Louisiana State University
PAE-19: Community Sustainability Partnerships

Mission The mission of the LSU Community University Partnership is to maintain community relevancy through outreach. We build relationships between campus and community groups, activists, schools, and interfaith networks. Through our efforts, we strive to promote civic engagement, increase cultural competency, challenge historic sentiment, and develop new strategies to accommodate the changing demographics of our community. Description As an urban institution, LSU is committed to using its extensive resources to solve economic, environmental and social challenges. The Community University Partnership (CUP) exhibits the University's Commitment to Community in a variety of these areas, with a concentrated focus on Old South Baton Rouge and the neighborhoods immediately north of LSU's campus. In 2001, LSU received a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Outreach Partnership Center. The programmatic initiatives centered on community organization, economic development and neighborhood revitalization. Through various campus and community partnerships, CUP combines the resources of LSU with the strengths of the area to promote a stronger, more economically sustainable community. Funded at an additional $200,000 in 2005, CUP began to focus on youth development and home ownership while continuing many of the programs established in the original grant. Programs and Initiatives At Home in Old South Baton Rouge: A home owners guide produced by LSU School of Architecture students that offers suggestions for enhancing existing home stock and energy conservation. City Year® Partnership: With CUP’s leadership, LSU is the first public college or university in the country to become a ‘give a year’ partner with the international service organization. LSU provides application fee awards to City Year corps members, alumni, and staff; and provides one, graduate-level scholarship. Cultural Events: Opportunities that expose local youth to multi-cultural productions across several different artistic genres. Fresh Cuts, Clean Health: A barbershop health initiative, which screens men for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Partners: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation, LSU Health, LSU AgCenter, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and the Mayor’s Healthy BR Initiative. Geaux for Gold: A five-week informational course that emphasizes topics in financial literacy and encourages home ownership. Partners: Campus Federal Credit Union and Mid City Redevelopment Alliance. Saturday In-Service: Volunteer opportunity events for LSU students to paint homes, provide minor home repairs, and facilitate clean-ups. WE>START (Women Experiencing Success through Academics, Resources, and Training): A five-module professional development seminar for single mothers in the Old South Baton Rouge community; program developed from Lending a Hand, which was a comprehensive study of single mothers completed by an LSU CUP research associate. Partner: LSU Women’s Center. Yard of the Month: Beautification contest celebrating excellence in landscape maintenance of homes in Old South Baton Rouge. LSU also partners with the community through service learning opportunities within CCELL, Center for COmmunity Engagement, Learning and Leadership. http://appl003.lsu.edu/slas/ccell/ccell.nsf/index Volunteer LSU is the on-campus community service center for LSU students, faculty, and staff. We connect the campus community with volunteer programs by working with a diverse group of partners interested in volunteerism, http://www.lsu.edu/departments/volunteerlsu/html/vlsu_faqs.html