John Jay College Of Criminal Justice | The City University of New York

Connecting Classroom to Community is a service learning initiative that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, to teach civic responsibility and to strengthen communities.

Students are given an opportunity to serve the community and earn partial course credit at the same time. Students who participate in the program gain hands-on experiences that address real world concerns; a deeper understanding of course material and the complexity of social issues; and improved leadership skills.  

Connecting Classroom to Community celebrated National Youth Service Day with a luncheon that included John Jay students, faculty and staff in addition to 41 students from a high school in Yonkers who were also given their first introduction to the forensic science field by Professor Linda Rourke. The event featured a keynote address from journalist Dominic Carter of New York 1. The occasion also marked the first presentation of the Keith L.T. Wright Service Award given to John Jay student Heather McCown. Since his election to the New York State Assembly, Wright has provided high school and college students with opportunities to enhance learning and service to others. The event was sponsored by the Connecting Classroom to Community program, The Urban Male Initiative, and the Department of African American Studies.