Syracuse Sun

Brice Nordquist, founder of the Engaged Humanities Network (EHN), recently welcomed guests to the inaugural EHN Showcase at the Salt City Market in Downtown Syracuse. The event was a celebration of the research and collaborative work undertaken by teams from Syracuse University in partnership with community organizations.

The EHN showcase marked the network's first open-house style celebration of community-engaged projects, courses, and creative scholarship. These were generated by interdisciplinary groups from the University and their local partners. Guests had the opportunity to peruse information tables and converse with researchers about their respective projects. Presenters also took to the stage throughout the day to provide an overview of their research and share their team’s accomplishments.

Sarah Nahar, a Ph.D. candidate in religion in the College of Arts and Sciences and environmental studies at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, served as emcee for the day, introducing each presenter.

The Engaged Humanities Network, under Nordquist's leadership, has been fostering innovative opportunities for faculty and students to engage in research, teaching, and learning within the community. This commitment aligns directly with human thriving and experiential inquiry - key areas of distinctive excellence in the University’s Academic Strategic Plan.

Over four years, EHN has fostered collaborations connecting teams at the University with 35 community-based organizations. Additionally, it has supported 14 courses, 35 active projects involving over 350 faculty, staff, and students engaged in community work.

Among those present at the EHN Showcase were representatives from Project Mend (Syracuse University with Center for Community Alternatives); Write Out (Syracuse University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, with YWCA); Doctrine of Discovery (Syracuse University with Skä•noñh Great Law of Peace Center); Breedlove Readers (Syracuse University with South Side Communication Center); Narratio Fellowship (Syracuse University with North Side Learning Center); La Casita Mother’s and Women’s Group; Listening to the Elders (Syracuse University with Skä•noñh Great Law of Peace Center and Onondaga Nation); Spanish in Action (LLL with La Casita); Data Warriors (Syracuse University with Nottingham High School); Environmental Storytelling CNY (EHN with SUNY ESF); Syracuse University Research in Physics (Syracuse University with Syracuse City School District); The Turning Lens Collective/Family Pictures Syracuse (SU with P.E.A.C.E, Inc.); Natural Science Explorers Program (Syracuse University with North Side Learning Center); CODA Educational Support Program (SU with Deaf New Americans Advocacy, Inc.); Photography and Literacy (PAL) (Syracuse University Art Museum with Mercy Works); Teens with a Movie Camera (VPA in collaboration with Nottingham High School).

More information about the Engaged Humanities Network can be found on their website. Additional photos and videos from the event are available on the College of Arts and Sciences’ website.