Today’s episode is a little different.

As we sat down to record, our team here in the UAE had been navigating difficult days in the region. Like many people around the world, we found ourselves feeling reflective, grateful for our communities, and reminded of why the work we do in education matters so much. So it felt especially meaningful to welcome international education consultant, author, and service learning pioneer Cathryn Berger Kaye to the podcast.

Cathy has been shaping the field of service learning for decades, working with educators around the world to connect classroom learning with real-world purpose. She shares how her journey in education led her to champion service learning as a powerful way to connect classrooms with real community needs. We discuss why purpose, listening, and civic engagement matter more than ever, and how meaningful learning happens when students apply their knowledge to the world around them.

In this episode, we reference the poem To Be of Use, which reflects on the value of meaningful work and contributing to something larger than ourselves. The poem resonates deeply with the purpose behind service learning and community engagement.

Cathy consults in person and virtually with schools around the world. Mel highly recommends her Service Learning Specialist Course! Learn more about Cathy and her work on her website or reach out to her directly at [email protected].

Connect with us! We’d love to hear your thoughts on this conversation. Reach out anytime at [email protected].