News

The CPL develops theoretical perspectives grounded in our community partnership experiences. Theoretical development, in turn, informs how we conceptualize and guide community work. Recent and forthcoming publications from CPL team members include:

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....

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...

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...

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...

The Marian Cheek Jackson Center, in partnership with the Community Practice Lab, received a $40,000 grant from Carol Woods to advance community-led eldercare initiatives in the Northside community. The CPL team supported the writing of the grant, and CPL Community Program Specialist Kevin Giff will coordinate the Jackson Center’s development...

Community Practice Lab (CPL) Primary Lead Dr. Ryan Lavalley and CPL Community Engagement Fellow Sayoko Kawabata facilitated cross-university partnership and shared knowledge rooted in community occupation during a September 2024 trip to Japan. First, Ryan and Sayoko traveled to Saitama to attend the Japanese Society for the Study of Occupation’s...

Kevin Giff received the 2024 School of Medicine Dean’s Performance Award for his community engagement work through the Community Practice Lab (CPL). The award honors Giff’s support of housing and community development initiative with HOPE NC and Habitat for Humanity of Orange County. The Dean’s Performance Awards recognizes individual or...

The Community Practice Lab (CPL) concluded three years of partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Orange County (Habitat) in summer 2024. The CPL has supported Habitat in developing and implementing sustainable processes for community engagement. Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, an affiliate of the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity International,...

The Carolina Aging Network (CAN) officially launched on May 30, 2024. CAN is a grassroots, cross-campus collaborative advancing aging-related community partnerships, education and training, and research at Carolina.  On May 30, CAN members gathered at the Seymour Center in Chapel Hill to identify priorities and action steps for the coming...