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March Design 2009
Community Partnership Project
In the News: Learn more about this initiative in a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article and a University of Missouri Extension video.People flourish when they live in communities with parks, community gardens, access to nutritious food, and neighbors who know and support one another. Healthy and sustainable neighborhoods require healthy environments--public transit, grocery stores, schools, parks, and workplaces. The location of food resources and the built environment affects people’s ability to access healthy foods and incorporate physical activity in order to live a healthy life.
The Community Partnership Project provides support for Faculty in developing links with St. Louis area resources and organizations, and helps Students interested in connecting with St. Louis communities. We also publish a Community Tool Kit made up of more than 20 tools related to outreach, action planning, collaboration, building consensus, and more.
Across the country, municipalities and county governments are paying attention to the state of first suburbs. A first suburb is an older community in the inner-ring, outside of a major central city. What makes an inner-ring suburb a "first" suburb is that newer suburbs developed along the same pattern, but farther away from the central core. Great location and a diverse population, including an increase in the immigrant population, are assets of first suburbs. However, these communities are quickly beginning to face the challenges that are already present in central cores including an aging population, aging housing stock, struggling business district, and a mostly built-out environment.
The Community Partnership Project is a cooperative effort of University of Missouri Extension and the University of Missouri-St. Louis designed to develop community partnership initiatives that link University resources with the needs and priorities of residents and communities in the St. Louis region.
During the fall and spring semesters, the Community Partnership Project runs a Brown Bag Series and a Seminar Series. In February through May 2010, the CPP will hold its annual Neighborhood Leadership Academy for current or potential community leaders.
The Neighborhood Leadership Academy provides hands-on leadership training that emphasizes community building principles, organizational leadership and management practices, and personal leadership skills. Created in 2002 as part of UMSL's outreach to the St. Louis community, the Neighborhood Leadership Academy connects resources at the university — the Community Partnership Project, the Nonprofit Management and Leadership Program, and University Extension — to residents and neighborhoods interested in creating more livable communities.
The Community Partnership Project at the University of Missouri–St. Louis annually recruits students who are interested in pursuing future careers in community development and community building to participate in the Community Building Fellowship Program.
The Community Building Fellowship is designed to introduce a talented group of UMSL graduate students to the challenges and opportunities of working with community-based initiatives in the St. Louis region. Selected fellows will have the opportunity to work closely with faculty and staff affiliated with the Community Partnership Project on a community-based initiative that is bringing residents and stakeholders together and addressing a priority issue or important public problems. Projects for 2010-2011 academic year include:
Selected Fellows receive a $2,500 award, along with access to an on-campus office and mentors as part of the community-building project. Fellows may also be able to use the community project as an internship or practicum experience for academic credit, depending on the guidelines of their academic department.
Selected fellows should be available to work on the community project an average of 7-10 hours weekly, including attending community meetings during the day and evenings, conducting community research and preparing reports, and meeting with faculty and staff. There are no set hours or schedules and a great deal of flexibility; however, the fellow will need to make every effort to be available for key community meetings. In addition to the community project, fellows are encouraged to attend monthly Community Partnership Project brown bag conversations and seminars that relate to the community project.
At least two graduate students will be selected during the Fall 2010 semester, with the possibility of two additional fellowships awarded in the Winter 2011 semester. Successful applicants must possess a minimum eligibility requirement of a 3.0 GPA in graduate and undergraduate studies, as well as an interest in working with community-based efforts that engage residents and organizations in creating positive local change. The application deadline is August 27th, with interviews conducted during the week of August 30th. Selected Fall semester Fellows should plan to begin their community projects on September 13th.
For more information, contact:
Kay Gasen, Director, Community Partnership Project
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or (314) 516-5269
To apply and for more information, download these two forms:
John Michael D'Agostino is pursuing a master's degree in public policy administration at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, with an anticipated graduation date of May 2010. John Mike holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Saint Louis University, with dual concentration in marketing and management. In addition to taking graduate courses, John Mike is completing an internship with the American Cancer Society and serves as a coach and volunteer with United Cerebral Palsy of Greater St. Louis. In January 2009 he will be working with the Community Partnership Project team on the healthy communities initiative in the Old North St. Louis neighborhood.
Clifton Glore is pursuing a master's degree in sociology at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, with an anticipated graduation date of May 2009. Clifton holds a bachelor's degree in education and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Southeast Missouri State University, a master's degree in business administration from Webster University, and a master's degree in social work from Saint Louis University. In addition to taking graduate courses, Clifton serves as adjunct instructor at Webster University and St. Louis Community College. He is currently working with the Community Partnership Project team on the healthy communities initiative in the Old North St. Louis neighborhood.
Ellen Reed is pursuing a master's degree in public policy administration at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, with an anticipated graduation date of December 2008. Ellen holds a bachelor's degree from Quincy College and has completed graduate certificates in Nonprofit Management and Leadership and Women's and Gender Studies at UMSL. In addition to taking graduate courses, Ellen is a graduate research assistant with the UMSL Public Policy Administration Program, chairs the Anti-Violence Advocacy Project, and serves as an independent consultant and trainer. She is currently working with the Community Partnership Project team on the healthy communities initiative in the Old North St. Louis neighborhood. 
