adjusts Quickly for Virtual Pandemic Response

From the Annual Report: The Covid-19 pandemic meant greater need for support for many community organizations, and more students eager to provide it. However, health restrictions due to the pandemic meant there were fewer in-person opportunities to do so. Those factors all required the Ginsberg Center’s Connect2Community team to adapt adapt our tool’s functionality and function and content to provide community support and service opportunities in a time of crisis.

Unlocking the University of Michigan in Service to the Public Good