Community Engagement

Learning through service, culture, and collaboration.

Beyond fieldwork and classroom learning, the Social Work Program at Howard Payne University actively engages in campus and community partnerships that promote inclusion, service, and cultural awareness. These experiences help students live out the profession’s core values while building empathy, leadership, and connection.

Each year, students and faculty:

• Partner with the Spanish Department to support the Hispanic Heritage Festival, celebrating culture and community.
• Collaborate in Black History Month events and film screenings that honor history and social justice.
• Participate in Mental Health Awareness Week activities that encourage advocacy, resilience, and self-care.
• Volunteer with local organizations such as The ARK, Salvation Army, and Good Samaritan Ministries, extending service beyond the classroom.
• Through these partnerships, HPU social work students learn to integrate faith, compassion, and cultural humility into their future practice.