Research as Civic Engagement: Exploring the "I" in Community and Unity

February 11, 2026 @ 6:00PM — 7:00PM Eastern Time (US & Canada) Add to Calendar

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Research as Civic Engagement

JOIN STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE REGION TO LEARN ABOUT THE "WHAT," "HOW," AND "WHY" OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

The purpose of Transform Mid-Atlantic's (TMA) Civic Education Sessions is to connect first generation and limited-income students (and any other student who wants to participate!) affiliated with colleges and universities throughout the Mid-Atlantic region to engage in dialogue and co-learning about a variety of topics related to the public purposes of higher education. Through these sessions, participants will develop a deeper understanding of civic and community engagement, their agency as leaders and community members, as well as practical knowledge and skills that can be applied to their campus and community experiences across a variety of topics and issues.

Ultimately, the sessions seek to empower participants to identify how their academic and co-curricular interests, passions, and skills can responsibly be used to contribute toward more just and democratic communities. Students who complete 6 of the 8 sessions will receive a digital Civic Engagement badge and certificate. Participation is free for students from TMA member institutions.

About the Session: Research as Civic Engagement: Exploring the "I" in Community and Unity

During the fifth session of the 2025-2026 TMA Civic Education Series, participants will learn about how responsible and reflexive civic and community engagement can be incorporated into student research at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Bongani Ndebele, a first-gen Master of Public Health student at The George Washington University, will share how his time serving as a math tutor and volunteer within a District of Columbia Public Schools middle school through the GW Honey W. Nashman Center's Math Matters Program, as well as a participant within the Center's Civic Changemakers Program, catalyzed an interest in learning more about how K-12 schools interpret and navigate policies related to student mental health.
Bongani will share his civic and community engagement story and details about how his research project was developed alongside community partners, practices he has learned along the way, and reflections on next steps.

About the Speaker:

Bongani Ndebele is a second-year Master of Public Health student committed to advancing health equity through servant leadership, community-engaged policy, and education. He is a first-generation American who was born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe. During the 2024–2025 academic year, he was a Transform Mid-Atlantic Civic Fellow and conducted a research project looking at school principals’ views of the barriers students face in accessing school-based mental health services. Over the last four years, he has had the privilege of attending The George Washington University while remaining grounded in service work across Washington, D.C. He has served as a tutor, educator, and mentor for Black and Brown children through his roles with the nonprofit Math Matters, the Civic Changemaker Program as an AmeriCorps Summer Associate, and Reading Partners as a reading tutor. His service experience, combined with his years in academia, has reinforced his life’s mission to engage in dialogue that breaks down misinformation among youth while also challenging the ivory tower of jargon that makes academic work inaccessible, and creating community-informed policy.

By registering for this event, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to the terms outlined in the following event disclaimer and waiver.
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