Background

In July 2020, a community engagement-working group formed under the auspices of Chancellor Michael Amiridis’ Advancing Racial Equity Task Force.  The group was charged with generating big and bold ideas for how UIC could/should address systemic racism across campus and in particular its community engagement practice. Working as a diverse group of staff, faculty and students in August 2020, the group ideated on how UIC could advance racial equity through a process of truly reciprocal community engagement. It tried to imagine what it would mean for UIC to transform its structure to redress past wrongs where communities have been acted upon and not heard, while also acknowledging the significant and varied community engaged research and service happening across campus.

As a result of this group’s work and recommendations, the Office of Community Collaboration (OCC) was formed to build upon and strengthen UIC’s current community engagement efforts.  OCC’s focus is to create infrastructure, institute channels to improve cross campus communication and collaboration, as well as, facilitate a unified philosophy and a set of values for community practices and partnerships.  OCC serves as a catalyst for true partnerships and reflect a commitment to establish reciprocal relationships and provide opportunities for partners to be involved in defining and, as necessary, redefining the terms of engagement and measures of equity.