Our Programs
Community Partners Program
First Round of Grants Awarded for University/Community Partnerships
In December 2006, the University of Maryland launched the Community Partners Program (CPP), a new "seed grant" program designed to encourage and fund University/community partnerships. Created by the Provost, the Vice President for University Relations, and key University trustees, CPP embodies the University's commitment to Prince George's County and is one key component of a number of diverse community engagement efforts.
The staff of the Engaged University, who solicit and review the initial Letters of Inquiry, administer the CPP. A six-member CPP Review Committee reviews the proposals and selects the grant recipients. The Community Engagement Board of Advisors, made up of University trustees and other key community partners, endorses the selection of the grants.
Twenty-four Letters of Inquiry were received for this first grant cycle. Thirteen applicants were invited to submit full proposals. From this pool, the Advisory Committee selected three (3) projects for funding totaling $18,650 in grants. A second CPP grant cycle will begin in Fall 2007. Engaged University staff anticipate offering workshops for potential applicants at the start of the Fall semester.
Each of the projects (described below) is commited to collaboration, learning, effectiveness, sustainability, and creativity.
Dr. Jerry Lee Lewis, Executive Director,
Academic Achievement Programs, UMCP;
In Partnership with:
Ms. Beverly Pariser-Foster and Ms. Silvia Hoke,
International Student Counseling Office, Prince George's County Public Schools
This project will support an Annual Latino College Fair to help underserved Latino students and their families navigate the postsecondary admissions and financial aid processes. The Educational Opportunities Center (EOC) in Academic Achievement Programs will partner with the County's International Student Counseling Office (ISCO) to conduct targeted outreach to County high schools with the highest Latino populations. The partners will also offer workshops throughout the year on study skills, planning and preparation for standardized assessment tests, and financial aid.
Campus partner, Dr. Jerry Lee Lewis, has invested more than 30 years in increasing County youth's access to post-secondary education. He believes that this project is critical because "there are now many ESL students in the County and they need to be well educated if we want to improve our economic infrastructure and the quality of life for all."
Dr. Bo Xie, Assistant Professor
College of Information Studies, UMCP;
In Partnership with:
Ms. Maralita L. Freeny, Director,
Prince George's County Memorial Library System
This partnership between The College of Information Studies and the Hyattsville Branch of the Prince George's County Memorial Library system will develop a curriculum that integrates information technology and health literacy for older adult patrons of the Hyattsville branch of the County library system. It will train local seniors to use the Internet to access health information and to assist others to acquire needed information. The long-term goal is to cultivate a cadre of older adults who can administer the same training to their peers at other public library branches.
Assistant Professor, Dr. Bo Xie, the campus partner, says that the project will help local public libraries "better serve the community by improving e-health literacy, lifelong learning, and empowerment of older adults, and demonstrates the interest and ability of the College of Information Studies to collaborate with local organizations."
Ms. Johnna Schmidt, Director
Jimenez-Porter Writers' House, UMCP;
In Partnership with:
Ms. Rebecca Roberts, ESOL Teacher,
Northwestern High School
Other Partners: Hyattsville Community Development Corporation; Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, UMCP
This project, named "Postcards from My Country," brings students from the Jimenez-Porter Writers' House together with Northwestern High School ESOL students using the framework of service learning. As partners and mentors, the University and high school students will employ language and creative writing to explore identity, community, and the immigrant experience.
Ms. Johnna Schmidt, Director, Jimenez-Porter Writers' House, the campus partner, says that the pilot of this project was a great success and she looks forward to full implementation. "All involved reported this program to be important to their personal growth and some called it life-changing. They loved the feeling that their skills as poets and writers are being put to a use that benefits the greater community," she explains. ESL students at NWHS were able to "process important life issues through their poetry and 'find their feet' in their new community. One unexpected benefit is that student's social ties with each other are deepened dramatically as they share their stories with each other."