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Urban Update
The monthly newsletter of the UMass Dartmouth Urban Initiative
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June 2012
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In addition to juggling a handful of projects this summer, the Urban Initiative is enjoying some great opportunities to bolster our capacity. First, we have two great additions to our team. Check out our blog to be introduced to Evan Desrochers, our Urban Policy Intern who is an undergraduate Economics major at UMass Dartmouth, and Bob Golder, our new graduate research assistant who is working toward his Master's of Public Policy. The Urban Initiative has also been building our capacity by adding to our knowledge base and skill sets. We've enjoyed tremendous learning opportunities through our recent trips to the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative and to the Philadelphia Federal Reserve's 'Building Resilient Cities' conference (blog recaps on both are forthcoming). Meanwhile, this summer will see the Urban Initiative team using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map neighborhood conditions in Taunton, and thanks to SRPEDD and Fall River Mass in Motion, we'll also be getting training on conducting a Health Impact Assessment (HIA). These opportunities will make us even more effective in supporting our community partners and strengthening our cities. |
Projects
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- This summer has the Urban Initiative team spending lots of time in Taunton, where we'll be developing a baseline report on conditions in and around the site of Taunton Housing Authority's HOPE VI development. As part of that effort, we'll be surveying residents of the public housing site being redeveloped as well as residents of the surrounding neighborhood.
- We're scaling up our efforts to produce content across a number of issue areas for our Urban Indicators Project, which is set to launch this fall. Such efforts will be helped along by a grant the Urban Initiative was awarded through the UMass Dartmouth Public Service Fund. Know what else will help ensure that the outcome of this project is a valuable and accessible tool? Your input! Check out the sample pages we've developed so far, and contact us with feedback.
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| From the blog: |
Here's a taste of what we've been writing about on the blog this month?
- The future of the American Community Survey, which provides much of the data we share with the community to help identify and communicate cities' assets and deficits, is at risk. Learn more about why this matters and who it affects.
- Citizens of Grand Rapids, MI, didn't take being called a "dying city" sitting down. Instead, they took to the streets to make an awesome music video in which thousands of city residents sing, dance, and shoot off fireworks to 'American Pie.' What songs would pair well with our nearby Gateway Cities? Read the post and share your ideas!
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Upcoming Events
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What: United Way of RI presents the Learn with Leaders series--join Connie Howes, President and CEO of Women & Infants as she discusses how to "Leverage your community involvement to make a lasting impact."
When: Wednesday, June 6, 2012 from 8:00-9:30a
Where: Women & Infants, Malcolm & Elizabeth Chace Education Ctr (Auditorium 4), 101 Dudley St, Providence, RI. Learn more here.
Cost: Free
What: SouthCoast Young Professional's Network Presents, CEO Unplugged series with David Slutz, Precix Inc. Come join the SCYPN for the first installment of the CEO Unplugged series! These events give young professionals access to local leaders for a chance to connect and learn their journey to success. Learn more here.
When: Friday, 6/15 from 7:45-9:00a
Where: Precix Inc. 774 Belleville Ave. New Bedford, MA Cost: Free for SCYPN members
Want your upcoming event listed? Email us!
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About the Urban Initiative:
The Urban Initiative at UMass Dartmouth is a division of the Center for Policy Analysis that was established in 2007 to address challenges and opportunities in the region's smaller industrial cities, with a particular emphasis on nearby communities like Fall River and New Bedford. In addition to conducting applied research, evaluating programs and policies, facilitating collaborations, and providing technical assistance to cities and organizations therein, the Urban Initiative serves as a knowledge base for urban policy issues and their applications in the region.
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Grant & technical assistance opportunities
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LEGO Children's Fund Deadline: June 15-July 12, 2012 (eligibility quiz time period); July 29 (application deadline) The LEGO Children's Fund will provide quarterly grants for programs with a special interest paid to collaborative efforts and in providing funds to leverage new dollars into the receiving organization. There are no restrictions on grant amounts, however, typical awards are between $500-5,000. Learn more here. The Sociological Initiatives Foundation Deadline: late-Summer 2012 (concept application deadline)--more details available in June The Foundation was established to support research that furthers social change, including language learning and behavior and its intersection with social and policy questions. Some examples of desired applicants are academic-community partnerships; advocacy or community groups that conduct research that can withstand challenge in academic and policy arenas; and academics that organize or link to a constituency through their research. More information available here. Jane's Trust Deadline: July 15 (for September consideration) Jane's Trust will make grants to qualifying organizations in the greater Boston area that focus exclusively on health and welfare. These objectives may include: Efforts to directly improve the health and welfare of vulnerable and under served populations; efforts to alleviate human suffering and provide for basic human needs; projects and organizations that promote individual and community wellness, disease prevention and equal care for all; efforts to understand links between human and animal health and welfare. Learn more here.Nordson Corporation Foundation
Deadline: August 15
The Nordson Corporation Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life in its communities by improving educational outcomes that enable individuals to become self-sufficient, active participants in the community. Through its grant-making, the foundation supports organizations that directly or indirectly seek to maximize success before, during and beyond the traditional classroom years. Learn more here. Know of any other upcoming opportunities we should share? Email us! |
Job opportunities
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AmeriCorps VISTA
Where: UMass Dartmouth Office of Sustainability/Center for Civic Engagement
Join an exciting team researching alternative ways for people to meet their economic needs by setting up a time and talent bartering system. Time Banking is being used in communities around the world, and we want to explore how it would work best in the South Coast region of Massachusetts, particularly in New Bedford and Fall River. Time Banking is a very successful solution to restoring self sufficiency and dignity to anyone suffering unemployment or insufficient income. Work would be performed part time at the University and part time in the community hosted by two partnering community groups - United Neighbors of Fall River and the Community Economic Development Center in New Bedford. More details available on the Urban Initiative'sblog.
StatNet Analyst
Where: Collins Center, UMass Boston
The Collins Center seeks motivated candidates with strong skills in data analysis for a 6-month project working with four communities on municipal performance measurement. Analysts will coordinate CitiStat (or similar) meetings, collect/analyze/organize data to present and discuss, track outcomes, research and share best practices from across the country, and help municipalities establish performance indicators. Work will begin in late June/early July. Click here to apply. (And read more of the job description on the Urban Initiative's blog.)
Small Farm Apprentice, Round the Bend Farm Where: South Dartmouth, MA Round the Bend Farm (RTB) seeks a farm apprentice to join the farm manager and one to three interns. They are looking for a person who is EXCITED by the prospect of learning all things farming from vegetable gardening to seed saving to animal husbandry. Additionally, they are looking for a self starter with a strong work ethic that is available for a seasonal apprenticeship from early June to mid-November. To learn more about this position click here. Make sure to check out our blog, which has many more job opportunities than those featured here. And let us know if you have an opportunity to share! |
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