University of Missouri, Kansas City
EN-13: Community Stakeholder Engagement

UMKC is still working to refine what “community engagement” will mean to to the campus as a whole. Generally speaking, community engagement involves us gaining a deeper understanding of what matters most to those that live in a neighborhood or region. It’s getting to know people. It’s building relationships and trust so that people will share what’s on their minds. Through the work with the local campus public radion station, UMKC has been giving a voice to the community stakeholders across the university's initiatives, events and activities. As a result of that learning and understanding, UMKC-KCUR can provide more authentic stories and deeper conversations about where we live. In short, community engagement means working closely with others to strengthen the community.http://kcur.org/post/introducing-ron-jones-director-community-engagement-kcur Additionally UMKC works with the 49/63, Volker, Rockhill and Crestwood neighborhoods in planning and construction activities, clean-up and recycling events, and in addressing issues of equity and diversity. The administration at UMKC meets regularly with representatives of the neighborhood to discuss everything from immediate issues to long range planning. This type of engagement has increased over the past 10 years and continues to be a part of how the university engages itself. Additionally, UMKC also engages community stakeholders from diverse communities as well.

Leo E. Morton, chancellor, University of Missouri-Kansas City, and Alfonso J. Zárate, chair, University of Missouri-Kansas City Chancellor’s Hispanic Advisory Board (Board) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that establishes a foundation of expectations and offers a tangible means for addressing racially-centered issues of concern within UMKC. The signing took place at The Guadalupe Center, 1015 Avenida Cesar E. Chavez, Kansas City, Mo. The center’s number is (816) 421-1015. This MOU, similar to one signed with the Kansas City Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in April 2007, is the result of concerns expressed during discussions between UMKC representatives – including Chancellor Morton – and representatives of both internal and external stakeholders from the Hispanic community. The purpose of the MOU is to provide a cooperative framework for renewed commitment and partnership between UMKC and the Board that “empowers the Hispanic community to attain educational excellence and to contribute positively to the fulfillment of the mission of UMKC.” The MOU focuses on a number of strategies, including increasing recruitment/admission of and financial assistance for students from underrepresented minority groups; increasing numbers of minority faculty and staff; and increasing efforts toward recruitment, retention, promotion and award of tenure of underrepresented minority faculty and staff.

UMKC continues to engage the following neighborhoods through monthly meeting and ongoing discussions regarding planning, construction, community events and other activities. The neighborhood eneaged by UMKC include but are not limited to the 43/63 Neighborhood, the Volker Neighborhood, the Rockhill Neighborhood and the Crestwood Neighborhood UMKC also continues to engage a wide range of diverse organizations within the local community that include but are not limited to the following: the Mattie Rhodes Center, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and the Black Community Partners Advisory Board in addressing community issues, education access, etc. ongoing.

http://www.umkc.edu/diversity/documents/umkc-hispanic-advisory-board-mou.pdf