What Is an Authentic Relationship?

There is perhaps nothing more hopeful in the world than to attempt to develop a truly meaningful relationship with another human being. The formation of authentic relationships can be powerful for many reasons including contributing to the formation of collective movements and social change. But, what does an authentic relationship look like in an inherently time-limited community-engaged learning (CEL) experience? I utilize the case of a CEL class, rooted in some of the aims of the Jesuit Justice Circle (experience, understanding, imagination), which offers the opportunity for college students to enjoy early morning walks to school with youth.2 I analyze student data from their relationship development journals and semester-long writing assignments to describe patterns in their development of relationships with fellow classmates and community members. In so doing, I offer an initial descriptive account of what the critical CEL aspirational concept of authentic relationships looks like "on the ground.". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]