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Plans to move the A. Sophie Rogers Child Development Center into the Weinland Park neighborhood escalated with the announcement of a $2.5 million private gift in support of the project. The gift from Betty Schoenbaum allows planning for the facility and the program to begin in earnest. The College of Human Ecology is working with the P - 12 Initiative to explore university-wide partnerships in developing a comprehensive model program working with young children and their families.
The Learning Bridge, an initiative of the university's P - 12 Project, has just completed its inaugural year. The Learning Bridge hosted dinner meetings with elementary, middle, and high school personnel to discuss present and future partnerships and ways in which Ohio State may better meet the needs of the Learning Bridge schools. Through the work of the four committees (Academic Assistance, After-School and Summer Youth Development, Human Services, and Service Learning), partnerships have been formed with local organizations such as the Godman Guild, Maynard United Methodist Church, and the CHAMPS/Boys and Girls Clubs Medary Extension to deal with issues such as youth development services and family involvement in education. Programs to provide academic and human service assistance to school children have been established including the Literacy Field Experience, PACES school psychology internships, and counselor education student placements. The Learning Bridge has helped promote cultural competency workshops for school faculty and staff and an internship program for high school students. Beginning autumn quarter, the Jumpstart Program, being launched by the Learning Bridge and the College of Human Ecology, will bring 40 federal Work-Study students into neighborhood pre-schools to work one-on-one with children. The Godman Guild, in partnership with the Learning Bridge Youth Development Subcommittee, received three years of funding from the United Way of Central Ohio's Education Vision Council to support the initial infrastructure of an after school program at Weinland Park Elementary School.
The P - 12 Project has been working with the Ohio Department of Education and Columbus Public Schools on a proposal for early literacy funding, and with the College of Human Ecology on plans for the early education center in Weinland Park. P - 12 is helping to develop a strategic plan for higher education involvement with Columbus Public Schools. Communication with community partners will continue through the quarterly P -12 on-line newsletter and the development and maintenance of the web site and database located at www.osu.edu/p12.
The focus of the Service-Learning Initiative is on integrating service-learning across the curricula of the 17 colleges of the University while building capacity of community organizations and schools in the University District. A grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service supports the development of 30 new service-learning courses and evaluating student learning and community impact in those courses. Ten funded courses, with a total of 319 students have been offered, from disciplines including Agricultural Education, Allied Medicine, Architecture, Dentistry, Education, English, Family Resource Management, Hospitality Management, Journalism and Communication, Pharmacy, Public Health and Veterinary Medicine. Students enrolled in service-learning courses in spring 2002 are projected to complete 3,300 hours of community service within the University District.
The Service Learning Initiative (SLI), in partnership with the Office of Student Affairs/ Project Community and P-12, will implement in autumn quarter the Community Connection, a computerized database linking project ideas for future service learning courses and volunteer opportunities for students. Monthly meetings of the Service-Learning Scholars Roundtable, a forum of faculty interested in community-based scholarship and service learning, provide an opportunity for faculty to learn from one another. The Human Ecology House, 1621 N. Fourth St., is home to the SLI and provides a hub for outreach and community-based activities in the University District.
After law students Greg Lestini and Kevin Filiatraut and medical student Todd Armen launched this project early in the year, planning is now proceeding along two tracks. Mike Casto is leading a committee of faculty and students who are planning an interdisciplinary graduate level course on issues of urban poverty to be offered next spring. Janet Sanfilippo and Kathy Wise, director of the Student Housing Legal Clinic, are drafting the preliminary budget and business plan for the proposed clinic.
Susan Colbert is the OSU Extension Agent assigned to the University District. OSU Extension is negotiating with the Godman Guild Association to co-locate the OSU Extension Learning Center at Franklin County in Godman Guild's new addition. This Center for Community Learning will give residents access to computer and network technology. An Americorps*VISTA member, Cathryne Callaway, has been assigned to OSU Extension to implement a comprehensive Family Literacy program and to assist with Extension's Outreach/Engagement efforts in the University District. OSU Extension actively participates in several University District community groups and has also been involved in community organizing by assisting the residents with the formation of Block Clubs (social organizations that mobilize residents and help them to work together to address neighborhood problems). A task force has been formed to determine the feasibility of introducing 4-H programming to the University District. OSU Extension is participating in a grant proposal sponsored by Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, which will help families reconnect with the land, food and each other. OSU Extension is working closely with the North Opportunity Center to provide seminars such as Food and Nutrition, Money Management, Parenting, and other classes to area residents.
David Andrews, Dean of the College of Human Ecology, has met with community members to discuss guidelines that would be appropriate for the University to utilize in its interactions with community organizations. Based on the community meeting, a draft has been developed and discussed with interested faculty and staff within the university. Community partners soon will be asked to review the revised draft.
The Asian Health Initiative (AHI) is a collaborative effort between the Asian-American Community
Services, Asian-American Community Service Council, Southeast Asian United Methodist Ministries, Coalition for Asian American Health, The OSU Medical Center, the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Rardin Family Practice Center and Family Medicine Foundation, and the Columbus Health Department. AHI operates every Monday at the Rardin Family Practice Center staffed by three volunteer physicians, three volunteer registered nurses, medical students from the OSU College of Medicine and Public Health, students from Capital University School of Nursing, and other community volunteers. AHI provides basic primary preventative care, information, and referrals to more than 520 patients each year. In addition to clinical services, AHI provides educational opportunities for medical students and health care practitioners through cultural competency workshops, conferences, in-services and hands-on engagement at the clinic.
La Clinica Latina (LCL) opened just over a year ago as a collaborative effort between the OSU Medical Center, Family Medicine Department, The Ohio State University, St. Vincent Family Services and community members. LCL is open every other Tuesday at Rardin Family Practice Center and provides primary care in a bilingual setting. In 2001, LCL held 25 clinics and provided care to 727 patients with three volunteer physicians, plus medical students and other students from Ohio State. In addition to patient care, LCL provides service-learning opportunities for students. The Latino Health Initiative Advisory Council provides direction and guidance.
The Lunch Bunch group recently requested a special meeting with Daryl Siedentop, director of the University's P - 12 Initiative, to coordinate a neighborhood response to the proposed closing of the Weinland Park School. The decision to close the school has since been reversed, but the group benefited from current information about plans for the school and the adjacent land.
Jon Beard, President of the Columbus Compact, is the Lunch Bunch speaker for July. He is scheduled to meet with the group on Tuesday, July 16, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Campus Partners office, 1824 N. High St. All are welcome.
Operation Weed and Seed is a strategy funded by the U.S. Department of Justice that aims to prevent, control and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in targeted high-crime neighborhoods across the country. A steering committee representing the Weinland Park neighborhood has been meeting for several months and is developing a grant proposal to be submitted in late summer. The Columbus Compact is the lead agency; Sue Brooks is the Ohio State contact. The steering committee has prioritized goals for each of the four components for Weed & Seed designation: 1. Law Enforcement; 2. Community Policing; 3. Prevention/Intervention/Treatment; 4. Neighborhood Restoration.
This group, led by the Columbus Compact, has been meeting for several months. About a dozen area agencies have participated in the development of a seamless system that will help Empowerment Zone residents enter and stay in the workforce. Ohio State has participated in the process as an employer, and we are the only employer represented. Subcommittees have developed draft proposals for intake, services, evaluation, and placement. Agencies have been evaluated to determine their existing strengths. The first full draft report is due about the end of June. The Columbus Compact has agreed to provide substantial funding for an innovative proposal.
Led by the Rev. Glenn Schwerdetfeger of the Maynard Avenue United Methodist Church, the northern part of the University District is engaged in a planning process to address community programming. The closing of the Family Center prompted this effort. Ohio State is participating in the meetings. The group has developed a vision for the church, which includes organizing and funding youth programs. Longer term goals include reinvigorating community agencies and a developing a structure for funding future activities.
Mark Dravillas, neighborhood liaison with the city's Development Department, has taken the lead in organizing this project after he heard about the need for a community newspaper at a Lunch Bunch meeting. Several Ohio State representatives are on the committee. The ad hoc Newspaper Committee has developed a concept paper, business plan, and budget, and will be sharing these documents with a variety of community leaders throughout the summer. Their work will be revised as they learn more about community needs.
The Center for Urban and Regional Analysis has pulled together extensive information, data, and University research studies centered on the University District. The web site is almost complete, and should be ready for public use within the month.