News Archives - Community Practice Lab

Dr. Ryan Lavalley gives keynote address for the Urban Teaching Fellowship “Open Bak” (“Open Book”) Festival

Community Practice Lab (CPL) Primary Lead Dr. Ryan Lavalley was hosted by colleagues to Amsterdam, where he hosted a Masterclass workshop for the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and delivered the keynote address at the Urban Teaching Fellowship “Open Bak” Festival. Through the visit, Ryan built and strengthened connections with colleagues employing community occupational science …

The Community Practice Lab celebrates its graduates, new team members, and other milestones from the 2025-2026 school year! CPL Graduates Sayoko Kawabata has graduated with a PhD in occupational science. Sayoko has supported the CPL since its founding in 2021 as the CPL’s first ever community engaged fellow. In her dissertation, “A community engaged ethnography …

Histories and Future Visions of Fairview in the Southern Oral History Program

The Community Practice Lab supported Fairview community members in publishing their oral histories through the Southern Oral History Program’s interview database. The Histories and Future Visions of Fairview oral history collection spotlights the vibrant life of the Fairview community through everyday stories of challenges, connection, and community-building. The Histories and Future Visions of Fairview project …

Dr. Ryan Lavalley delivers keynote at WV OTA 2025 conference.

CPL Primary Lead Dr. Ryan Lavalley delivered the keynote address for the West Virginia Occupational Therapy Association’s 29th Annual Conference in Charleston, WV last week. In his keynote, “Fire in the Mountain: What Occupational Therapy Can Learn from Appalachian Resilience,” Ryan spoke about how lessons learned from Appalachian history and resilience can inform an expansion …

The Carolina Center for Public Service has accepted CPL Lead Dr. Lauren Selingo into the Thorp Faculty Engaged Scholar Program for the 2025-2027 cycle. The program’s community-engaged curriculum and stipend will support Lauren’s community-engaged research around substance use among older adults and caregivers in Orange County. Thorp Faculty Engaged Scholars participate in a highly interactive, …

Coming Soon: McNair Heights Neighborhood

The Community Practice Lab (CPL) has collaborated with Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne on a community engagement strategy to support Habitat’s development work in Webbtown, a historically Black neighborhood of Goldsboro, NC. The strategy and resources will support local leaders, partners, and Habitat staff to engage thoughtfully with Webbtown residents as Habitat constructs McNair Heights, …

Seth Mitchell, OTR/L, served as a teaching assistant for the MSOT Community Practice course in spring 2025

Students in Dr. Ryan Lavalley’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) Community Practice course in spring 2025 partnered with community organizations to advance inclusion for older adults and individuals with disabilities. Students designed and/or contributed to initiatives in a wide range of sectors, including education, housing, advocacy, and wellness. In the MSOT course, Ryan …

Exploring Land Banks as a Tool to Prevent Displacement in Orange County, North Carolina by Isabella Norman, Spring 2025, Department of City and Regional Planning at UNC-Chapel Hill

Isabelle Norman has produced a report analyzing the potential of community-led land banks to preserve affordable housing and neighborhood stability amid competitive housing markets. The report, developed in partnership with the Community Practice Lab (CPL), also identifies other Orange County communities that are currently at risk of displacement and recommends best practices for community stakeholders …

The Community Practice Lab (CPL) hosted Yuriko Hosono for two weeks in February-March 2025 to facilitate cross-cultural discussions on community occupational practice, community-engaged research, and community-based models to support older adults. The visit is the latest in the CPL’s ongoing collaboration with Nagoya University in Japan. “After connecting with Nagoya University this past fall around …

Dr. Lauren Selingo has joined the Community Practice Lab, bringing a wealth of experience supporting adults as they navigate queer identity, mental health, and changes in substance use throughout life. As a CPL lead, Lauren is collaborating with CPL partners to create community-embedded supports around substance use for older adults and caregivers in Orange County. …

Category: News

Dr. Ryan Lavalley gives keynote address, co-hosts “Masterclass” for colleagues in the Netherlands

CPL Team Updates 2025-2026

CPL publishes Fairview oral histories in Southern Oral History Program database

Dr. Ryan Lavalley delivers keynote address for WV Occupational Therapy Association conference

Dr. Lauren Selingo named a 2025-2027 Thorp Faculty Engaged Scholar to support FOCUS-OAC

Community Practice Lab creates community engagement strategy for Habitat for Humanity development in Goldsboro, NC

Spring 2025 MSOT students advance accessibility and inclusion through community partnerships

CPL supports Isabelle Norman’s exploration of land banks to prevent displacement in Orange County

Community Practice Lab hosts Nagoya University OT graduate student Yuriko Hosono for cross-cultural discussions on community-engaged work with older adults

Spotlight: CPL Lead Lauren Selingo, PhD, OTR/L