News

Community Practice Fellow Seth Mitchell explores processes of social transformation through an activist and occupational justice perspective deeply rooted in ethical community engagement. Seth’s doctoral research with an HIV advocacy group is grounded in principles of reciprocity, usability, and applicability—an approach that centers the type of community engagement he practices...

The Community Practice Lab (CPL) facilitated a planning retreat for Carolina Center for Public Service staff in summer 2026 to strengthen the Center’s impact and orient its day-to-day work toward its future directions. Across three days, CPL team members Dr. Ryan Lavalley and Kevin Giff guided participants in a structured,...

Carly Campbell’s self-written and self-produced play, Committed: The Musical, will be staged at The Fruit in Durham, NC from August 13-30, 2026. This is part of a multi-phase community-activated plan that emerged from visioning and planning sessions led by the Community Practice Lab (CPL) in summer 2025 and summer 2026....

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....