Ever hear of a memory café? It’s an informal community meetup for people who have dementia and whose cognitive struggles might tilt them toward withdrawing socially. The semi-organized café gatherings offer sanctuary from judgment and raised eyebrows, and provide group interactions that can engage attendees and bring joy to their lives. “A memory café setting is intended to be a safe, inclusive space in the here and now. Usually, people with dementia leave feeling more connected or feeling like they…
Tag: public impact
Community Connect UW Winter 2026 Update
Community Connect UW (CCUW) is a database and management platform that allows UW faculty, staff, students and community partners to connect, organize, and understand impacts of collaboration. Interested in exploring? Login (using your NetID) and join both CCUW’s home group and your campus group (below) to start! Bothell | Seattle | Tacoma This winter, we’re expanding Community Connect UW in many directions: More, and more varied, community-engaged courses at each campus Civic Health Scorecard and NextGen Civic Leader Badge, piloting on Seattle campus…
Five CELE-community connections we loved in 2025
Across Seattle and throughout Washington state, the Community Engagement & Leadership Education (CELE) Center is instrumental in the University of Washington’s community engagement — connecting the UW with neighborhoods, schools and community organizations to address critical social issues. Through authentic, reciprocal partnerships, the CELE Center provides students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to contribute to thriving communities. The CELE Center’s programs are centered around four focus areas: community-engaged learning, leadership education, pre-K–12 student success and…
Building the UW’s capacity for CE documentation and assessment: CCUW Fall 2025 Update
Community Connect UW (CCUW) is a database and management platform that allows UW faculty, staff, students and community partners to connect, organize, and understand impacts of collaboration. Fall 2025 Update This autumn, we’re rolling out the platform to support community-engaged courses. We are also exploring new uses such as: Civic Health Scorecard, piloting on the Seattle campus Internships, piloting on the Bothell campus “courses” for community partner field supervisors, piloting on the Tacoma campus We have been working hard to…
UW President Dr. Robert J. Jones Lays Out Bold Vision for Affordability, Innovation, and Community Partnership
In his inaugural address as the newly appointed president of the University of Washington, Dr. Robert J. Jones delivered a powerful and forward-looking message about the future of higher education, the urgency of affordability, and the need for transformational collaboration across sectors. Jones, a nationally recognized higher education leader, spoke candidly about the challenges universities face, including student debt, the changing demands of the workforce, and the need to expand access and equity. Central to his message was a call…