PHOTO: Students in Professor Carolyn Lee’s CHN 370 course visited Fo Guang Shan Temple for a day of community-based learning — practicing meditation, exploring Buddhist calligraphy, studying ritual art, and sharing a vegetarian meal guided by the temple’s Venerables. “This gesture symbolizes welcome, compassion, and the purity of a lotus blossom,” explains Professor Lee, describing the mudra BLIA members use to greet one another. 

As December draws us into a season of rest, reflection, and closing circles, we’re reminded how learning deepens when we slow down. We’re grateful for every relationship that makes this work possible and look ahead to the spring with renewed intention of being, rather than seeming engaged. 

Next semester brings something we’re excited to share: the launch of our Community Partner Newsletter, a once-per-semester story crafted in collaboration with our Durham partners. Each issue will highlight a meaningful partnership from the partner’s perspective, centering their insights and leadership. 

👉 Sign up here to receive the first issue when it arrives in early February, 

Each month, we share a reflection that reminds us what authentic engagement looks like in practice. 

In his recent Apostolic Letter, Pope Leo XIV describes service-learning as one of the “stars that shine brightly” in education—guiding us toward a way of learning rooted in responsibility, community, and care. His reminder feels especially timely as we close the year: 

“Education is an act of hope… not limited to the transmission of knowledge, but meant to form citizens capable of serving.” 

On the global stage, representatives from CLAYSS–Uniservitate—a global Catholic network that advances service-learning in higher education—carried this vision forward through their work with the Vatican’s Global Educational Pact Committee, underscoring how community-engaged education helps chart new maps of connection and courage. Learn more: https://www.uniservitate.org/

Mapping What Endures After Hurricane Helene 

Students in the service-learning course PUBPOL 213: Arts Policy, Leadership, and Engagement partnered with the North Carolina Music Office to map creative assets across 12 western NC counties affected by Hurricane Helene. Instead of documenting damage, they used asset mapping to highlight what’s strong, connected, and culturally resilient. Their work shows how community engagement begins not with deficits, but with relationships and the resources communities already have. 

👉 Read the full story 

Meet Voyager Scholar Sally Maroa 

Voyager Scholar Sally Maroa ’27 grew up between Kenya, South Africa, and Seattle, where she saw inequality and resilience up close. At Duke, she brings that global perspective to her studies and community work — including supporting Durham partners as a Service-Learning Assistant. “It gave me a way to act on my values,” she reflects, describing how service-learning complements her broader commitment to public service. 

👉 Read the full spotlight 

Coding for Community: Innovation and Engagement in Computer Science Education 

Professor Shaundra Daily and Trinity ’25 alumna Reagan Razon’s collaborative research is rooted at the intersection of computer science, education, access, and innovation. Their community-engaged programs include the student-led nonprofit CS Sidekicks, which brings CS education and mentorship directly to Durham Public Schools, and the L.I.F.T. Lab, where students explore engineering concepts through the light of their personal experiences. These programs aren’t just teaching technical skills — they are rewriting the code on how research can spark lasting change. 

👉 Listen to Duets (Season 2 Episode 3) here. 

We’re grateful for the connections we’ve nurtured throughout the year and look forward to continuing this shared work in 2026. 

Email us at servicelearning@duke.edu