Communications and Community Engagement

Communications and Community Engagement (CCE) builds collaborative relationships with various units across campus and provides opportunities for partners to work towards creating a just and inclusive campus and society.

Community Engagement

Here at OBE, community engagement is two parts: sharing information and resources, and actively engaging with different people on campus, to build collaborative relationships. 

Collaborations are needed to achieve the University’s goal of belonging for all students, staff, faculty, alumni and visitors, as well as supporters. What would community engagement look like here at Gallaudet?

Note: “We” means each one of us. Everyone.

• We, consider all possible perspectives. Everyone has a unique story.
• We are intentional in our interactions and build on our collective understanding.
• We keep each other accountable through reflection and continuous learning.
• We build long-term, sustainable relationships that allow for collaborative efforts to create meaningful solutions to complex problems.
• We mobilize resources and influence systems.
• We become a catalyst for transformative work.

Examples for this work: 

• Sometimes we host community conversations about current events that impact our students, staff and faculty in meaningful ways. Pluralism allows us to discuss opposing points of view in a civil discourse.
• Engaging with communities to make collective decisions – One example is our efforts to bring the Indigenous community together to rename Building 103, and to organize a healing ceremony for the Indigenous community.

Communications

As noted in the Principles of Community, Gallaudet University is a bilingual, and multicultural community. We come from a multiplicity of backgrounds and experiences, which shape our identities, perspectives, and life journeys. Our students, staff and faculty come from all over the world.  

This is why communications as a form of community engagement is so important. We must understand our audiences when we share information and resources. We must strive to create communications materials that are culturally appropriate and inclusive. 

Our communication goals are:

• To communicate internally and externally about OBE’s work; to promote learning opportunities, events, programs and more.
• To develop written and ASL educational materials.
• To share resources to all stakeholders, including alumni and the community outside of Gallaudet.
• To consult on culturally relevant communications strategies.
• To participate in local and national community outreach activities that support our mission.

Our communication channels include Instagram, MyGU, email blasts and our website. We develop our own written and videotaped content. We also provide culturally appropriate communications consulting or training as needed.