Across the Continents: Engaging and Questioning Community

Abstract

Academics study the concept of community as a dynamic force and, increasingly, universities have become researchers, partners, and participants in community engagement. What is surprising is the lack of a definitional framework for the word "community", and perhaps due to the use (one might say overuse) of the term in com mon parlance, no one questions what we mean by community.To engage a discussion without questioning what community means would be insufficient, if not presumptuous. Our goal is to explore. Equally presumptuous would be to define the dynamic, fluid, transforming concept of community. We aim to plumb the wisdom of our colleagues, community partners, students and mentors to bring meaning to the word community in all its richness and resilience. Abstract© KONINKLIJKE BRILL NV, LEIDEN, 2014 |