The Vision

The University wants to be one of the partners working to maximize the health, vitality, promise, and opportunity of north Minneapolis by providing services to professionals, practitioners, and the public; investing financial resources for economic development; providing jobs; and offering educational opportunities within the community.

We want to offer the unique resources and capacity of the University to help community organizations serve their constituents.

We want to partner with community organizations to establish a physical presence where services can be offered and where the community will have easier access to University programs.

University leaders and faculty want to work with community leaders, agencies, and residents to identify areas of alignment between community wants and needs and the University resources that can best serve them.

Focus on Families

One of the areas in which the University hopes to contribute to north Minneapolis is through our expertise and capacity related to children and families. The University has a wealth of resources devoted to child development and healthy families, including the Office for System Academic Administration, Center for Early Education and Development (CEED), the Center for Applied Research on Educational Improvement (CAREI), the Children, Youth and Family Consortium (CYFC), and 4H Youth Development. The University Northside Partnership will leverage the capacity of these programs by focusing their efforts on high-priority needs identified by the community. 

The University was able to recruit Dante Cicchetti, a world-renowned developmental psychopathologist whose previous work at Mt. Hope Family Center, which he founded, helped thousands of children and families who otherwise would have suffered from the adverse impacts of violence, abuse and poverty.

By establishing a similar program at a new location in north Minneapolis and co-locating it with other University and community services, the University can contribute substantially to an important civic initiative that can have an enduring effect on the lives of individuals.

Educational Success

University President Robert Bruininks recently created the Consortium on Post-Secondary Academic Success (CPAS), whose mission is to commit University resources and expertise to enhancing PreK-12 education, narrowing achievement gaps between groups of students, setting high standards and aspirations for all children, and helping prepare students for post-secondary success.

In addition, the University is working to remove financial barriers to a college education through the new Founders Opportunity Scholarships. Students admitted to the University will receive free tuition and fees for four years if their family income is less than $50,000 (see eligibility requirements).

Economic Development

Community leaders have asked the University to play a role in the economic growth and vitality of north Minneapolis. By working with Mayor Rybak and the city, with Hennepin County, and with community-based groups we can help leverage resources through our Business and Community Economic Development office and other key programs.

Assisting our Partners

The University regularly provides assistance to organizations by helping conduct economic impact studies, surveys, and needs assessments, and by providing tools and expertise that help these organizations develop their programs and provide their services. We would like to expand and focus this assistance on the Northside to help the organizations that help Northside residents. 

Beginning in July, 2006 the University will award $50,000 per year in seed grants to North Minneapolis community organizations that provide service and benefits to the community.

Readiness to Serve

These are just a few ways the University can apply its unique assets to serve north Minneapolis. University faculty, staff, and students will work with the community to find meaningful, sustainable, collaborative teaching, service, and research activities that contribute directly to improved lives and enriched communities.