This paper makes the case for integrating human rights and service-learning in the United States. After 50 years of invisibility in the U.S., the language and principles of human rights now form the basis for a national movement for addressing problems at the structural level, and as such, are deeply aligned with the goals and visions of the “critical service-learning” and “engaged scholarship” models. As U.S. human rights activities are based mainly at state, municipal and grassroots levels, they provide service-learning students with opportunities to directly engage the laws, principles and strategies of human rights in their own local communities. In turn, students’ enhanced knowledge of human rights principles and strategies for action can enhance linkages between community partners and global human rights networks. Ultimately, such partnerships transform both students’ knowledge and engagement of human rights and the engaged scholarship experience itself.Key words: human rights, service-learning, engaged scholarship
