Originally founded as a coalition of returned study abroad students in Khon Kaen, Thailand, ENGAGE is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has grown into a network of individuals and affiliated organizations linked through their involvement in local community-based and social justice organizing. Founded in 2001, much of ENGAGE's past work has focused on international solidarity efforts and economic, social, and cultural rights aimed at strengthening relationships between transnational social movements. Due to their belief that effective solidarity work begins at home, their network has since diversified it’s work. They now emphasize connecting returned students to existing members' community-organizing efforts in the US as a basis for building bridges with international movements and inspiring new and veteran activists in their network. They share a common framework for their work through intentional, goal-oriented communication and group process. This framework informs their organizing and social justice efforts.

Many of their members are non-profit workers, organizers, farmers, students, and alumni of the Thailand study-abroad programs, dedicated to staying connected and continuing to work in solidarity with communities in Northeast Thailand.

Values

Collective Action – They support local, grassroots solutions for global challenges.

Education for Solidarity – They use experiential, community-based education tools that encourage learners to become change agents within larger social movements.

Reciprocity – They nurture diverse and mutually-beneficial relationships to support a just and sustainable world.

Anti-Oppression – They work to illuminate and challenge unjust systems of power and oppression on personal, institutional, and societal levels, striving to recognize assets within their network and to leverage these in support of their allies.

Equity of Power – They build collective responsibility through shared leadership, equal participation, and consensus.

Reflective Practice – They highly value their collective process and therefore continually evaluate and refine their goals, projects, communication, and decision-making systems.