Community Partners

Help students learn the community by learning from the community.

H.E.R.E. partners with local organizations, programs, and community leaders who are willing to share what they know with students preparing for helping professions.

What is a H.E.R.E. community partner?

Community partners are the people and organizations already doing the work: social services, food access, nonprofit programs, advocacy, education, neighborhood support, public health, human services, and other community-based work.

Partners help Community Connection Fellows understand what services exist, how people access support, what barriers show up in real life, and how local organizations connect with one another.

Partners are not just “sites.” They are educators, mentors, and community knowledge-holders.

What partners may do

Teach the cohort

Share your organization’s work, the community needs you respond to, and what students should understand about your area of service.

Host service

Offer a meaningful way for students to give back through community-based service, event support, volunteer work, or project help.

Build connection

Help students understand local resources, relationships, and systems so they can better connect people with support in the future.

Partnership can look different depending on your organization’s capacity, schedule, and needs.

How the exchange works

H.E.R.E. is built around reciprocal learning. Community partners invest time and knowledge into students. Students return that investment through service, reflection, and continued community connection.

  • Partners share what they know about their work and community needs.
  • Students listen, ask questions, and learn from people doing the work.
  • Students give time and labor back through service connected to the program.
  • The cohort builds a stronger understanding of local resources and relationships.

Why it matters

Everybody knows somebody who knows somebody. H.E.R.E. helps students understand that community support often works through relationships, trust, and knowing who to ask next.

The goal is not for students to become experts overnight. The goal is to help them begin building the connections and resource knowledge that support stronger community care.

What partnership can look like

A learning session A partner meets with the cohort to explain their work, who they serve, what needs they see, and how students can better understand the issue or system.
A service opportunity Students support a project, event, pantry, outreach effort, community day, administrative need, or other volunteer task that is useful to the partner.
A resource connection Partners help students learn what resources exist, how referrals or access may work, and what people often need to know when seeking support.
A mentorship moment Partners share honest insight about the work, including what sustains it, what makes it difficult, and what students should carry with them.

What H.E.R.E. asks of partners

H.E.R.E. is meant to respect partner capacity. Partners are not expected to create a polished presentation or take on more than they can reasonably offer.

  • Be willing to share your work with students in a clear, honest way.
  • Help students understand the community needs your organization responds to.
  • Offer service opportunities only when they are useful and manageable for your organization.
  • Communicate expectations, schedule details, and site needs clearly.
  • Let H.E.R.E. know what would make the partnership easier or more meaningful.
H.E.R.E. should support community partners, not create extra strain. The goal is useful exchange, not performance.

Who might be a good fit?

Direct service organizations

Food pantries, shelters, youth programs, reentry programs, crisis support, senior services, family support, and similar community-based work.

Advocacy and education groups

Organizations working around civic engagement, disability support, LGBTQ+ advocacy, racial justice, economic justice, public health, or community education.

Community leaders and connectors

People who may not fit neatly into one category, but who understand local systems, relationships, and how people actually find support.

Interested in partnering?

H.E.R.E. is always looking for community partners who want to help students understand the work, the resources, and the relationships that hold a community together.

You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out. A partnership can start with a conversation about your organization, your capacity, and what kind of exchange would be useful.

Contact H.E.R.E. Learn the Story