A rich array of visual, musical and theater arts and cultural organizations and practitioners has led Providence to define itself as the Creative Capital and attracted National Endowment for the Arts support for creative placemaking efforts. Many people at Brown have also engaged by supporting youth arts programs, recording oral histories, developing exhibitions on social issues, and more. The Brown Arts Institute (BAI), established in 2021, contributes to this ecosystem as a catalyst for new work and collaboration. The IGNITE Series features collaborative projects by campus and Providence-based artists, for instance, as well as visiting artists. BAI’s workforce program, called ArtsCrew, provides training and paid work opportunities to community members and students from Brown and the local area. 

Brown University plays a major role in the economy of Providence and Rhode Island. The university contributes voluntary payments to the city, while also seeking to steward university resources and collaborate with local partners in ways that expand economic opportunity and vitality. It has also made choices that contributed to gentrification of its immediate neighborhoods. In addition to current institutional commitments to supplier diversity and local sourcing, union labor and apprenticeships, various academic programs and campus or student initiatives work with community-based organizations and leaders on efforts to increase affordable housing, access to training and work in multiple career fields, and capacity of existing and aspiring entrepreneurs – with particular attention to those in under-resourced communities. 

As home to the only Medical School and School of Public Health in Rhode Island, Brown has a distinctive obligation and opportunity to contribute to the well-being of all Rhode Islanders. In addition to improving access to high-quality and culturally competent health care, people in many fields can address the social determinants of health that ultimately influence health more than medical care. The National Academy of Medicine’s conceptual model for assessing community engagement identifies core principles and outcomes ultimately aimed at “health equity through transformed systems” grounded in stronger community partnerships. This work requires trustworthiness, one aspect of which is compliance with legal and ethical requirements. See the policies and guidance page for an overview of considerations around HIPAA, minors, data ownership and more.

Brown University and many people, departments and other groups are actively committed to providing impactful learning experiences for students in Providence schools and other young people in Rhode Island. University initiatives include Pre-College programs, Brown Tutoring Corps and the new Brown Collegiate Scholars Program. Academic departments organize many additional summer, after-school or other enrichment programs (e.g., Brown Summer High School, DEEPS CORES, STEM Day and the Brown Advocate Program, Pathways in Medicine). Others, such as Bootstrap in Computer Science, develop modules that teachers can use in classes. All ultimately aim to contribute to more equitable educational outcomes and enhanced access to an array of college and career opportunities. 

Brown University’s Sustainability Strategic Plan (2021) opens:  “If Brown University is to fulfill its mission ‘to serve the community, the nation and the world,’ it must lead by example in addressing its impact on the environment and the impact of the services it provides. In the 21st century, with climate change, the potential loss of a quarter of the world’s species, and social inequality linked to differential exposure to environmental threats, it is essential that we make rapid strides toward greatly diminishing Brown’s environmental footprint while promoting positive impactful change” (p. 1). While the plan focuses on institutional changes in operations, teaching and research, it also acknowledges “the disproportionate impact of climate change on historically marginalized and vulnerable populations” and commits to engaging with community members to develop related recommendations (p. 14).

Collaborative change story: Trees, Heat and Human Health

In February 2022, the Land Acknowledgment Working Group provided recommendations to the Brown community after a year of research, convenings, and consultation. As a result, the University has adopted an official land acknowledgment and accompanying five commitments.  The commitments are public statements of measurability and accountability to the tribal nations, Indigenous people, and broader regional community and they are a necessary component to uphold the words of the Acknowledgment itself. Without a plan for action to make implementable and meaningful change, a land acknowledgment can be a performative and empty act. Respectful engagement with Indigenous people and sovereign tribal nations requires a commitment to intellectual and cultural humility and a working knowledge of the regional tribal landscape. All work with Indigenous collaborators in the northeast is done within a unique historical and colonial context and can be an opportunity to use reciprocal and power sharing methodologies.