Community-Engaged Partnerships

Partnerships with Purpose

At Edgewood University, community-engaged partnerships are an expression of our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and the common good. We cultivate long-standing, reciprocal relationships with Madison-area organizations that are grounded in trust, shared goals, and mutual benefit. These partnerships respond to identified needs, particularly in communities that have been historically underserved, while creating meaningful opportunities for student learning, leadership development, and civic engagement.

Across the university, faculty integrate service-learning and community-based projects into coursework, Campus Ministry sponsors volunteer and justice-focused initiatives, and students in the Emerging Leaders Program collectively contribute hundreds of hours of community-engaged work each year. Together, these efforts reflect Edgewood’s belief that education is strengthened through authentic collaboration and shared responsibility.

Featured Community Partnerships

Boys & Girls Club of Dane County

Edgewood University partners with the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County through the AVID/TOPS program, an initiative focused on helping students excel in college. In collaboration with community partners, Edgewood staff support students through holistic guidance that includes college success coaching and access to campus-based resources.

This partnership reflects a shared commitment to expanding educational opportunities and supporting students as they navigate their college journeys with confidence.

America Reads, America Counts

Through the federally supported America Reads and America Counts programs, Edgewood University students serve as paid tutors in math, reading, and science in local schools and educational programs as part of their Federal Work-Study participation.

This partnership creates a reciprocal learning experience: community youth receive individualized academic support, while Edgewood students gain hands-on experience working in diverse educational settings. The program reflects Edgewood’s core value of Community and its commitment to educational equity.

Youth P.O.W.E.R Academy of Finance – Teen Money Camp

In partnership with Asset Builders, Edgewood University hosts the Youth P.O.W.E.R. Academy of Finance, a two-week summer day camp for middle and high school students. This intensive program focuses on personal finance, economics, entrepreneurship, and college readiness.

By serving as both a campus host and active collaborator, Edgewood supports Asset Builders’ mission to expand financial literacy and economic opportunity for young people across Dane County. The program is funded in part by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction as a pre-college initiative.

Our Approach to Partnership

As a core value of both Edgewood University and the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, partnership is embedded into the foundation of our work. We are steadfast in our commitment to work alongside community partners to advance equity, access, and shared understanding through lived experiences.

Rooted in the Dominican tradition, we recognize that the lifelong search for truth is not an individual pursuit, but a shared endeavor. This belief is reflected in the partnerships we cultivate, which are:

• Community-informed – responsive to identified needs and priorities
• Mission-driven – aligned with Dominican values of compassion, justice, and community
• Reciprocal – grounded in mutual benefit and shared learning
• Sustainable – designed to foster long-term impact and trust.

For more information about community-engaged partnerships and opportunities, please contact The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.