The CURA CORNER:
Community Organization Resource for News, Events and Research

Volume 1, No. 2 (Summer 2007)

The CURA CORNER is an occasional online newsletter intended to inform CURA’s community partners about the activities of our Community-Based Research Programs, which include the Community Assistantship Program (CAP), Communiversity, and Neighborhood Planning for Community Revitalization (NPCR). These programs provide graduate or undergraduate student assistance for community-based applied research projects, program planning and development, program evaluation, and other short-term projects.

In This Issue

1. Reader Survey: Help Us Improve the CURA CORNER!
2. UNN Courses Online
3. Summer 2007 Research Project Awards
4. 2007 Community-Based Research Project Highlights
5. Neighborhood Outreach Smackdown
6. CURA Housing Forum
7. Events Calendars

Reader Survey: Help Us Improve the CURA CORNER!

Please take a minute to help us improve this publication by taking our short online survey and telling us what you like about the newsletter, what you don't like, and what would make it more useful to readers like you.

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UNN Courses Online

UNN provides course-based project support for neighborhood and community organizations in the Twin Cities. UNN is a resource for community groups and students to address important neighborhood and community issues. Right now we have courses posted with willing and capable students to do projects involving:

• Document Design Fall (designing and creating a wide range of print material) 
• Writing and Designing for the Web
• Quantitative Research and Analysis (an assessment or evaluation project using quantitative methods)
• Applied Geographic Information Systems
• Transit Planning and Management
• Neighborhood Revitalization Strategies
• Practicum in Community Organizing/Research

Visit the UNN website to view courses and submit project proposals. Go to “Search Courses,” then “Show Current Courses” and then “Details” for each course. To submit a proposal to a course, select “Enter a project for this course.”

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Summer 2007 Research Project Awards

The following organizations received a community-based research project award for summer 2007 semester:

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2007 Community-Based Research Project Highlights

The following are descriptions of selected Community-Based Research Program projects that CURA funded during 2007. (Where available, links are provided to online reports from the projects.) You can search for other projects online using the CURA Project Database and search for other publications and reports using the CURA Publications Catalog.

Green Institute, Community Garden Public Policy Project for Hennepin County
The Green Institute wanted to discover what public policies existed in relation to community gardening in Hennepin County. Erin Foster West, an undergraduate student at Macalester College, analyzed the policies of several municipalities to determine which support or hinder community gardens in Hennepin County. As well as preserving existing community gardens, an understanding of policies with the various public entities which own land will enable the Green Institute to better assist people interested in starting a community garden.
CURA Program: Neighborhood Planning for Community Revitalization (NPCR)

City of Lakes Community Land Trust, Minneapolis Housing Cost Trends: Comparison of 2002-2004 and 2005-2006
In 2004 CLCLT had an NPCR student evaluate the previous two years of single family sales data by neighborhood for each of the neighborhoods in Minneapolis and this data needed updating. Katherine Patnode, an undergraduate student in Urban Studies, accessed sales data from the Minneapolis Assessors office for sales of Single Family homes and compared this data with Federal Reserve foreclosure information. The use of this data by CLCLT will lead to better and informed housing policy decisions at all levels.
CURA Program: Neighborhood Planning for Community Revitalization (NPCR)

Seward Redesign, Minnehaha Avenue Market Analysis
Seward Redesign and the Longfellow Community Council (LCC) requested student research assistance in developing a comprehensive plan for Minnehaha Avenue. Dan Patterson, Master of Urban and Regional Planning graduate student at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, collected ESRI data on the business mix, market profile and retail goods and services, analyzed the information and developed a consumer survey. This information is being used to inform area residents during the Minnehaha Avenue planning process and to improve businesses in the corridor.
CURA Program: Neighborhood Planning for Community Revitalization (NPCR)

Northwest Community Revitalization Corporation, NCRC 2010
NCRC was seeking to understand the changes that have occurred in the past 10 years in their service area in order to inform long-range planning efforts. Ian Payton, Master of Urban and Regional Planning student at the Humphrey Institute, interviewed members of the Planning and Development Departments of the participating cities, assembled demographic statistics and developed a survey that can be administered to residents and businesses. The working paper is being used by NCRC and it’s member cities to develop long-range goals and plans.
CURA Program: Neighborhood Planning for Community Revitalization (NPCR)

Project for Pride in Living, Impact of Nonprofit Community Developers in Distressed Neighborhoods
The purpose of the research was to create a case study to document the revitalization of East Franklin and compile a list of “lessons learned” that could be useful to other distressed neighborhoods in Minneapolis. Will Delaney, a Master of Urban and Regional Planning student at the Humphrey Institute, researched the recent history of East Franklin, mapped data on investments, conducted interviews with stakeholders and compiled the findings. This research will help PPL to highlight the role of nonprofits and community development organizations in revitalizing distressed areas.
CURA Program: Neighborhood Planning for Community Revitalization (NPCR)

Aurora/St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corporation, Economic Justice in the Central Corridor
An effort was needed to comprehensively assess the realities of LRT impacts along the central corridor and to find programs and strategies on both the policy and community level for addressing these impending problems. Kelcie young, a Master of Urban and Regional Planning graduate student at the Humphrey Institute, met with community members and made presentations to other organizations with an interest. The report is being used to enable Aurora/St. Anthony to work collectively as advocates and organizers in order to prevent adverse impacts of development on the community.
CURA Program: Neighborhood Planning for Community Revitalization (NPCR)

Family Means and Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment through Research, Family Means After School Program Evaluation
FamilyMeans needed an assessment of their youth program and of other possible social service and acculturation needs in the Latino community resident in Landfall. Maria Roxanna Rodriguez-Araya, Educational Psychology graduate student, interviewed a primary adult in Landfall’s Latino households, managed distribution, collection and analysis of a survey to all non-Latino families participating in youth programming and developed a written report with recommendations. Results from this research have helped FamilyMeans offer new and revised programs.
CURA Program: Neighborhood Planning for Community Revitalization (NPCR)

City of Brainerd, Downtown Current Conditions and Current Market Analysis
In order to move ahead with a revitalization program the City of Brainerd needed an understanding of current market conditions in the downtown area. Jacob Frie, a graduate student with Forest Resources, developed a spreadsheet for tracking the results of a business survey, entered assessors office data into a spreadsheet and made comparisons of Brainerd's situation to other Minnesota communities. The results will are being used to understand the current environment and as a benchmark tool in the implementation of the Main Street Program.
CURA Program: Community Assistantship Program (CAP)

Becker County Economic Development Authority, I.D. County Land Conservation Priorities/Recreation Opportunities
To support the Comprehensive Plan Becker County EDA had a need to identify public tax forfeited land and public sector land most suitable for conservation and recreational development. Heather Sander, a graduate student in the department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, aggregated GIS data and applied it to the geographic area of the County to develop a County land use map. GIS maps and aggregate data could help Becker County identify potential conservation areas.
CURA Program: Community Assistantship Program (CAP)

Duluth Youth Agency Coalition, Inventory of Out of School Time Opportunities for Middle School Youth in Duluth
DYAC and the Duluth Parks and Recreation Commission were charged with developing a citywide youth opportunities comprehensive plan to address the gaps and barriers for youth to quality opportunities during their out of school time. Peter Woitock, a graduate student of Political Science at the University of Minnesota Duluth campus, identified and collected data from agencies, created a spreadsheet and analyzed the results. The inventory is being used to inform community planning for future out of school time opportunities.
CURA Program: Community Assistantship Program (CAP)

City of Morris Planning Commission, City of Morris Planning Commission Research Assistance
The City of Morris Planning Commission needed student assistance to research specific planning topics related to quality of life, economic development, housing, health and safety, and planning and zoning. Amanda Minion, an undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota Morris campus, conducted research on these topics. The research results provided background information to the Planning Commission in these areas and helped commissioners see how other communities have met the challenges.
CURA Program: Community Assistantship Program (CAP)

Legal Rights Center, Community-Based Conflict Resolution—Best Practices
LRC needed a student to research best practices for Community Based Conflict Resolution activities. Tiffany Davis, a graduate student in the school of Sociology, reviewed professional literature on conflict resolution methodologies, applications and programs and developed a report making recommendations as to uses and methods of conflict resolution. LRC will implement these best practices in their conflict resolution work.
CURA Program: Communiversity

St. Stephen's Human Services, Evaluating Supports to Help Stabilize Homeless Families
For St. Stephen’s Human Services the purpose of this project was to measure client stability with the goal of strengthening their programs. Katie Day, a Master of Public Policy graduate student at the Humphrey Institute, located former participants, designed a questionnaire, conducted interviews with families, compiled the information, and developed a final report. St. Stephens will distribute the results to organizations working on homelessness as well as strengthen their programs.
CURA Program: Communiversity

National Alliance on Mental Illness of Minnesota (NAMI-MN), Mental Health Awareness Program for Emergency Responders
A student research assistant was needed to develop information that would help NAMI address the problems encountered by those who seek a mental health evaluation or an admission for a mental health crisis at hospital emergency departments. Jason Wolff, a graduate student in the College of Education and Human Development, developed an overview of how the current system is working and researched best practices in state of the art emergency rooms. NAMI-MN is using this information to create a program that will educate emergency department staff and EMTs about mental illness and best practices of care.
CURA Program: Communiversity

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Neighborhood Outreach Smackdown

Lemonade stands and Mobile Barbeque replaced pile drivers and body slams at the May 31st Neighborhood Smackdown sponsored by CURA. Organized as a showcase of innovative methods used by Twin Cities Neighborhoods and a networking event, the Smackdown featured nine innovative outreach methods used by Minneapolis and St. Paul neighborhood groups. Other contenders included Hip Hop Youth Outreach by Frogtown Community Council and Paint the Pavement by the Hamline Midway Community Coalition.  

Fifty neighborhood leaders attended the event, sponsored by CURA’s Neighborhood Planning for Community Revitalization and Twin Cities Training Program for Neighborhood Organizers. Following the outreach showcase and awarding of championship belts, participants enjoyed a barbeque and chance for networking. Participants enjoyed the fun, fast-moving event and the chance to connect with others involved in neighborhood improvement across the Twin Cities. Thanks to the McKnight Foundation for hosting the Smackdown!

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CURA Housing Forum

The CURA Housing Forum will kick off the next academic year on September 21st with a debate on the proposition that allocation of public resources to subsidize additional affordable housing in areas of concentrated poverty is/is not appropriate public policy. Myron Orfield, director of the Institute on Race and Poverty, and Ed Goetz, director of the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program at the Humphrey Institute, will debate the two sides of the proposition with a small panel of community members to comment on the pros and cons of the speakers’ arguments.

When: September 21st, 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm
Where: TBA

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Events Calendars

Council of Public Engagement Calendar, University of Minnesota

University of Minnesota Events Calendar

Community Connections Calendar (sponsored by Target Corporation and the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute)

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Previous Issues

Volume 1, Number 1 (Spring 2007)