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Center for Just & Caring Communities

Three women sit and stand around a round table in a well-lit room. Two are seated with laptops and binders, while one stands smiling and holding papers. A vase of white flowers is on the table.
Two women sit on a couch in an office, talking and holding folders and notebooks. Stuffed animals are arranged on the back of the couch, adding comfort to this mental health support setting, while a blanket is draped nearby.

Mission

Humbled by God’s lovingkindness, justice, righteousness, and compassion (Psalm 36:7, 136:1; Micah 6:8; Isaiah 1:17, 30:18); and forever changed by Christ’s sacrifice to reconcile us to himself (Rom. 5:8, 2 Cor. 5:18-19), we aim to serve others with sincere love (Rom. 12:9-10, 1 Cor. 13, 1 Pet. 4:8-10) as we follow Christ in the work of the Center.

The Center’s mission is to foster just and caring communities through connection, collaboration, advocacy, research, education, and service.

The CJCC is based upon the premise that just and caring communities are created and sustained by transformational relationships. Reciprocal and interactive connections between individuals, families, groups, communities, and society at large exist to either strengthen or violate healthy relationships within these systems. In striving to facilitate healthy relationships and community, the activities of the Center focus on providing education, conducting research, and promoting strategies that uplift, restore, and transform relationships with a special emphasis on vulnerable individuals and communities.

Upcoming Events

Social Work Continuing Education: August 2026
A woman in a maroon blazer stands and talks to students seated at desks with laptops in a classroom. There are clocks, a whiteboard, and a projector screen visible in the background.

Initiatives

The Center has initiatives in two areas:

  1. Faith and Community Partnership:
    • Ongoing education and training within the profession of social work and faith communities
    • Service-learning opportunities linking the university and the community
    • Research around faith, church, and community engagement
  2. Cultivating Resilience:
    • Education around mental health, trauma, and resilience
    • Advocacy and service for vulnerable individuals and communities including victims of violent crime, homicide loss survivors, homeless individuals, first responders, etc.
Three women stand indoors in front of decorative banners that read Justice, Kindness, and Humbly. Dressed in business-casual attire, they represent the Center for Just Communities and look toward the camera with purpose.

Center History

Established in 2009, the Center for Just and Caring Communities is based on the premise that just and caring communities are created and sustained by transformational relationships. Reciprocal and interactive connections between individuals, families, groups, communities, and society at large exist to either strengthen or violate healthy relationships within these systems. The Center exist to conduct research and to promote strategies that uplift, restore, and transform community relationships with a special emphasis on vulnerable persons and communities.

Founding Professors

  • Mary Anne Poe, Director (center)
    Professor Emeritus
  • Nita Mehr, Fellow (left)
    Professor Emeritus
  • Theresa Blakley, Fellow (right)
    Professor Emeritus