Housing Strategies for Neighborhood Renewal: A Three-Part Series
The shift in population from the inner core of our region to the suburban and rural fringes has left neighborhoods in the city and the inner-ring suburbs with a significant decline in population, an increase in abandoned or foreclosed properties, and housing units now considered “obsolete.” What are these neighborhoods doing to attract new people to their communities? How are housing strategies playing a role in revitalizing these communities?
Join us for a series of conversations about housing strategies for neighborhood renewal. Each session will feature a different community and housing strategy. You’ll hear what each community is doing, how it’s going, and what overall impact their strategy has had on the quality of life in the community. Dr. Todd Swanstrom, Des Lee Endowed Professor of Community Collaboration and Public Policy Administration at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, will lead each discussion.
Session 1:
Session 2:
Session 3:
- Wednesday, November 18
- Guest speaker: Kimberly McKinney, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis
- Bring your lunch. Drinks will be provided. For more information, call (314) 516-6775.
- Listen to this Brown Bag conversation
Building Community through Community Gardens
Wednesday, April 15 || Noon-1:00 p.m.
J.C. Penney Conference Center, Room 126 || FREE parking in Lot C.
Spring is here, and with the change in weather there are opportunities to bring together neighbors through gardening. Hundreds of community gardens, located in neighborhoods throughout the St. Louis region, will be worked on this spring. How can community gardens build stronger communities? What is the impact that community gardens can have on the sustainability of the surrounding neighborhoods?
Join us for a conversation with Danielle Kusner from Gateway Greening and Amber Dover from Seeds of Change, a community garden located in the Benton Park West neighborhood, to learn about the goals, the latest trends, and the impact community gardens can have on the quality of life for surrounding neighborhoods. Dr. Mark Tranel, director of UMSL's Public Policy Research Center, who has conducted research on the impact of community gardens, will lead the discussion.
Facing the Financial Crisis: Using the Media to Address Community Issues
Wednesday, March 18 || 12:30-1:30 p.m.
J.C. Penney Conference Center, Room 126 || FREE parking in Lot C.
Listen to this CPP Brown Bag Seminar
Thousands of people in the St. Louis area are facing foreclosure this year and even more are experiencing family financial crises due to job loss, credit issues, and other factors. Resources are available to help individuals understand their financial options and prevent further crisis. What are the challenges in connecting people to resources? How is the media playing a role, and what are the benefits of using the media to address community issues?
Join us for a conversation with Dale Berenc, manager of education services for KETC Channel 9, and Debbie Irwin, Missouri Foreclosure Prevention coordinator, as they share their unique work using a media outlet in educating people and connecting them to the resources available. Tom McPhail, UMSL professor of media studies, who also serves as a media and Internet analyst for national media outlets, will lead the discussion
Community-Based Food Pantries: Meeting Needs During a Financial Crisis
Wednesday, March 4 || Noon
J.C. Penney Conference Center, Room 126 || FREE parking in Lot C.
As the financial crisis worsens, unemployment rates continue to climb. The total number of jobs lost last year reached 2.5 million, the highest total since 1945. Our national government is working to stimulate the economy and put people back to work. In the meantime, private organizations in communities throughout the region are trying to keep up with the increased demand for emergency assistance. How are community-based nonprofit organizations meeting the needs of their neighbors? What's new about the way food assistance is handled? What's being done to assist people who never thought they'd need to turn to a food bank for help?
Join us for a conversation with Glenn Koenen, executive director of Circle of Concern, and Major Janice Love, pastor and corps officer for the Salvation Army Euclid Center, as they share how their community-based organizations are working to provide emergency food assistance to those impacted by the financial crisis. Dr. Nancy Kinney, associate professor of political science and public policy administration and director of UMSL's Nonprofit Management & Leadership Program, will lead the discussion.
A Comprehensive Approach to Neighborhood Revitalization
Wednesday, November 12 || Noon
J.C. Penney Conference Center, Room 229 || FREE parking in Lot C.
City neighborhoods across the country are striving to revitalize and overcome urban decline and the effects of suburban sprawl. A major challenge is balancing the interests of diverse stakeholders, including preservationists, real estate developers, affordable housing advocates, social service providers, investors, and long-term residents. What are the keys to developing a comprehensive strategy for revitalization? How can neighborhood leaders work with divergent groups to find common ground for the good of the community?
Join us for a conversation with Sean Thomas, executive director of the Old North St. Louis Restoration Group, who will share revitalization strategies, challenges, and successes in the Old North St. Louis neighborhood. The conversation will be led by Dr. John McClusky, affiliate associate professor of Public Policy Administration and Political Science, director emeritus of the Nonprofit Management & Leadership Program at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and former consultant to the Old North St. Louis Restoration Group.
Meeting the Needs of Homeless Students
Wednesday, October 22 || Noon
J.C. Penney Conference Center, Room 126 || FREE parking in Lot C.
The foreclosure and financial crisis is impacting more than just homeowners, banks, and communities. The national child advocacy group First Focus estimates that the crisis will impact 2 million children, leaving them without a home. The educational impacts of losing a home and moving can be lower academic performance and higher rates of students being held back and/or dropping out. What are school districts doing to meet the needs of homeless students?
Join us for a conversation about meeting the needs of homeless students with Vince Estrada, director of Student Services at the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District, who will share about their work creating Joe’s Place. He will be joined by Vikki Collier, homeless coordinator for the Normandy School District. The conversation will be led by Dr. Margaret Sherraden, professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.
The Sociology of Health: Creating Healthy and Active Communities
Wednesday, September 24 || Noon
J.C. Penney Conference Center, Room 126 || FREE parking in Lot C.
Where you live can hinder or contribute to good health. According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lack of access to health care accounts for only about 10 percent of total mortality in the United States. Much of the rest is explained by environmental conditions, social and economic factors, and health behaviors.
How do community factors affect health? And what is being done in St. Louis communities to promote better health at the neighborhood level? Join us for a conversation about creating healthy and active communities with Ann Mack, executive director of Trailnet. The conversation will be led by Dr. Teresa Guess, professor of sociology at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Brown Bag Series
