How to Get Involved
The Center for RECAAL works with local community members, leaders, institutions, educational and artistic organizations on mutually rewarding initiatives benefiting both Wake Forest University and the Winston Salem community. The Center will partner with the Winston Salem community to engage in place-based research on contemporary social justice issues such as public health disparities, food insecurity, education, and economic disparities.
Local High School Essay Contest
Through this program RECAAL seeks to create pipelines between Wake Forest University and local high school students through essay writing contests on Center related themes. Our primary focus is on High School students who are generally underrepresented in Wake Forest’s undergraduate population. Students who participate in this essay contest are encouraged to think critically and creatively about solutions to problems facing their communities.
Community Connection Conversations & Listening Sessions
The Center for RECAAL engages in collaborative conversations and listening sessions with Winston-Salem community members, clergy, leaders and employees. These strategic connections are intended to draw from community expertise and knowledge. The Center is intentional about learning from our neighbors as we work collaboratively with them to create relevant mutually beneficial programming. These sessions are therefore intended to ensure local knowledge impacts our thematic programming and research based initiatives.
Community Lecture Series
The Center for RECAAL seeks to sponsor annual lectures offered by a local community leader to bring awareness to issues faced by the Winston-Salem Black community.
Community Arts Engagement
The Center seeks to work with local arts organizations through various forms of programming, including lectures, exhibits, performances and panel discussions to highlight the cultural impact of local artists who enhance our understanding of the complexities of African American life. We hope is to also create synergy between Wake Forest University’s Art Collections, the efforts of the Associate Provost for Arts and Interdisciplinary Initiatives, Wake Forest’s Department of Theatre and Dance and local community artists, curators, and faculty from neighboring institutions.