Furman University
EN-10: Community Partnerships

The IACH is uniquely positioned to improve the overall community health in Greenville. How do we harness the collective power of health care providers, public health experts, advocacy groups, and others to create communities that support the health of these children? Through the collection of patient data and broader indicators, we seek to collaborate with community partners to identify specific health outcomes that are targets for improvement. https://www.furman.edu/institute-advancement-community-health/

The Medical Legal Partnership (MLP) formally connects Furman University, Prisma Health, and South Carolina Legal Services in work to improve health outcomes for people throughout the Upstate, especially those living in poverty. The South Carolina MLP is the only one in the country in which the educational institution involved is a liberal arts undergraduate institution. https://www.furman.edu/medical-legal-partnership/

As part of The Furman Advantage, the Institute builds upon the classroom experience by facilitating collaborative projects that incorporate research and programs to drive community impact. Projects are derived in partnership with civic leaders and community organizations, matching Furman’s strengths with community needs. These efforts foster sustained partnerships and build trust among community leaders, organizations, and those who benefit from the work.

Summer student sustainability fellows are paid for a full-time, 10-week position with a community partner. Partnerships and projects are reviewed annually and, provided that the partnerships continue to be mutually beneficial, fellowship positions with community organizations may be renewed indefinitely, providing a strong relationship and the opportunity to address more complicated issues. Partner organizations are chosen to represent all aspects of sustainability (social, economic, and ecological), providing a variety of student experiences while also addressing sustainability in a holistic way in our community.

We work with at risk youth through Mill Village Farms and The Village Wrench, we work with homeless people through Project Host soup kitchen, and we work to make sure the needs of socioeconomically peoples are heard by local decision makers through our work with Feed & Seed.

Over the course of the program, we have hosted 325 fellowships with 30 distinct community partners.

https://www.furman.edu/sustainability/programs/student-sustainability-fellows/

The Shi Institute’s Center for Applied Sustainability Research, formerly known as Collaborative for Community-Engaged Learning (CEL), partners with government agencies, nonprofits, and community members to deeply understand and address community challenges and provide formative experiences for students through research opportunities. The Center provides opportunities for students, faculty, and community partners to learn from one another and leverage community assets and expertise to develop creative solutions to promote healthier and more equitable communities. The Center’s mission of solving social and ecological issues is carried out through the work of Community Engaged Research, the CHESS lab, and Sustainability Consulting.

https://www.furman.edu/shi-institute/sustainability-research/