The vision of the University of Dayton to become a national leader in the education of community builders, including students, faculty, and alumni, through their participation in community building partnerships is pursued and executed through the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community. The Fitz Center stimulates, coordinates and facilitates learning and scholarship on leadership and community throughout the University, within the community and between the two. We base our work on Catholic social teaching and Marianist ideals.

The Fitz Center builds on the University's and the Marianists' many years of experience through which we have linked resources to those of the Dayton community to solve regional problems, develop community leaders and build neighborhoods. The University has built collaborative relationships with dozens of neighborhoods and community nonprofit and government organizations and associations in efforts that have enriched the quality of life for thousands of citizens within Dayton and surrounding communities. These projects have also afforded meaningful meaningful service-learning opportunities to hundreds of students and dozens of faculty.

• Strategies for Responsible Development (SRD) 1974-1997
• Center for the Study of Family Development (CSFD) 1979-1997
• Social Science Research Center (SSRC) 1986-1997
• SWEAT/AmeriCorps 1994-2001
• Institute for Neighborhood and Community Leadership (INCLUD) 1997-2001
• Center for Family and Community Research (CFCR) 1997-2001
• Center for Leadership in Community (CLC) July 2001
• Fitz Center for Leadership in Community 2002
• Semester of Service 2003
• Neighborhood School Centers 2004
• Dayton Civic Scholars 2005
• Rivers Institute 2005