Change Projects | Building Community

All degree students in the Center for Creative Change conduct a capstone change project in an organization or community. Change projects enable students to integrate ideas studied in the classroom with real-world experiences of social change.

These student change projects cover a range of issues and approach them in many different ways. Here are examples of student change projects on how to build a sense of community: 

Pro Bono at WaMu

Amanda Zehnder (Organizational Psychology) introduced the concept of pro bono work to the employees of her company, Washington Mutual, and provided access to pro bono opportunities in the community. By leveraging existing external and internal resources to link employees and local nonprofits together, she built new relationships that connected various departments within WaMu through their volunteering activities.

Strategic Outreach and Sustainable Communities in Action

Todd Hunsdorfer (Environment and Community) created change with his project at the Seattle Green Festival. He cultivated relationships across communities as he worked with others to provide a platform for community empowerment and democratic participation. The festival was a powerful experience that helped build permanent connections and bridge multiple communities.

Creating a Community of Ambassadors for Art in Collaboration
With Artist Trust

Vickie Strand (Environment and Community) built on her relationship with Artist Trust to connect with leaders and stakeholders who are active in the arts communities around the state. She supported teams in their efforts to build social capital across the stretch between artists and their communities. Vickie worked to build the Trust's team, arranging and facilitating the meeting of this new committee.

Building Community With Sexual Minority Youth Through
Collaborative Conversations

Jennifer Matteliano and Kathy Cooper (Organizational Psychology) worked with the Kitsap County HIV/AIDS Foundation (KCHAF) and their new youth-driven community center to establish sustainable outreach and development programs. The two supported the organization in connecting with their community, integrating their participants and encouraging the youths to construct their own safe community.

Neighbor-to-Neighbor Dialogues About Sustainability

Amy Barker (Environment and Community) worked with a conservation coalition to bridge the gap between the group and local community members. Using dialogue techniques, she identified their common values and then used these principles to assist the community to make sustainable planning and land-use decisions.

Community Organizing: It's All About Building Relationships

Anteneh Belay (Management) worked with the Ethiopian Community Mutual Association to co-design and launch an innovative communication strategy that enabled the organization to recruit
new members and engage existing ones in more meaningful conversations. His work helped to organize the Ethiopian community
in Seattle.

Growing Community Through Neighborhood-based Design

Tara Brouillet and Eric Dripps (Environment and
Community) served as steering committee members in a
Fremont (Seattle) neighborhood initiative to create a local
organic garden (P-Patch). Their work involved community development, garden design and fund-raising.

Building Community Within the Mount Calvary Christian Center

Demetrice Lewis (Organizational Psychology) worked with members of the Mount Calvary Christian Center to create a stronger sense of community within the congregation. She used dialogue to build and strengthen the church community and to pave the way for the creation of deeper and more authentic relationships.

Using Art and Design-build Principles to Empower Community

Melanie Mercer (Whole Systems Design) was active with
Pomegranate Center in Issaquah, WA, to design and create
community art projects with residents of a new, affordable-housing community. She explored how art and principles of design can be
used to bring people together to create community identity.

Opening a Neighborhood Resource Center

Debbie Paton (Environment and Community) collaborated with a community group to open a neighborhood resource center for the Roosevelt neighborhood in Bellingham, WA. She assisted the group as it prepared to open the doors of the center and began to provide services to the local community.

Internalized Oppression: Breaking the Ties That Bind

Evelyn Thomas Allen (Management) and the Black Dollar Days Task Force helped build a sustainable support network for African-American-owned businesses in Seattle. This work has created greater economic wealth for the African-American community and helped to remedy the historical effects of racism.