Sometimes it takes one defining act to draw attention to the values of an entire institution. At Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the board of trustees decided to devote substantial resources and attention to refurbishing one of their community centers that had been in disrepair in a low-income neighborhood, hiring a full-time education coordinator and opening a new computer lab. Through this act, the board took a step towards establishing Washtenaw as an active and committed figure in a traditionally underserved community, and helped define the community values of the college itself.
