This document outlines the University of Minnesota's urban vision for the 21st century through the University Northside Partnership (UNP) and the Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement Center (UROC). The vision is to improve lives through advancing knowledge, with a mission of dynamic public engagement. UNP and UROC aim to strengthen communities, build human capital, and improve health by addressing needs in North Minneapolis through research, outreach programs, and community partnerships. Progress to date includes establishing centers, hiring liaisons, and purchasing a facility to anchor the urban presence. Next steps involve further developing sustainable community partnerships and action research. The goal is for the University to become a 21st century engaged urban university through discovery of solutions to

1. An Urban Vision for the 21st Century:
The Urban Research and
Outreach/Engagement Center & the
University Northside Partnership
Senior Vice President Robert J. Jones
Associate Vice President & Executive Director of UROC
Irma McClaurin
Original Presentation to University of Minnesota Board of Regents, Educational
Planning and Policy Committee, July 9, 2008; Updated, October 15, 2008

2. Overview
• An Urban Vision for the 21st Century
• The University Northside Partnership (UNP)
• The Urban Research and
Outreach/Engagement Center (UROC)

3. VISION: Improve the human condition through the
advancement of knowledge
MISSION: Dynamic public engagement
ESSENTIAL COMMITMENT: Address critical
needs of state, nation, world

4. Why An Urban Vision?
• Majority of world’s
population lives in cities
• 60% of Minnesota
residents live in the Twin
Cities commuting area
• Minnesota is mosaic of
cities (Rochester, St.
Cloud, Duluth)
• Urban/rural interface
(Worthington, Willmar)

5. The Need for Action
Close the Gap: The Case for
Change - Premieres April 6th at
6pm on tpt.
This new documentary series produced in
partnership with The Itasca Project examines
the widening gaps between Minnesotans.
The Minnesota Legislative
Report Card on Racial
Equity 2007

6. Areas of Focus for the University’s Urban
Vision
• Strengthening Community – economic development,
job skills, reduce poverty
• Building Human Capital – education, early childhood
development
• Improving Health – eliminate health disparities, provide
evidence-based mental health services for children and
families, emphasize nutrition and healthy lifestyles

7. The University
Northside Partnership
Creating an authentic
partnership with
residents, community
groups, local
governments, and the
philanthropy and business
sectors.

8. UNP
University Northside Partnership
Convening mechanism for
partner organizations
NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center･
City of Minneapolis･
The Coalition of Black Churches/African
American Leadership Summit･
Hennepin County･
Northside Residents Redevelopment Council･
Northway Community Trust･
Phyllis Wheatley Community Center

9. Anchoring our Presence
Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement
Center (UROC)
 Coordination & delivery mechanism for outreach,
research and engagement programs & activities in the
community
 Physical presence/facility for those programs

10. Progress to Date
 Continued work to establish the Child and Family Center (Dr.
Dante Cicchetti)
 Received $750,000 three-year grant from the Foundation for
the Improvement of Post Secondary Education (FISPE)
 Received $300,000 two-year grant from City of MPLS
Empowerment Zone for the Center for Innovation and
Economic Development
 Hired liaisons to facilitate Community/University collaborations
 Purchased a facility to anchor our presence in the North
Minneapolis community
 Hired an Executive Director for UROC

11. Accomplishments
• Programmatic
– UNP Work Groups
– FIPSE-UROC Work Groups

12. Synergy I

13. Synergy II

14. Synergy III

15. UROC SPACE-The Facility

16. Strategic Planning

17. Holistic Evaluation

18. Next Steps
• Sustainable Partnership Development
– Fellowships for community leaders
– Community awards
– Community Opportunity Grants (modeled on the
Northside Seed Grant Program administered by CURA)
– Community-University conversation salons and social
events

19. Next Steps (cont)
– First Interdisciplinary National Community
Partners conference
– Action Research Workshops
– Curricula development grants to integrate
local urban issues & action research
– Governance Structure for UNP & UROC

20. Looking Towards the Future
• 2020 Vision

21. A 21st Century Engaged Urban
University
“Driven to discover solutions to complex issues
facing urban communities ”
+
Community
=
Partners
Success

22. A 21 Century Destination
st
• Through UNP &
UROC, the
University is
forging a new path
of urban
community
engagement.