Who Sits at the Head of the Table? A Reflection on Community, Student, and Faculty Partnerships

Researchers have identified five fundamental elements for effective service-learning: placement quality, application between classroom and community, reflection, diversity, and listening to the community's voice (Honnet & Poulsen, 1989). In considering these five elements, we believe that the role of the partners within each component is essential to the success of service-learning. A clear understanding of the roles and activities can enhance the service-learning experiences for everyone involved. We are involved in an 11-year service-learning endeavor involving a university occupational therapy (OT) department, two "grassroots" community organizations, and residents of a crossroads community in rural eastern North Carolina. The purpose of our chapter is to explain what has made our experience successful and to analyze available literature (especially occupational therapy) for evidence from other successful partnerships. [authors]