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The Community Partnership Project Seminar Series links research and practice and promotes the sharing of information and ideas on issues that impact the St. Louis region. These seminars are sponsored by the Community Partnership Project at UMSL, working in cooperation with University of Missouri Extension. Seminars are free and open to the public. For more information, call (314) 516-6392 or email Kara at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Stay tuned for future Seminar Series events!

 
Previous Sessions Print

What's Really Growing in Community Gardens?

When: 3:00–4:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Where:
Room 402, J.C. Penney Conference Center, UMSL

FREE and open to the public. FREE parking is available in Lot C.

Community gardening organizations and health advocates have lauded community gardens as a means to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables in urban food deserts. A review of the literature about community gardens reveals that there are links between health and community gardening, but they may not be what you think. Plus, what else is growing in community gardens across the country and around the globe? Evidence shows that the benefits of community gardening extend far beyond nutrition, including creating connections among neighbors and increasing tolerance for diverse cultures.

Panelists:
  • Tracy Greever Rice, Interim Director of the MU Office of Social and Economic Data Analysis (OSEDA)
  • Jill Lucht, Research Associate in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
  • Michael Sorth, Gateway Greening
  • Dwayne James, Councilman, City of Ferguson
  • Julie Birkenmaier, Chouteau Garden, Forest Park Southeast Neighborhood

If the City Reentering the County is the Solution, What's the Problem?

When: 3:00–4:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Where: Room 202, J.C. Penney Conference Center, UMSL

FREE and open to the public. FREE parking is available in Lot C.

In the 135 years since St. Louis separated from St. Louis County, there have been several conversations about a possible reunification, most recently highlighted in media headlines and political campaigns. Are the citizens and our government leaders ready to explore this possibility? In the recently published policy brief, "Reconciling the Great Divorce: The City of St. Louis Reentering St. Louis County," Dr. Terry Jones examines issues related to the City reentering the County as its 92nd municipality and explores key issues and the "devils lurking in the details."
  • Should the City of St. Louis reenter St. Louis County 135 years after the "Great Divorce of 1876"?
  • What is the process, what issues would need to be resolved, what might be the consequences, and what alternatives are there for closer City-County cooperation?  
Panelists:
  • Terry Jones, PhD, Professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Political Science, UMSL
  • Mike Jones, Senior Policy Adviser to the County Executive, St. Louis County
  • Lyda Krewson, Alderwoman, Ward 28, City of St. Louis
  • Frank Hamsher, Public Policy and Communications Consultant

Creating Whole Communities:

Understanding the State of Community Development Nonprofits in St. Louis

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 | View Presentation
 J.C. Penney Conference Center, Room 12

With many urban and inner suburban neighborhoods still in decline, St. Louis needs to increase its capacity for strategic community development. Strategic community development requires a system that coordinates housing with economic development, education, transportation, parks and other functions – ideally under the leadership of a community development corporation (CDC).

Todd Swanstrom and Karl Guenther will present the findings of their survey of 34 CDCs in the region, with panel responses from both a national and local perspective. Explore questions including: Are St. Louis area community development corporations focused on strategic community development? Do CDCs have the organizational capacity to make a difference in St. Louis neighborhoods? How should governments, foundations and banks contribute to developing a more supportive environment for community development?

Panelists:
  • Todd Swanstrom, Des Lee Professor of Community Collaboration and Public Policy Administration, UMSL
  • Karl Guenther, Community Development Specialist, UMSL
  • Paul Brophy, Principal, Brophy & Reilly, LLC
  • Justine Craig-Meyer, Executive Director, Lemay Housing Partnership
  • Kimberly McKinney, Chief Executive Officer, Habitat for Humanity St. Louis

 

One Year Later: Lessons from the Passage of Prop A

Wednesday, April 6, 2011|| 4:00–5:30 p.m.
Reception to follow || 5:30-6:30 p.m.
J.C. Penney Conference Center, Summit Lounge
University of Missouri–St. Louis || One University Boulevard
UMSL North Metrolink Station
FREE parking in Lot C.

Moderator:

  • Eddie Roth, St. Louis Post Dispatch

Presenters:

  • Todd Swanstrom, University of Missouri-St. Louis
  • David Kimball, University of Missouri-St. Louis

Panelists:

  • Thomas Shrout, retired executive director, Citizens for Modern Transit
  • John Nations, Metro
  • Don Suggs, St. Louis American
  • Nancy Cross, Greater St. Louis Transit Alliance, SEIU Local 1
  • Adam Shriver, Blogger, St. Louis Activist Hub

On April 6, 2010 the voters of St. Louis County approved a ½ cent sales tax for public transportation with a solid 63 percent majority. Two years earlier a similar initiative had lost with 48 percent of the vote. Given that the economy was in a recession, unemployment was high, and the anti-tax Tea Party movement was rising across the nation, the large majority for Prop A was startling.

Why did the campaign fail in 2008? What factors were responsible for Prop A’s success? What was the role of key stakeholders and civic organizations? What are the lessons for future tax initiative campaigns and civic coalitions?

 

Fair Access to Financial Services:  What is the Problem and What Can We Do About It?  

View the Presentation

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 – 3:00-4:30p
J.C. Penney Conference Center, Room 126
University of Missouri-St. Louis
One University Boulevard
FREE parking in Lot C

Panelists:

  • Todd Swanstrom, Des Lee Professor of Community Collaboration and Public Policy Administration, University of Missouri – St. Louis
  • Mira Tanna, Metro St. Louis Equal Housing Opportunity Council
  • Elisabeth Risch, Metro St. Louis Equal Housing Opportunity Council
  • Ed Wartts, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • Eddie G. Davis, Center for the Acceleration of African-American Business

According to a 2009 FDIC study, the St. Louis metro area has the highest percentage of "unbanked" African American households in the nation (31 percent).  A recent Equal Housing Opportunity Council (EHOC) Fair Lending Study has collected data on the practices of top St. Louis mortgage lenders and used the data to open up new dialogues with area banks.  How is the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) being used in St. Louis?  What is happening as a result of EHOC’s new discussions?  How can neighborhoods use CRA to insure fair access to lending and financial services?

For more information, view the attached flyer or call 314.516.6392.  This seminar is free.  No registration required.

This seminar is brought to you by the Community Partnership Project at UM-St. Louis, in cooperation with University of Missouri Extension.

 

Lobbying: Understanding the Impact of Interest Groups on Policy Change

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 || 3:00–4:30 p.m.
J.C. Penney Conference Center, Room 126
University of Missouri–St. Louis
One University Boulevard
FREE parking in Lot C.

Panelists:

  • David Kimball, PhD, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Missouri–St. Louis
  • Pat Yaeger, Former Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
  • Ruth Ehresman, Missouri Budget Project

A recent 10 year study found that despite millions of dollars spent on lobbying campaigns, most fail to change policy. What role do interest groups play in policy change at the federal and state level? Do groups with the most money and lobbyists get their way? How can interest groups more effectively work with legislators in order to make policy change?

Join us on Wednesday, February 23, at 3:00 p.m. for a panel discussion on lobbying and American politics. The panel will link research and practice in a discussion on lobbying, interest groups and policy change.

See the Presentation Here

 


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