As I look across the stories in this issue of CEHD Connect, I’m reminded of the many ways our college community continues to live its mission—improving lives through learning, discovery, and engagement.

From an early age, Randy Griffith (MEd ’84) had been a huge fitness and sports advocate and was encouraged to pass on this interest to others by teaching them the way he was originally taught. “I first got into it through coaching different youth sport teams and really enjoyed it,” he says.

Malaysia is the largest recipient of refugees in Southeast Asia, with over 300,000 refugees currently striving to create a home for their families throughout the country. Many of these communities have significant trauma histories and related mental health needs but rely on a stressed service system of government health agencies and NGOs for needed services.

Now in its fourth year, CISC hosts several events for students throughout the year. One of its greatest achievements, Mitani says, is the Colloquium on the World’s Education System Series, a place where students can present and talk about their home country’s education system.

The best way to help children become their best selves is to support parents as they navigate childhood. Research throughout past decades has demonstrated the effectiveness of programs that do just that; however, those programs are not widely available and, even when they are available, they are not very accessible. This is where Empowered Generations (eGen) comes in.

In a stirring address commemorating the Institute on Community Integration’s (ICI) 40th anniversary, Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver (pictured right) urged disability advocates to deepen their commitment to inclusion amid funding cuts and other challenges.

CEHD is focused on deepening its global relationships. This means listening and responding to the needs of global partners and fostering significant relationships to strengthen international engagement, sustainability, and reciprocity.

AugmentED is a part of the Advanced Education Research and Development Fund (AERDF), a national nonprofit launched in 2021. AERDF harnesses the power of research and development to unlock scientific breakthroughs and deliver research-backed solutions to pressing teaching and learning challenges.

CJ Jones peered into the audience and said, knowingly, “If you think about it, Deaf individuals have to work twice as hard” as hearing people. Approximately 300 members of the greater Twin Cities Deaf community—including undergraduate and graduate students, staff, faculty, and community members—raised and waved their hands in the American Sign Language (ASL) sign for applause.