Columbia University
EN-10: Community Partnerships

Through Columbia Community Service (CCS), the university makes grants to local nonprofit organizations focused on education, food and emergency services, eldercare, the arts, and the environment and parks. Columbia covers all administrative expenses, and 100% of funds raised are distributed through grants. CCS awarded grants to 57 local nonprofit service programs in 2017. Additionally, CCS participates in the Columbia Reuse program, which is a program that makes surplus readily available to the university administration and 501(c)3 organizations, providing a platform to put unneeded items to a good second use. The Columbia Reuse program is a vehicle to facilitate the exchange of office furniture and equipment within the University and local community organizations. This is consistent with the University's goal to conserve resources and minimize waste by helping other departments and community organizations that are in need of equipment and furniture. This program is not intended to provide used equipment and/or furniture for personal or home use. The program is run by the University's Environmental Stewardship Office. http://reuse.cuf.columbia.edu/ https://communityservice.columbia.edu/ https://communityservice.columbia.edu/content/applicant-resources

Through the Office of Government and Community Affairs, Columbia engages with several dozen community organizations, providing sponsorship, services, and support. 1. The West Harlem Community Benefits Agreement -Between the West Harlem Local Development Corporation and the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, signed May 18, 2009 -As part of the New York State approval process, the Empire State Development Corporation adopted a General Project Plan (GPP) for Manhattanville expansion -Included in the GPP are a number of commitments, termed Amenities, which will benefit the local community -These amenities reinforce many of the programmatic elements reflected in the Community Benefits Agreement, as well as a number of additional initiatives that largely fall into the following broad categories: o Civic Facility Improvements i.e. I.S. 195 Playground Enhancement, West Harlem Piers Maintenance, Subway Escalator Upgrade, Viaduct Lighting, Shuttle Bus for the Elderly/Disabled o Community Access to Columbia Facilities i.e. Community Swimming Access, Community Meeting Space, Artist Space, Community Information Center, Wireless Internet Access o Health Care and Related Services i.e. Mind, Brain, Behavior Education Center, Mind, Brain, Behavior Public Outreach Center, Pre-school Mobile Dental Center, Seniors Dental Health Screening o Education i.e. 40 Undergraduate Scholarships for 25 years, 3 Graduate Scholarships for Teachers, 50 Two Course Scholarships for Life Long Learners for 25 years, 49-Year Land Lease, 25-year Curriculum Assistance, and 25-year access to libraries and computer facilities for the Math, Science, Engineering Secondary School, 50 Course Auditing Programs, 10 3-year Community Scholars Program o Youth and Senior Services i.e. Senior Citizen Center, Seasonal Athletic Clinics for Upper Manhattan Youth, 25 Summer Camp Scholarships, Outreach for Disconnected Youth, o Business Development and Job Training i.e. Workforce Training Program, Medical Technician Training Program, Community Job Training o Waterfront Revitalization Community Benefits Agreement, http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gca/pdf-files/CBAAgreement.pdf 2. Now in its fifth year, the Washington Heights Farmer’s Market is open every Tuesday throughout the late spring, summer, and early fall. The market runs along the west side of Fort Washington Avenue, between 168th and 169th Streets adjacent to the Hammer Health Sciences Building on the campus of Columbia University Medical Center. It offers students, faculty, staff, visitors, and local community residents the opportunity to purchase at reasonable prices healthy fresh fruits and vegetable and an assortment of other all natural products. On selected Tuesdays, the CUMC Office of Government & Community Affairs, sponsors lunchtime musical performances in front of the Hammer steps by CUMC employees or local artists. Additionally, there is a Farmers Market near the Morningside Campus every Thursday and Sunday for the local community. 3. Columbia Facilities has also had contractors donate time, extra furniture and floors to single mothers with children and drug dependency. ---- 4. The Community Impact Leadership Program (CILP) is for first years from Barnard College, Columbia College, School of Engineering and Applied Science, and General Studies/Jewish Theological Seminary who are personally invested in community service. The eight selected participants run meetings, write newsletters, shadow professionals involved with social justice, and plan campus wide events. Second semester CILPers apply their individual enthusiasm and experiences to come up with and pursue a project of their own design which will make a positive impact on the community. - See more at: http://communityimpact.columbia.edu/our-programs/community-impact-leadership-program#sthash.38FP5EEo.dpuf