Community Partnerships
Building Long-Term Partnerships for Community Impact
The Center for Civic & Community Engagement serves as Point Park University's front door for community partnerships. We work alongside nonprofit organizations, schools, government agencies, neighborhood organizations and other mission-driven partners to connect community needs with the expertise, creativity and resources of the university.
Whether your organization is seeking student support, faculty expertise, research collaboration, volunteer engagement or media production, we begin with a conversation. Together, we identify your goals and build the right team to create meaningful, lasting impact.
One Partnership. Endless Possibilities.
Every community organization is unique. Rather than offering a single service, we develop customized partnerships that bring together the right combination of university resources.
Depending on your goals, a partnership may include:
- Student projects and internships
- Faculty expertise and consulting
- Community-based research and program evaluation
- Storytelling and communications
- Volunteer engagement
- Grant collaboration
- Professional media production
- Strategic planning and capacity building
Our goal is not simply to complete a project. We strive to build long-term partnerships that grow alongside the organizations we serve.
Partnership Opportunities
Community-Engaged Course Projects
Community organizations work directly with Point Park students through course-based projects, internships, independent studies and applied learning experiences across multiple academic disciplines.
Community-Based Research
Faculty and students from the doctoral program in Community Engagement collaborate with organizations to conduct research, evaluate programs, collect data and develop evidence-based solutions to community challenges.
Examples of our research include:
- Where Can We Go? How Improving Restroom Facilities in Downtown Pittsburgh Will Create Positive Outcomes for Businesses, Tourism and all Residents
- Taking Out the Trash: Reimagining Pittsburgh's Alleyways
Volunteer & Civic Engagement
We connect organizations with student volunteers, service-learning courses, Bonner Leaders, Project Impact and other civic engagement initiatives that strengthen both student learning and community impact.
Pioneer Partners
Wood Street Communications/CMI Production House
Wood Street Communications serves as the Center for Civic & Community Engagement's community media partnership program, connecting nonprofit organizations, schools, government agencies and other mission-driven organizations with Point Park University's creative talent. Community media projects begin with the CCE, where we work with organizations to understand their goals and build the right team to support their mission.
Projects are completed by students from the School of Communication under faculty mentorship, with professional production support provided by the Center for Media Innovation (CMI) Production House. Together, these partnerships combine meaningful real-world learning experiences with high-quality creative work for the community.
The CMI Production House provides access to state-of-the-art video, audio, photography and podcast production equipment, studio facilities and technical expertise. Depending on the needs of the project, productions may take place in CMI's studios or on location throughout the community.
Wood Street Communications and the CMI Production House operate primarily on a fee-for-service model. Pricing is intentionally set below prevailing market rates to remain accessible to nonprofit and community organizations while supporting professional supervision, production costs, and student learning opportunities.
As part of Point Park University's commitment to serving as an anchor institution, a limited number of pro bono or reduced-fee projects are accepted each year for small nonprofit organizations and emerging community initiatives demonstrating significant community impact and financial need.
Media Production Services
- Photography (events, portraits, and promotional materials)
- Video Production (promotional, documentary, storytelling, and studio productions)
- Podcast Production and Studio Recording
- Graphic Design and Print Collateral
- Public Relations Materials
- Social Media Content Creation
- Digital Storytelling Campaigns
To learn more, visit the Wood Street Communications website.
Let's Build Something Together
Whether you're exploring a new idea, looking for student involvement, seeking research support, or launching a communications project, we'd love to start the conversation.
Contact the Center for Civic & Community Engagement to discuss how we can partner together.