OFFIC E O F C IV I C & C OM M U N I TY E N GAG E MEN T
CREATING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
BE G IN S WITH U 2019 – 2020 ANNUAL REPORT
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR TO COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS OF THE OFFICE OF CIVIC AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT I AM PLEASED TO SHARE our 2019-2020 Annual Report, grateful for the flexibility and ingenuity of our partners as we forged showcasing how CCE continues to forge connections between the new ways to make meaningful connections across difference in a University and the community to address pressing local, national, pandemic-ravaged world. and global needs. We started the academic year with a great deal Indeed, opportunities for community-based learning of promise in seeing the impact our work is having in our local continued to grow. UM currently offers more than 600 academic communities. We were then confronted with the devastation service-learning courses in the curriculum. We welcomed six new wrought by the global COVID-19 pandemic. The shock of the Engaged Faculty Fellows this year, who taught community-based pandemic challenged all of us to rethink learning courses on topics ranging from every apect of our lives, from how we Black Feminism and African Diaspora interact with friends and family to how Religions to Industrial Economics and we go about our daily activities. We have Public Policy. Over the course of the 2019witnessed profound losses, from the illness 2020 academic year, more than 2,900 and loss of life of loved ones to job losses students enrolled in a service-learning and social isolation. At the same time, the course, and UM students logged over murder of George Floyd and other Black 44,000 community service hours through Americans forced a reckoning over the long service learning courses and co-curricular legacy of structural racism and its impact activities through the Butler Center for on the lived experience of people of color Service and Leadership. Initiatives like our in America today. The twin pandemics of Civic Scholars Program encourage students COVID-19 and racial inequality upended to become engaged citizens, developing a higher education, pushing online and hybrid new generation of civic leaders and changeteaching, fueling student activism, and makers eager to make a difference. In May of prompting many institutions to announce ROBIN BACHIN 2020, we graduated our sixth cohort of Civic new or strengthened initiatives to improve Assistant Provost for Civic and Community Scholars, and we currently have 30 students diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging Engagement Charlton W. Tebeau Associate enrolled in the program. I was honored and on college campuses. Professor of History humbled to be named a Finalist for the 2020 The conditions we face in higher Thomas Ehrlich Civically Engaged Faculty education today make the need for programs in civic engagement Award, presented by Campus Compact, for exemplary leadership all the more imperative, for they showcase how essential it is in advancing student civic learning, conducting community-based for collaborative, cross-disciplinary knowledge sharing among research, fostering reciprocal partnerships, building institutional diverse stakeholders, from academics to policy makers to advocacy commitments to engagement, and enhancing higher education’s contributions to the public good. The support Our students and faculty continued to engage with our local of faculty, staff, and administration leaders has enabled a culture of engagement to be infused communities in meaningful ways, even as we together figured into the institutional identity of UM. out what that engagement would look like in a virtual setting. We continue to enhance our work in affordable housing and community organizations. We were pleased to see the culture of engagement development through the Miami Housing Solutions Lab, a suite continue to flourish at UM by using our research and teaching of online mapping tools for visualizing and developing data-driven as vehicles for helping to promote equity and opportunity. strategies and policies for housing and community development. Our students and faculty continued to engage with our local This year, we launched “Housing Resiliency and a Sustainable communities in meaningful ways, even as we together figured out South Florida,” a project supported by JPMorgan Chase & Co. what that engagement would look like in a virtual setting. I am that will enable CCE to update its widely used Miami Affordability
Project (MAP) tool with data on urban resilience. We will add new layers highlighting elevation and flood risk along with the projected impacts of sea-level rise and storm surge on subsidized multifamily rental housing so policy makers can address two pressing issues facing South Florida—affordable housing and sea level rise—in tandem. CCE also received recognition for our LAND (Land Access for Neighborhood Development) tool, a free, interactive online map for visualizing the distribution of local institutional and government-owned vacant and underused properties, funded by Citi Community Development. LAND won the 2019 Impact Award for Community Development from the South Florida Community Development Coalition for its use in enabling planners, housing advocates, and elected officals to identify suitable public land for building additional affordable housing. In addition, our Community Scholars in Affordable Housing Program won the 2019 Best Practice Award from the Florida Gold Coast Chapter of the American Planning Association for the program’s role in familiarizing emerging leaders with a wide range of issues related to affordable housing and community development. Finally, we hosted a number of public programs that brought together students, faculty, and community partners in addressing various social issues. CCE presented a screening of The Last Black Man in San Francisco (A24), a film focusing on gentrification and its impact on communities of color. Following the screening, Professor Imelda Moise, from UM’s Department of Geography, moderated a panel discussion on local strategies to fight gentrification with activists from Miami. We also featured programming for World Food Day, an initiative designed to strengthen and unify the food movement in order to improve global food policies. We were honored to welcome Dr. Erika Rappaport, Professor of History at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who delivered the keynote address focused on the history of tea from three interconnected perspectives: advertising, consumerism, and Western empires; and their influence on globalization. Thanks to all of our University and community partners who continue to work with us to promote engaged pedagogy and scholarship. Recognizing and valuing the relationship between campuses and their communities, and the interconnectedness of students, faculty, staff, and community members, enables higher education to achieve its public purpose. Meeting the urgency of the moment will require the acceleration of these connections so that universities can better promote full participation, belonging, and equity for both campus stakeholders and community members.
OFFICE OF CIVIC & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MISSION AND GOALS OUR MISSION
To enhance university-community collaborations by engaging the University’s academic resources in the enrichment of civic and community life in our local, national, and global communities. We seek to accomplish this goal by connecting students, faculty, and community organizations together in a collaborative process that translates academic knowledge into civic responsibility to promote positive social change.
OUR GOALS
Foster stronger connections between UM and the larger South Florida community Develop new courses in which communitybased partnerships are central to course learning outcomes Enhance existing courses by integrating community engagement into course curricula Work with the Butler Center for Volunteer Service and Leadership Development to promote community service among students and link service to experiential learning Coordinate existing University-wide efforts that promote community partnerships Create new initiatives that bring multiple schools and disciplines together to work on shared community-based projects
CREATING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS BEGINS WITH U | 2019–2020 ANNUAL REPORT
1
2019-2020 STAFF MEMBERS
ROBIN BACHIN
MARISA HIGHTOWER
JORGE DAMIAN
JENNIFER POSNER
CHELSEA LAFRANCE
Assistant Provost for
Associate Director
DE LA PAZ
Program Manager
AmeriCorps VISTA,
Civic and Community
Senior Program Manager
Inclusive Communities
Engagement
Coordinator and Project Consultant
BRYAN VICENTE-
KAITLYN SPEAKER
CYNTHIA ZHA
RACHEL DANIEL
CARLEHR SWANSON
ORTIZ
Community Scholars
Undergraduate Student
Undergraduate Student
Graduate Student,
AmeriCorps VISTA,
in Affordable Housing
Assistant, Fall 2019
Assistant
High School Partnership
Resilience Coordinator
Consultant
Coordinator
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ON CAMPUS BY THE NUMBERS
2,900
STUDENTS ENGAGED IN ACADEMIC SERVICE-LEARNING
44K
TOTAL SERVICE-LEARNING HOURS
650+
ACADEMIC SERVICE-LEARNING COURSES
GABRIELLE PEREZ
CATALINA
Graduate Student,
RODRIGUEZ
Civic Scholars Coordinator
Law Fellow, Fall 2019
MATTHEW VARKONY Research Assistant, Spring 2020
2
OFFICE OF CIVIC & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
2019-2020 TASK FORCE MEMBERS ANTHONY ALFIERI
KIMBERLY HENDERSON
SALIHA NELSON
School of Law
Neighborhood Housing Services of Miami
URGENT, Inc.
MAITE ALVAREZ
MARISA HIGHTOWER
MARIE GUERDA NICOLAS
Office of Government and Community
Office of Civic and Community Engagement
School of Education and Human Development
SUSAN JACOBS
JYOTIKA RAMAPRASAD
Relations
SARAH ARTECONA
South Florida Community Development
Office of the President
Coalition
ROBIN BACHIN
CASEY KLOFSTAD
Assistant Provost for Civic and Community
College of Arts and Sciences
Engagement
GRETCHEN BEESING Catalyst Miami
SONIA CHAO School of Architecture
SANJEEV CHATTERJEE School of Communication
EVAN DE JOYA
ERIN KOBETZ Miller School of Medicine
MARNI LENNON School of Law
MELISSA LESNIAK Frost School of Music
MICHELLE MALDONADO
School of Communication
RANATA REEDER South Florida Community Development Coalition
JEANETTE REMY Office of Academic Enhancement
BRIAN RUSSELL Frost School of Music
BEATRICE SKOKAN University of Miami Libraries
KELSHAY TOOMER
Student Government of the University of Miami
College of Arts and Sciences
SCOTNEY EVANS
GINA MARANTO
School of Education and Human Development
English, College of Arts and Sciences
KENDEE FRANKLIN
ERIN MCNARY
Undergraduate Education
School of Education and Human Development
KEN GOODMAN
DEVIKA MILNER
Miller School of Medicine
Study Abroad
WILLIAM SCOTT GREEN
JOHN MURPHY
William R. Butler Center for Volunteer Service
Senior Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate
College of Arts and Sciences
and Leadership Development
Toppel Career Center
JOSEPH TREASTER School of Communication
JOHN TWICHELL International Studies, College of Arts and Sciences
ANDREW WIEMER
Education
CREATING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS BEGINS WITH U | 2019–2020 ANNUAL REPORT
3
ABOUT OUR WORK LINKING ACADEMIA AND THE COMMUNITY The Office of Civic and Community Engagement (CCE) promotes engaged scholarship by developing and enhancing teaching methods and research strategies that directly integrate academic scholarship with real-world application and civic involvement. Engaged scholarship leverages the academic resources of the University to help solve pressing social problems and thereby contributes to the public good. Within the broad category of engaged scholarship are two main areas of focus: academic service-learning and communitybased research.
Academic Service-Learning The University of Miami defines “Academic Service-Learning” as courses linking the classroom and community through hands-on, experiential education that is
transformative. These courses promote the interrelationship of teaching, research, and service through theory, action, and reflection in response to community needs. The purpose of academic servicelearning is to develop and translate academic knowledge, critical thinking, and community engagement into civic responsibility and to foster mutually beneficial collaborations between the University and community to promote positive social change. To further enhance the University’s community collaborations and engage our academic resources in the community, the Office of Civic and Community Engagement created the “CIVIC” course attribute in conjunction with the Office of the Registrar. This special identifier allows students and faculty to easily identify courses that have a community-based, academic service-learning component. Since the launch of the “CIVIC” identifier, the Office of Civic and Community Engagement has identified over 650 academic service-learning courses. These courses are offered in all of the University’s 11 schools and colleges. During the 2019-2020 academic year, nearly 2,900
students enrolled in one or more servicelearning courses offered at the University. UM students participating in servicelearning courses have spent approximately 304,000 hours engaging in community service since the CCE began tagging courses.
Community-Based Research CCE supports and promotes a variety of community-based research initiatives on campus undertaken by faculty and students in collaboration with community organizations that respond to communityidentified needs, promote civic engagement, and enrich the scholarship of the institution. By harnessing the University’s diverse academic resources, its deep connections to the region, and its spirit of innovation, UM can help solve complex social problems—and prepare students to make significant contributions to community well-being—through dynamic, collaborative, multidisciplinary teaching, research, and community engagement. By breaking down boundaries between academic disciplines within the University and between the University and the public, UM can forge a new model of the engaged university, one that will help restore an “education for citizenship” that educator John Dewey called for a century ago and that is at the core of higher education’s historic mission.
The University of Miami defines “Academic ServiceLearning” as courses linking the classroom and community through hands-on, experiential education that is transformative. 4
OFFICE OF CIVIC & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT The Office of Civic and Community Engagement continues its Focus on Affordable Housing Initiatives to create community partnerships to address local housing affordability challenges. The initiative’s partnerships leverage the University’s resources to generate innovative research and projects.
Affordable Housing Tracker
construction type (e.g. new, rehab, or RAD) for the more than 100 Public Housing and Community Development projects in production or in the planning stages.
CCE is creating an interactive housing tracker to monitor Miami-Dade County’s goal of having at least 10,000 affordable housing and workforce units reach financial closing by November 2020.
CCE is creating an interactive housing tracker to monitor Miami-Dade County’s goal of having at least 10,000 affordable housing and workforce units reach financial closing by November 2020. Hosted on the Miami-Dade County website, this tracker, which is updated quarterly, will feature various charts outlining the project’s current status, the population served, and the CREATING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS BEGINS WITH U | 2019–2020 ANNUAL REPORT
5
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
LAND | Land Access for Neighborhood Development Updates Since its release, CCE has given demonstrations of LAND to various local, national, and international organizations, community groups, and stakeholders. CCE also presented LAND at the 2019 eMerge Americas conference, the MiamiDade County Housing Summit Closing in on 10,000, the City of Miami, MiamiDade County Commission, as well as at numerous national conferences. MiamiDade County’s Affordable Housing Preservation Plan features LAND as an invaluable tool for affordable housing planning. LAND received South Florida Community Development Coalition’s (SFCDC) 2019 Impact Award for Excellence in Community Development 6
Environmental sustainability and housing affordability are two of South Florida’s most pressing challenges and tackling them together is imperative to promote urban resilience. and was named Innovation of the Month by MetroLab Network in partnership with GovTech. LAND also has been featured in local and national media, including in the Miami Herald, NextCity, PBS, and the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University.
Housing Resiliency and a Sustainable South Florida Environmental sustainability and housing affordability are two of South Florida’s most pressing challenges and tackling them together is imperative to promote urban resilience. According to Harvard
OFFICE OF CIVIC & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, the Miami metropolitan area has the highest percentage of renter households spending over half of their income on housing costs in the United States. At the same time, Miami’s location in a dynamic coastal area brings increasing risks associated with climate change and sea level rise, including flooding during seasonal high tides and storms. The South Florida region has been identified as one of the most vulnerable to climate risks by the World Economic Forum, with estimated potential financial losses of $278 billion due to rising sea levels.
CCE HOUSING TOOLS AND RESOURCES MIAMI HOUSING SOLUTIONS LAB
CCE created the Miami Housing Solutions Lab to provide free public access to resources, tools, and data related to affordable housing and community development in the Miami metropolitan area. This platform provides community groups, planners, policy makers, and affordable housing developers critical information on local housing needs and offers housing policy solutions designed to prevent displacement and promote affordable housing. CCE has raised over $1 million to support our research and programs addressing affordable housing and equitable community development. All of these tools are free and publicly accessible. The Miami Housing Solutions Lab features five distinct projects:
Miami Affordability Project MAP serves as a research tool for planners, affordable housing developers, community groups, and scholars of urban issues. An interactive online map for visualizing neighborhoodlevel housing dynamics, MAP contains over 250 data filters on housing, property, and demographics to facilitate analysis of the housing market supply and demand, funding programs, and affordability preservation risks. MAP also features a historic layer that includes period photographs and property information from the City of Miami Historic Preservation Office and Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser to map out historically significant properties in these neighborhoods.
Housing Policy Timeline The Housing Policy Timeline highlights major milestones in housing policy and finance at the national, state, and local levels. The timeline includes summaries, historical photos,
period maps, and other archival resources on major housingrelated events and their impact on Miami’s neighborhoods. The timeline includes 80+ years of housing policy. The entries range from a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case on zoning in 1926 to Miami’s condo boom and growing affordability gap today. This online tool helps practitioners and advocates better understand the lasting historical legacies of housing policies and urban development initiatives on Miami’s neighborhoods.
Housing Policy Toolkit CCE collaborated with FIU’s Jorge M. Perez Metropolitan Center to develop a toolkit that outlines innovative policies, programs, and strategies that prevent displacement and promote affordable housing. The Housing Policy Toolkit includes: a glossary of terms related to affordable housing policy and finance; examples of national “best practices” and how they could be applied in the Miami market; interactive maps and charts to highlight specific local issues; as well as targeted neighborhood recommendations.
LAND | Land Access for Neighborhood Development LAND is a free, interactive online map for visualizing the distribution of local institutional and government-owned vacant and underused properties. It features vacant land parcels, boundaries, and district overlays, a lot-size calculator, and transit corridors.
Community Health Project Funded through a grant from Health Foundation of South Florida, the Community Health Project visualizes neighborhood-level health data to promote more data-driven community development and health solutions for the City of Miami Gardens and Little Havana.
The Miami Housing Solutions Lab is available through the University of Miami website at https://affordablehousing.miami.edu.
CREATING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS BEGINS WITH U | 2019–2020 ANNUAL REPORT
7
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS COMMUNITY SCHOLARS IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING In 2019-2020, we hosted the seventh cohort of Community Scholars in Affordable Housing. The program is a collaboration among the University of Miami’s Office of Civic and Community Engagement (CCE); the South Florida Community Development Coalition, a non-profit membership organization; Catalyst Miami, a non-profit centered on poverty programs and empowerment; and Rosado and Associates, an economic development and urban planning consulting firm. The purpose of the program is to support individuals working in the field of housing, planning, and community development to grow their knowledge base and foster the connections needed to advance comprehensive housing change. With generous support from JPMorgan Chase and Co, the multi-sector seventh cohort featured participation from an impressive set of organizations, including NU Habitat, Miami-Dade County, the City of Miami, CBRE Miami, FIS Global, and Legal Services of Greater Miami. Including the seventh cohort, Community Scholars in Affordable Housing has a growing alumni network that now includes 80 emerging professionals from the private, public, and non-profit sectors. 8
OFFICE OF CIVIC & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
“Every session was truly enjoyable, and I learned a lot. I missed the interaction with the cohorts and presenters due to COVID-19.”
COMMUNITY SCHOLARS: PARTICIPANT PROFILE, 2014-2020 Community Scholars met bi-weekly over a six-month period, gaining knowledge from national and local experts in community development and affordable housing who shared their insight and knowledge with the group. The program uses a Community of Practice (CoP) model, allowing participants to share skills and build networks while learning from their peers. The CoP format facilitates exchanges of ideas and feedback in an effort to identify real-world challenges and find incremental action steps to address them. At the end of the program, each scholar prepares and presents a capstone project applying what they’ve learned to their current organization/position. Scholars from the seven cohorts are now actively working on implementing their capstones. The Urban Institute study, Miami and the State of Low- and Middle-
Income Housing: Strategies to Preserve Affordability and Opportunities for the Future, recognized the Community Scholars program for its impact on local housing policy. The report outlined the emerging role of academic research and leadership development programs in supporting Miami’s community development and affordable housing initiatives. This year
PUBLIC SECTOR the program was recognized by the NON-PROFIT 21% 41% Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association as a 2019 Planning Awards winner in the Best Practice category. Throughout the program, CCE conducts assessments by OTHER providing one-on-one project 8% assistance to participants. A survey is later administered at the end of the program. The survey results have been extremely positive, with a large majority of the respondents either “strongly agreeing” or “agreeing” that they learned new information, FOR-PROFIT 30% developed new personal and organizational connections, and will be able to apply the COMMUNITY SCHOLARS IN newly found knowledge to their work. AFFORDABLE HOUSING SECTORS Most of the respondents in the last seven cohorts have “strongly agreed” that was the deep dive on financing. Some they would be able to put collaborations are already in the works some of the ideas presented based on relationships built here.” in the program into action “This was a great program, and I am at their current job. Some of happy you all invested in me. I was able the comments received from to absorb the content and bring it back to program participants include: my place of work as best practices. And the “I think the most Land Use tool is magic. I gave my planning important strengths are director a crash course on the tool. Her the range of speakers department is now required to utilize brought in to present (and [LAND] for certain projects!” their willingness to be For more information on the forthright and honest) and program and to view our scholars’ final the opportunity to visit presentations, visit our website at: https:// these locations, as well as bit.ly/CSAH-2020 the opportunity/feedback/ [1] Diana Elliot, et. al., “Miami and the State support on the capstone.” of Low-and Middle-Income Housing: Strategies “Every session was truly enjoyable and to Preserve Affordability and Opportunities for I learned a lot. I missed the interaction the Future.” http://www.urban.org/research/ with the cohorts and presenters due to publication/miami-and-state-low-and-middleincome-housing (March 30, 2017). COVID-19.” “It’s always a challenge to have content that is informative and relevant to such a diverse group of folks, but you guys pulled it off. The session I most appreciated
CREATING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS BEGINS WITH U | 2019–2020 ANNUAL REPORT
9
FOCUS ON CIVIC LEARNING
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT HIGH SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP The Civic Engagement High School Partnership at Southridge High School is rooted in two primary goals. First, the high school partnership enhances student learning in core academic subject areas such as history, English, and STEM disciplines. Second, it builds and sustains a college-going culture at two traditionally under-resourced Miami-Dade County public high schools: Miami Southridge High School in South Dade and Booker T. Washington High School in Overtown. The program seeks to address the disparities in high school education in Miami-Dade County Public Schools that leave many under-resourced students unprepared for a 10
college education. This is accomplished by collegiate culture, study habits, and reading improving access to resources for college and writing skills. Students receive three preparedness and increasing aptitude in the credits per semester for participating in the skills necessary for collegiate success, including noteThe program seeks to address the taking, studying, and critical disparities in high school education in analysis. Throughout the Miami-Dade County Public Schools that semester, UM students offer leave many under-resourced students specialized lectures and hands-on activities in their unprepared for a college education. subject areas; meet with their partner teacher to work on curricular program. Since 2011, more than 77 UM enhancement and discuss core curricula; students have participated and collectively and conduct mentoring sessions on the spent more than 4,670 hours in the college application process, financial aid, classroom.
OFFICE OF CIVIC & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
“Having a UM student-teacher in my class impacted me by showing me that I could coach other teachers. The experience also really helped me to reflect on my own practice, allowing me to develop it further. My students thoroughly enjoyed having Ms. Hessinger in our classroom. They loved working with her and being supported by her. She was an excellent student teacher.” – Southridge Teacher
University of Miami Campus Visits In addition to the work done at our partner schools, CCE coordinates a trip each semester for Southridge High School students to visit the University of Miami to provide an in-depth understanding of the resources “This program available to college students and the is truly one importance of getting of my best a college education. Participating students memories at go on a tour of the UM, and I Coral Gables campus, meet with admissions couldn’t be and financial aid happier to officers, and speak with current UM have been a administrators, part of it.” student scholars, and leaders of student – UM Student organizations about Participant college life. Students also receive information on financial aid opportunities, the college application process, and the benefits of higher education. Since the program’s inception, more than 550 participating high school students have visited UM.
Southridge students. Through the High School Partnership Program, as well as the organized campus visits, Southridge students were provided ample opportunities to learn about the process of applying to college, learning about financial aid, and gaining insight into college life. The High School Partnership proves beneficial to all involved: while high school students receive valuable resources for their classroom subjects as well as college, UM students are provided with the opportunity to gain mentoring skills and to channel their academic passions. Additionally, Southridge High School teachers benefit
from the innovative course content and dedication and enthusiasm the UM students bring to their classrooms. The High School Partnership continues to prove itself a valuable program that opens doors of opportunity to everyone involved.
“I enjoyed learning about a day in the life of a college student.” – Southridge Student Participant
High School Partnership Coordinator Highlight This year, our High School Partnership Coordinator, Carlehr Swanson, has worked to sustain meaningful connections between undergraduate students at UM, teachers at Southridge High School, and CREATING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS BEGINS WITH U | 2019–2020 ANNUAL REPORT
11
CIVIC SCHOLARS DEVELOPING ENGAGED CITIZENS The UM Civic Scholars Program, launched in 2012 by CCE and the William R. Butler Center for Volunteer Service and Leadership, provides students with the opportunity to develop civic leadership skills, translate their academic interests into Cachay Byrd real-world problemsolving skills, and become advocates in promoting civic engagement and social equity. The program encourages students to become engaged citizens and cultivates their capacity to create positive social change as leaders in their communities. The Civic Scholars Program uses a foundation of Stoni Drane community-based learning through academic service-learning courses, research projects, and co-curricular programs to develop the next generation of engaged citizens and leaders. Students
“I’ve always had a passion for service and while waiting to depart for my study abroad trip, I happened to stumble upon the opportunity. Being able to use the experiences and intentionally apply them beyond the original outcomes with the goal of strengthening my service and leadership abilities was amazing.” – Cachay Byrd, Africana Studies and Health Sciences, ’20 completing the program receive special honors and a notation on their transcript designating them as UM Civic Scholars. The program has grown rapidly since its launch during the 20122013 academic year. Ten students enrolled during that inaugural year. Since then, we have had more than 30 students participate in the program. “By incorporating academics and
civic engagement, the Civic Scholars program opened my eyes to the endless opportunities available to us to make our community better through our service. The Civic Scholars Program gave me the opportunity to come one step closer to making my dreams a reality,” says Katarina Alem, Psychology, ’18. For Diannis Barban, English, ’18, “Being part of the Civic Scholars Program really allowed me to do hands-on work in my community to change something that is wrong in the world. It was so fulfilling because I saw that my education could have a direct positive impact on people who have suffered in the world.”
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ASSESSMENT 100% of graduating UM Civic Scholars strongly agree that their service and leadership experiences can provide useful solutions to issues they are passionate about to create positive social change 100% of graduating UM Civic Scholars agree that their service leadership has helped them to effectively engage communities and incorporate civic engagement in their future careers 100% of graduating UM Civic Scholars agree that the Civic Scholars Program will be useful to them as they continue to move forward in their careers *Information collected from Graduating Civic Scholars Exit Assessment Surveys
12
OFFICE OF CIVIC & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
ENGAGED FACULTY FELLOWS COMMITTED TO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND SERVICE-LEARNING Each academic year, the Office of Civic and Community Engagement awards fellowships to five faculty who commit to creating courses that incorporate a significant component of civic engagement and service-learning into the curriculum. During the 2019-2020 academic year, the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education and Human Development each sponsored one of the seven fellows. As part of the program, CCE organizes a six-part workshop series to introduce faculty to the pedagogy of service-learning and civic engagement, course design, reflection assignment, and student learning outcome assessments. We are excited to welcome our seventh cohort of faculty for the 2019-2020 school year.
2019-2020 Engaged Faculty Fellows Cohort (left to right): Brent Swanson, Matthew Deroo, Diana Jordon Zamora, Carole Kaminsky, Marina Magloire, Esteban Petruzzello, Rebecca Bulotsky Shearer
CREATING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS BEGINS WITH U | 2019–2020 ANNUAL REPORT
13
ENGAGED FACULTY FELLOWS Matthew R. Deroo Assistant Professor, Department of Teaching and Learning, School of Education and Human Development Matthew R. Deroo applied to be an Engaged Faculty Fellow to further develop his knowledge about community-engaged scholarship. Building from earlier work in support of music and arts-based education in and out of school spaces, he drew upon his partnership with the Lowe Art Museum to revise an existing course on content area literacies. Through the support of this fellowship, Dr. Deroo introduced a service-learning component to students’ field-based placements. Students enrolled in the content area literacies course and applied class learning from their engagement at the museum to public school classrooms. Students designed and enacted lesson plans using materials and resources from the Lowe in support of Miami-Dade Public Schools students’ learning in their local classroom or at the museum.
Carol Kaminsky Dance Faculty Lecturer, Department of Music and Vocal Performancem, Frost School of Music Carol Kaminsky is passionate about dance and the therapeutic impact it has on diverse groups of people. As a board-certified dance/movement therapist, she has worked in clinical practice with children and adults with mental and physical challenges for over three decades while concurrently teaching dance/movement therapy at the undergraduate level. She has established a cognate in this field, The Creative Arts in Therapy: Integrating Music and Dance into Counseling and Healthcare. For one of the courses in the cognate, DAN 291 Dance Movement Therapy, students earned the foundational principles and applications of dance/movement therapy through movement explorations and reflective practices. With the support of the Office of Civic and Community Engagement, Carol built a partnership with a community agency that explores how creativity, dance, and expressive movement can support mental health.
Esteban Petruzzello Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Miami Herbert Business School Esteban Petruzzello incorporated a service-learning and civic engagement component into his Industrial Economics and Public Policy course. Students applied industrial economics tools to the managerial decisions of local non-profit institutions and small businesses, while community partners received an analysis of the economic principles behind the decisions of the organization and potential suggestions to be considered. Students also established links with NGOs and local government agencies and analyzed policy decisions. His research focuses on the economics of addiction, obesity, and nutrition.
14
OFFICE OF CIVIC & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
Brent Swanson Lecturer, Department of Musicology, Frost School of Music Brent Swanson’s focus on music related to the Rwandan genocide illuminates the various ways music and dance have facilitated reconciliation amongst its citizens living in the country and in the diaspora. As president of the non-profit Mizero Children of Rwanda, Brent worked with Rwandan artist Jean-Paul Samputu to organize a group of Rwandan orphaned and vulnerable children to tour the United States and Canada to raise awareness and funds for an arts academy. As an Engaged Faculty Fellow, Dr. Swanson created a course on music and peacebuilding that draws on his civic work and scholarship on Rwanda. He and his students looked at how music could be a force for forgiveness and reconciliation.
Diana Jordan Zamora Lecturer, Department of Business Law, Miami Herbert Business School Diana Zamora will be teaching an experiential consumer law course in the year following her participation in the EFF program. Students will be challenged to work with legal professionals and clients on real cases to learn how their substantive learning in the classroom can be applied to help those in their community. Students will collaborate with attorneys from Dade Legal Aid to represent clients in business law matters, with students conducting legal research and helping prepare draft briefs and motions, demand letters, and settlement documents. After learning about consumer protection laws in this country, students will present seminars to non-profit community partners, such as Casa Valentina and Lotus House, to share how others can legally protect themselves before searching for housing, shopping for a car, or applying for a credit card and student loans.
Marina Magloire Assistant Professor, Department of English, College of Arts and Sciences Specializing in black feminism and Afro-diasporic literature, Marina Magloire, Ph.D., partnered with local arts organizations in Little Haiti and Little Havana for her ENG 210 course “Black Girl Magic: Black Feminism and African Diaspora Religions.” Through community-based activities ranging from learning sacred dances to making their altars, students engaged directly with the dynamic practices of African diaspora spirituality throughout the course. By pairing UM students with practitioners of African spiritual practice in Greater Miami, this course sought to foster mutual understanding and erode the pernicious stereotypes about African diaspora religions that continue to have tangible effects on economically vulnerable communities.
CREATING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS BEGINS WITH U | 2019–2020 ANNUAL REPORT
15
ENGAGED FACULTY FELLOWS Rebecca Bulotsky Shearer Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences Rebecca Bulotsky Shearer, Ph.D. applied to become an Engaged Faculty Fellow to create more opportunities for students in her Child and Adolescent Development course to be engaged with early childhood programs within the community. Dr. Shearer is a communitybased researcher, trained as a clinical child, community, and school psychologist. Her research interests include the development of classroom assessments and interventions to support the social-emotional competence and school readiness of preschool children living in urban poverty as well as those with disabilities. In her course, students engaged in servicelearning experiences in local early care and education centers serving children birth to six, from diverse backgrounds. Students applied the content and skills they learned in class through interactions with children and the creation of evidence-based developmental activities within the center to support children’s language, cognitive, social/emotional, and physical development. Students completed reflection papers throughout the semester and a final semester-long portfolio that will be shared with the centers.
INTRODUCING THE 2020-2021 COHORT Berit Brogaard Professor, Philosophy, College of Arts and Sciences
Xavier Cortada Professor, Art and Art History, College of Arts and Sciences
Aleksandra Hernandez Postdoctoral Associate, English, College of Arts and Sciences
Leslie McCutchen Lecturer, English, College of Arts and Sciences
Catalina Quesada-Gómez Lecturer, Modern Languages and Literatures, College of Arts and Sciences
Amin Sarafraz Research Assistant Professor, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
Rechna Varma Assistant Professor of Practice, Cinematic Arts and Interactive Media, School of Communication
16
OFFICE OF CIVIC & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION Robin Bachin named a Finalist for the 2020 Thomas Ehrlich Civically Engaged Faculty Award In Fall 2019, Robin Bachin, Assistant Provost for Civic and Community Engagement and Charlton W. Tebeau Associate Professor of History, was named a finalist for the 2019 Thomas Ehrlich Civically Engaged Faculty Award. The award is presented by Campus Compact, a national coalition of more than 1,000 colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education. The award is bestowed annually to recognize one faculty member and up to four finalists for exemplary leadership in advancing student civic learning, conducting communitybased research, fostering reciprocal partnerships, building institutional commitments to engagement, and enhancing higher education’s contributions to the public good. This award is named in honor of Thomas Ehrlich, former chair of the Campus Compact board of directors and president emeritus of Indiana University. It is generously sponsored by the KPMG Foundation. Reviewers were impressed by Bachin’s integration of teaching, scholarship, and
engaged action in service to affect positive change in South Florida and beyond. Especially notable was Bachin’s ability to find ways to contribute in a substantive way on issues such as affordable housing, equitable community development, and urban resilience, that do not lend themselves Dr. Ashmeet Oberoi to direct service approaches. Her work, the committee noted, exemplifies engagement on a cluster of the most pressing public policy issues of our time.
Excellence in Civic Engagement Award The Excellence in Civic Engagement Award recognizes faculty members who engage University of Miami students with the community through academic servicelearning courses and community-based research. Our winners were chosen from a highly competitive, University-wide pool of engaged applicants who were reviewed by a selection committee comprised of past award winners and partners to the Office of Civic and Community Engagement. Committee members included Dr. Susan Prather from the School of Nursing and Health Studies; Dr. Claire OueslatiPorter from Gender and Sexuality Studies; Kendee Franklin,
Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Education; and Devika Milner, Assistant Dean and Director of Study Abroad. The recipient of the 2020 Excellence in Civic Engagement Award was Dr. Ashmeet Oberoi. Dr. Ashmeet Oberoi is an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in the Department of Educational and Psychological Studies in the School of Education and Human Development, and the Director of the Community and Social Change Master’s Program at the University of Miami. Dr. Oberoi’s primary research interest is to examine how socio-cultural and contextual factors affect the wellbeing of minority and vulnerable populations. Dr. Oberoi engages in community-engaged research and evaluation and collaboration and civic work around social justice issues. Dr. Oberoi’s Applied Social Research Models course (ESP 371) incorporates a service-learning component where students work with community-based organizations (CBOs) to strengthen the organization’s social justice efforts through the application of research models. In collaboration with the CBOs, students engage in action research or community-based participatory research to complete projects including collaborating with the Miami Worker’s Center to create infographics presented at the Miami-Dade County Public School Board to advocate for a comprehensive sexual education curriculum and to develop actionable recommendations for programming and services at the UM LGBTQ Students Center based on campus assessments. Dr. Scotney Evans, Associate
CREATING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS BEGINS WITH U | 2019–2020 ANNUAL REPORT
17
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION Professor in the School of Education and Human Development, said Dr. Oberoi “meaningfully engages students with community partners in order to deepen their learning and enhance the practical relevance of the course materials.”
Newman Civic Fellows Award The Newman Civic Fellows Award is presented annually by Campus Compact, a national coalition of over 1,000 colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education, to one student per member institution. Nominees are recommended by college and university Jendayi London presidents to acknowledge ability and motivation in public leadership. The award honors inspiring student leaders who have demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country. Through service, research, and advocacy, Newman Civic Fellows are making the most of their college experience to better understand themselves, the root causes of social issues, and effective mechanisms for creating lasting change. These students represent the next generation of public problem-solvers and civic leaders. They serve as national examples of the role that higher education can—and does—play in building a better world. This year, Jendayi London, a junior, is the recipient of the award. Jendayi is a junior at the University of Miami majoring 18
in public administration and minoring in communications and criminology. Her accomplishments as both a scholar and engaged citizen embody the qualities of the Newman Civic Fellowship, transcending the traditional day-to-day college experience to dedicate time and resources to her local community, as well as to initiatives that address the socioeconomic inequities experienced by marginalized populations. Jendayi’s commitment to civic engagement is complemented by her extraordinary academic career. She has worked as a research assistant for Dr. Jonathan P. West, who describes her as “the personification of civic engagement” and “competitive with the best students in our Masters of Public Administration program.” Her involvement includes tutoring at-risk young men to help break the “school-to-prison” pipeline as well as engaging in community-based research to improve law enforcement response to domestic violence and sexual assaults in South Florida. Her accomplishments are a testament to her determination and pragmatic approach to improving access to quality education, well-being, and social justice.
Jennifer Wollman Prize for Civic Engagement in History In the spring, Kimberly Dodt received the 2020 Jennifer Wollman Prize for Civic Engagement. Each year, the University of Miami’s Department of History recognizes exemplary students who are civically engaged and work to promote social change in their community. Kimberly graduated in the spring having majored in history and Arabic, with a minor in math. She has been an outstanding asset to the University of Miami. The depth and breadth of her service as President of the UM History Club is exemplary. She has revamped the program, created new student officer
OFFICE OF CIVIC & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
positions, and promoted the program to non-majors. Kimberly’s yearning to make a difference extends beyond the college’s campus: she tutors and teaches English to Syrian refugees in our community. She also has organized a literacy program for first graders. Kimberly achieved academic excellence while simultaneously taking the initiative to serve the Greater Miami community in the UM Civic Engagement High School Partnership. During her time working with the High School Partnership, Kimberly enhanced the curriculum in History and helped build a college-going culture among the students at Miami Southridge Senior High School. While at Southridge, Kimberly provided students with helpful test-taking strategies and techniques to help ease stress related to AP exams. She assisted students in sending transcripts to colleges, helped them complete the FAFSA, and provided engaging lectures on notable court cases in history and how they affect us today. Her lectures not only increased the students’ engagement but also strengthened her bond with many Southridge students. That connection Kim Dodt enabled her individual mentoring sessions to be more directly tailored to the needs of each student. As a recipient of the Jennifer Wollman Prize for Civic Engagement, Kimberly exemplifies what it means to be civically engaged and work to promote social change in your community.
PUBLIC PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS HSP Campus Tour September 18, 2019 and February 3, 2020 The Office of Civic and Community Engagement coordinates trips for students at our partner high schools to visit the University of Miami to provide an in-depth understanding of the resources available to college students and the importance of getting a college education. Participating students go on a tour of the Coral Gables campus, meet with admissions and financial aid officers, and speak with current UM administrators, student scholars, and leaders of student organizations about college life. Students also receive information on financial aid opportunities, the college application process, and the benefits of higher education.
Closing in on 10,000: A Housing Summit October 7, 2019 Miami-Dade County’s Department of Public Housing and Community Development hosted a conference for local stakeholders focused on the future of creation and preservation of affordable and
workforce housing in the greater Miami area. CCE staff offered participants LAND tool demonstrations throughout the day. Dr. Robin Bachin organized a policy panel for the conference focused on inclusive strategies for transforming neighborhoods.
World Food Day October 16, 2019 World Food Day is an international day that commemorates the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). It promotes worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and for the need to ensure access
to healthy, affordable, just, and sustainable food systems for all. It addresses issues as varied as health and nutrition, hunger, agricultural policy, animal welfare, and farm worker justice. The ultimate goal of World Food Day is to strengthen and unify the food movement in order to improve global food policies. Dr. Erika Rappaport, Professor of History at the University of California, Santa Barbara delivered the keynote address, in which she examined the history of tea from three interconnected perspectives: advertising, consumerism, and Western empires; and their influence on globalization. In addition, the CCE office, Green U, the Butler Center, and a several student organizations presented the Food Day “Fair Food Fair.” This Fair enabled community partners and non-profit organizations to share information about food policy issues with UM students, staff, and faculty. The UM community enjoyed fresh, local star fruit from the Urban Oasis Project to celebrate a “Fruit Crush,” an international social media event to raise awareness about eating healthy and expanding access to fresh fruit and vegetables.
CREATING COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS BEGINS WITH U | 2019–2020 ANNUAL REPORT
19
PUBLIC PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS The Last Black Man in San Francisco Screening November 12, 2019 On November 12, 2019, the Office of Civic and Community Engagement hosted a screening of The Last Black Man in San Francisco (A24). This film focuses on gentrification and its impact on communities of color. Following the screening, Imelda Moise, Ph.D, Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography, moderated a panel on the impacts of gentrification both locally and nationally. Panelists included Shirley Plantin, Esq., chief executive consultant for U-Turn Youth Consulting Firm; Meena Jagganath, Esq., co-founder of the Community Justice Project; and Nancy Metameyer, community organizer and former member of the Broward County Soil and Water Conservation District.
and prospective applicants about how the Community Scholars Program can provide training on best practices in community development and affordable housing policy while advancing their careers. More than 30 people attended the event, and we hope participation will continue to grow as we expand our alumni network and recruit future classes of Community Scholars.
Engaged Faculty Fellows Panel February 12, 2020 CCE hosted its annual Engaged Faculty Fellows Panel in February 2020. Faculty across disciplines came to hear the 20192020 Engaged Faculty Fellows discuss their strategies and methods for incorporating community-based learning into their pedagogy. The panel, led by an exemplary group of engaged scholars, focused on best practices, challenges, and lessons learned. For faculty interested in applying to the
Engaged Faculty Fellows Program, the event presented a wonderful opportunity to hear how currents fellows successfully updated their courses to include service-learning.
Celebration of Involvement April 14, 2020 Every year, students are recognized at the Celebration of Involvement reception where campus-wide awards for service and leadership are presented on behalf of the Division of Student Affairs. This year’s Celebration of Involvement in April 2020 took place virtually and honored all of the nominees and award recipients online via social media. Students, faculty, staff, and community partners nominated outstanding students and faculty engaged in service and leadership. Our office was proud to present two awards this year: The Excellence in Civic Engagement Award and the Newman Civic Fellows Award.
Community Scholars Networking Event November 21, 2019 This year the University of Miami Office of Civic and Community Engagement, South Florida Community Development Coalition (SFCDC), Catalyst Miami, and Rosado and Associates hosted a Community Scholars in Affordable Housing Information and Networking event at Venture Café at the Cambridge Innovation Center. This networking program brought together Community Scholars alumni, along with the program facilitators, to educate interested individuals 20
The Office of Civic and Community Engagement hosts the Community Scholars in Affordable Housing Informational and Networking Session at Venture Café, November 21, 2019.
OFFICE OF CIVIC & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
RECOGNIZING OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS COLLABORATION IN ACTION Our office is dedicated to fostering civic engagement, promoting campus-community partnerships, and enhancing equitable community development. To further our efforts and maintain the support of community-based organizations, CCE has partnered with various grassroots groups throughout South Florida to promote social change. Below are highlights from some of our partners this year.
New Florida Majority
Florida League of Cities
“Florida is changing demographically and politically, and New Florida Majority is poised to be the democratic engine that helps move the Sunshine State onto the path of equity and justice for all people and not just a small band of well-connected elites. New Florida Majority works daily to create an inclusive multiracial, multilingual, and multicultural movement that seeks to unite people across economic, racial, religious, and gender lines through a shared love of a democracy that serves all. They aim to center federal, state, and local legislative conversations and policies around those who have been historically kept at the margins, disengaged with civic institutions, and convinced that their participation doesn’t matter.
When Florida’s city officials formed a group of municipal governments for the first time in 1922, they wanted to shape legislation, share the advantages of cooperative action, and exchange ideas and experiences. Growing from a small number of cities and towns, their membership now represents more than 400 cities, towns, and villages in the Sunshine State. The League provides members with tailored advocacy tools and training programs designed specifically for municipal officials. It also serves as administrator for the Florida Municipal Insurance Trust, offers a comprehensive package of innovative financial solutions to Florida’s local governments, and provides contractual support services to several statewide municipal and professional associations.
IN MEMORIAM – GONZALO VIZCARDO CCE joins our friends in the social justice community of South Florida to honor the memory of Gonzalo Vizcardo, a former Community Scholar and committed partner of CCE. Gonzalo was born on November 14, 1989 in Venezuela and he moved to Boca Raton with his parents and two sisters in 2001. He dedicated his life to fighting for justice and human rights in his community here in Miami. As a college student at Florida Atlantic University, Vizcardo broke into the activist scene by leading a protest that forced a for-profit prison company to pull its donation to rename the school’s football stadium. He also interned at Palm Beach County’ s Business Development Board and worked as an analyst for various tech companies. Everyone who knew Gonzalo described him as incorruptible, kind, fearless, and overwhelmingly fun and full of life. According to one friend, “Gonzalo lived with a rich intensity many times that of a typical person. Not a minute
was ever wasted while he lived.” He was active with Florida Young Democrats, Miami’s Next Leaders, and various other groups and causes across the county. Vizcardo’s death on November 7, 2019 devasted many in the Miami community. He is remembered for his enthusiasm as a true fighter for justice and equality, and for planting a seed in young people to continue his passion for social justice. He was a determined, visionary, collaborative, goal-oriented, caring person who loved life and all that it offered. Through both his scholarship and his practice, he made a significant contribution to his community.
instagram.com/umiami_civicengagement/
twitter.com/UMiamiCCE
facebook.com/UMiamiCivicEngagement
Office of Civic & Community Engagement 1111 Memorial Drive Dooly Memorial Classroom Building, Suite 125 Coral Gables, Florida 33124 305-284-6636 civicengagement@miami.edu civic.miami.edu