Miami University
EN-10: Community Partnerships

A move-out week is one of the busiest weeks in Oxford. Many students leave Oxford during the summer, and simply cannot take everything with them. Much of the trash standing along the streets during the move-out week includes items that can be reused. In early 2005, a small group of concerned citizens, City staff, and service organization members founded ShareFest to collect such items. Collection of items prevents waste and promotes cleanliness. Best of all, it helps people in need. ShareFest has experienced tremendous growth since beginning in 2005. That year, 65 families were served, followed by 270 in 2006, over 300 in 2007 and 2008. In 2009, ShareFest served over 600 families. In some cases, families were able to fill entire homes with items such as couches, dressers, desks, and kitchen tables. In addition, many teenagers received high-quality clothing items. Items are distributed by organizations such as the Family Resource Center, Butler County Children Services and Lighthouse Food Pantry, in addition to many other participating agencies.

In 2010, the ShareFest Committee allowed agencies to sell the collected items, as long as the proceeds benefit their clients. In late 2013, ShareFest was established as a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3), nonprofit corporation. In 2017, the ShareFest collaboration between the Oxford community, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and Miami University continued to grow. ShareFest 2017 benefited seven recipient groups, and collected a record 87 tons of donations.

Today, ShareFest is a service and environmental nonprofit corporation dedicated to the collection and redistribution of items donated by Miami University students and the Oxford community at the end of the academic year. Collected items benefit residents in need and social service agencies throughout the region. Sharefest occurs annually in the Spring semester. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sharefest is limited to collecting food from the Miami University Residence Halls. In 2021, Sharefest resumed "normal" operations, but did not pick up donated material from the community (the community dropped off material at a central location). However, Sharefest collected donated material from the Residence Halls.

Historically, Miami University allows Sharefest to use an on-site parking lot, as well as has two members on the Sharefest Board : Rob Abowitz (Associate Direction of Residence Life) and Adam Sizemore (Director of Sustainability).

In 2021 - Sharefest collection the following (diverting from the landfill):
--6.5 Truckloads, and 60.9 tons to Goodwill
--2.4 tons of food, cleaning, and personal care items to TOPSS (Talawanda Oxford Pantry and Social Services)

In 2019 (last normal year for Sharefest), Sharefest achieved:
--266 off campus pickups
--95 donation drop offs (4.5% increase from 2018)
--47 Residence Halls Participated
--Distributed to Oxford Community Choice Pantry, Open Hands Pantry, and Miami Cares Resource Food Pantry.
--109 tons of donated material (97 tons in 2018).

https://www.sharefestoxford.com/

Over 30 years ago, an active group of residents came together and planned a network of trails to provide transportation and recreational opportunities to the residents of Oxford. In 2007, the second generation of Oxford residents took this vision one step further by organizing and raising funds for a plan that was added to the 2008 City Comprehensive Plan.

​Several decades in the making, this dream was realized in 2017 when Phase 1 of the Oxford Area Trails (OATs) was completed. Since then, two phases have been completed linking the historic Black Covered Bridge to some of Miami University's athletic facilities, winding all the way from Bonham Road near Leonard Howell Park to Peffer Park on Oxford Millville Rd.

​This ambitious and "can do" attitude instilled in the trail system over 30 years ago is still present today. Together with the OKI Regional Council of Governments and the City of Oxford, we are working hard to expand the trail network to other parts of the city. Look through our website to find more information on the trails to come in the near future and how you can contribute to our ongoing effort to make Oxford the best town it can be!

https://www.oxfordareatrails.org/about

With over 17 miles of trails in over 1000 acres, these Natural Areas are ideal throughout the year for outdoor use. The trails (except WRA) are all connected so whatever length of time or distance you desire, it is available. The trails have signs at all intersections with "you are here dot" showing just where you are. All signs point north so you can easily see where you are going and where you have been. Hiking clubs frequently choose the Natural Areas for their outings. Each year the Natural Areas hosts our fall Hike-A-Thon Plus, where over 1000 people gather to enjoy these beautiful lands. Of course, friendly dogs on leash, are always invited.

We list 9 trails on the Miami University website: https://miamioh.edu/student-life/natural-areas/activities/hiking-walking-jogging/index.html

Miami University has long been a resource for industry and commercial partners seeking expertise and specialized technical capabilities. The Office of Research & Innovation assists researchers with corporate-sponsored research and other industry agreements. The Office of Innovation & Technology Commercialization engages with external corporate partners to facilitate technology development and commercialization and assist in the process of negotiating research or service contracts and agreements, material transfer agreements, nondisclosure/confidentiality agreements and other agreements that support the university’s research enterprise. In addition, Miami is home to a large number of University Centers and Institutes that can quickly connect you to world-class researchers and consultants.

https://www.miamioh.edu/research/partnering/index.html?_ga=2.114299075.553837419.1638803367-1134285122.1520434426

Partnerships can be sustainability-related or focused, as well as engage underrepresented groups. For example, see the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability below:

https://miamioh.edu/cas/academics/programs/ies/?_ga=2.89158751.553837419.1638803367-1134285122.1520434426

We are committed to cultivating mutually beneficial partnerships and applied and service-oriented projects that strengthen our local, state, national, and world communities.

Miami University has developed partnerships with city, state, and federal elected officials and government agencies, as well as with civic leaders and representatives from community-based organizations. Community-based partnerships have multiple goals, including:

Education outreach that translates academic research and knowledge into community knowledge;
Community-based research and evaluation that engages and empowers community members and community-based organizations as partners in research activities; Service learning, which uses action and reflection to meet needs and enhance learning through mutually beneficial, reciprocal partnerships; Volunteerism; Advocacy and activism to create positive social changes; Economic development activities designed to improve the economic and civic environment of a given community.

Existing List of Community Partnerships (as of Dec. 7. 2021)

Abilities First
AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati
Alzheimer's Association
American Diabetes Association
American Red Cross
Animal Adoption Foundation
Animal Friends Humane Society
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Butler County
Booker T. Washington Community Center
Boy Scouts of America, Dan Beard Council
Boys and Girls Clubs of Hamilton
Bridge Riding
Bunker Hill Haven for Boys
Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Butler County Children Services Board
Butler County Earned Income Tax Credit Campaign
Butler County Educational Service Center
Butler County Historical Society Museum
Butler County Juvenile Corrections Department
Butler County Mental Health Board
Butler County Rape Crisis Program
CAIN Ministry
Catholic Campus Ministry
Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center
City of Fairfield's Volunteer Program (FAVOR)
Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati
Colonial Senior Services
Comfort Keepers
Community Adult Day Service
Community Counseling and Crisis Center
Community Pregnancy Crisis Center
Crossroads Hospice
Dover House Protective Shelter
Drop Inn Center Shelter House
Emanuel Community Center
Family Resource Center
Family Services of Middletown
Fidelity Home Health Care
Fitton Center for the Creative Arts
Franciscan Home Development, Inc.
Freestore Foodbank
Friends of Neighbors in Need
Ft. Hamilton Hospital
Girl Scouts of Western Ohio
Great Miami Valley YMCA
Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless
Habitat for Humanity
Hamilton Parks & Recreation
Hope House Rescue Mission
Hueston Woods State Park
Kiwanis Club of Oxford
Knolls of Oxford
Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati
Lifespan, Inc.
Lights on Campus - Campus Ministry Center
Living Water Ministry
Maple Knoll Home Health
Mary Magdalen House
Matrix HealthCare of Oxford
McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital
Meals on Wheels
Mercy Franciscan at St. Raphael Social Service Agency
Metroparks of Butler County
Miami Connections
Middletown Area Senior Citizens Center
Moon Coop
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
New Life Baptist Mission
Open Door Food Pantry, Inc.
OSU Extension Butler County
Our Daily Bread
Over-the-Rhine Community Housing
Oxford Chamber of Commerce
Oxford Citizens for Peace & Justice
Oxford Community Arts Center
Oxford Community Choice Pantry
Oxford Community Foundation
Oxford Lane Public Library
Oxford Lions Club
Oxford Methodist Church
Oxford Museum Association
Oxford Parks Department
Oxford Pediatrics & Adolescents, Inc.
Oxford Presbyterian Church
Oxford Seniors
PARACHUTE (CASA)
PAWS
Peace Corps
Peaslee Neighborhood Center
Planned Parenthood
Pleasant Vineyard Ministries
Public Allies Cincinnati, a program of BRIDGES for a Just Community
RASKALS (City of Fairfield Parks)
Reach Out Lakota
Saint Francis Soup Kitchen
Salvation Army
Santa Maria Community Services
Senior Citizens, Inc. (Partners in Prime)
Serve City
Shared Harvest Foodbank, Inc.
Sojourner Recovery Services
St. Vincent de Paul
Strive Network (KnowledgeWorks Foundation)
Su Casa Catholic Charities
Sycamore Senior Center
Talawanda Adult Basic & Literacy Education (ABLE)
Three Valley Conservation Trust
Transitional Living, Inc. (T.L.C.)
United Way of Oxford, Ohio & Vicinity
Westover Retirement Community
YWCA, Hamilton

Contact Susan Meikle - meiklesb@miamioh.edu