Mitchell College recently hosted a Community Partner Breakfast that included representatives from 28 organizations in Southeastern Connecticut who joined Mitchell staff and faculty to explore partnerships to provide student learning opportunities and meet employer needs. The organizations represented both current and potential partners in behavioral health, culture and tourism, disability services, education, healthcare, immigration support services, mental health services, and suicide prevention and awareness.

In addition to looking at the value of long- and short-term partnerships as pathways for students to be service learners, interns and potential employees, participants discussed how Mitchell College could provide other resources to help their organizations advance their own missions and also assist in solving local community challenges.

Mitchell College strives to continue to form and strengthen a symbiotic relationship with community partners that can offer students work experience, industry insights, skills development, mentorships and professional contacts, while giving community organizations access to a talent pipeline. Benefiting the local and regional community, these relationships can also lead to higher rates of civic engagement, increased awareness of relevant issues, a healthier community, enhanced reputation and culture and problem solving.

Participating organizations (alpha order):

• New London Public Schools
• Project LEARN
• Reliance Health
• Riverfront Children’s Center
• Safe Futures
• SARAH, Inc.
• Salvation Army
• Sound Community Services
• The Arc Eastern Connecticut
• The Light House
• United Community & Family Services
• United Way of Southeastern CT
• Waterford Country School
• Waterford Public Schools