Building Authentic Community-University Partnerships

The field of community-engaged learning continues to evolve, particularly as we focus on learning from the community partners involved in course-based partnerships. Traditional measures, such as surveys and interviews, are often used to gather insights from community partners; yet many argue that these partners remain the ‘unheard voices’ within the field. This study highlights the critical reflections of a community partner engaged in a multi-course, multi-year collaboration, revealing key findings on the importance of trust, sustained communication, and shared decision-making in fostering authentic partnerships. Additionally, insights from both the community partner and faculty member demonstrate that centering the partner’s needs enhances engagement, mitigates power imbalances, and strengthens long-term collaboration. Based on these findings, this article offers practical recommendations for building sustainable, community-driven partnerships that prioritize the active involvement of community partners in co-creating meaningful learning experiences.