University of Utah
EN-10: Community Partnerships

Created in 2001, Unversity Neighborhood Partners (UNP) is the result of an explicit move by the University of Utah’s highest administration—the Office of the President—toward greater civic engagement in the community it serves. With the goal of overcoming the symbolic wall between well-to-do east Salt Lake, where the University is located, and low-income, mostly minority west Salt Lake, UNP is located in a residential house in the Glendale neighborhood, bordering Jordan Park and the Jordan River. The UNP Hartland Partnership Center is a comprehensive capacity-building project that brings together more than 30 university departments and 20 local non-profit organizations in campus community partnership activities to offer resources such as English language instruction, mental health support, citizenship classes, employment workshops, afterschool and summer programs, and educational resources to the community. UNP partnerships build individual and organizational capacity to implement culturally responsive approaches to education and well-being. Partnerships may target housing, employment, health, environment, language acquisition, food, or art A full list of community partners is in Community Voices (UNP Annual Report). URL: http://partners.utah.edu/home/ NOTE: Most programs under the UNP umbrella focus on social issues. A few programs also include and element of environmental health, as follows: Hartland Community 4 Youth & Families HC4YF activities includethe Jordan River Community Initiative and “Adopt a Trail” program. Westside Studio Each year the Studio selects projects related to community development, urban design, economic development, green infrastructure, and/or arts & culture. Community Partner organizations with an environmental/sustainability focus: --Green Urban Lunchbox --Jordan River Community Initiative --SLC Green --Salt Lake Community Action, Real Food Rising --Sustainable Startups --Tracy Aviary

The Lowell Bennion Community Service Center fosters lifelong service and civic participation by engaging the university with the greater community in action, change and learning. Community Partnerships are described in the Annual Report. URL: http://bennioncenter.org/

The Utah Climate Action Network is a partnership between government, research institutions, non-profits/foundations, faith-based organizations, the private sector, and individuals working to address climate change in Utah. The initial focus of the Network is to drive action, understanding and collaboration through public engagement, leadership and policies, and enhanced system-level response. URL: http://www.utahclimateactionnetwork.com/

Innovative Urban Transitions and Aridregion Hydro-sustainability (iUTAH) iUTAH is an interdisciplinary research and training program aimed at strengthening science for Utah’s water future. iUTAH brings together a network of researchers, universities, governmental agencies, industry partners, and non-profit organizations state-wide. Much of the work conducted by iUTAH takes place in the neighborhoods and subdivisions of both urban and rural communities across the state, and involves citizens from all walks of life.This five-year project is funded by the National Science Foundation through July 2017. URL: http://iutahepscor.org/iutah_you.shtml

SOURCES Community Voices (UNP Annual Report, 2011- Present)