Transformation through Service

Flower's essay to me really hits a lot of important points. The opening statement in Flower's article is very true in how I personally view community service. "Community outreach brings idealism and social consciousness into the academy. It brings a human face and complex lives into the discussion of issues and ideas," (181). I feel community outreach really should be used in every academic and non-academic class because it really brings a complexity to discussions. Not only from seeing other perspectives, but you are able to understand situations first hand rather than through a book.

In the last section talking about inquiry and transformation, the text really hits home for me when she talks about the contact zone of cultural difference. She says, "...we must be prepared to go beyond contact into the struggle to understand with others in a collaborative intercultual inquiry," (194). This is perfect advice for leading up to our community partnership. even though it may be a struggle, Flower says we must take the step beyond safe distance in order to take our thinking and understanding to the complexity in which service learning is all about. This intercultural learning Flower emphasizes will transform what we know and alter our relationships with others. We must strive for this complexity in understanding rather than merely outreaching to the partners.