COPC University Partners Meeting
October 30, 2001

IN ATTENDANCE: Kay Atman, Andrew Aurand, Kelly Burns, Carolyn Carson, Sabina Deitrick, Jean Ferketish, Tami Hirth, Sungsoo Hwang, Stephanie Jennings, Terry Milani, Stephanie Schoenberg, Eli Shorak, Ken Thompson. Tracy started the meeting with general announcements. Mike Peterson will be taking over the more day-to-day COPC budgetary responsibilities from Skip Peterson who has been assigned more duties with GSPIA. Stephanie distributed and briefly discussed the HUD-COPC semi-annual reporting format. Tracy noted reporting periods are December 31 and June 30. Next report is due to HUD-OUP by January 31, so Project area reports are due by January 18, 2002. Sabina discussed making the website more active. Ken Thompson suggested adding a bulletin board or a monthly theme (i.e., educational projects, and medical projects). Sabina stressed the importance of not letting the site become static and that any links partners might have be sure to send to Sabina for inclusion. Stephanie Schoenberg will be working with Fran Martin in the Community & Governmental Relations Office to keep the website updated and active. Tracy added that if you want pictures taken please contact him and he will try to arrange for his photographer George Pivetz to get out to your site. Tracy announced the hiring of Crystal McCormick Ware as the new Director of UCCDP. Stephanie announced that the next meeting of the Housing group would be on November 13, 2001 in 2017C in the Cathedral. She then gave a brief synopsis of the Healthy Homes Conference she attended in Pittsburgh and the valuable contacts she made. She suggested we invite these local contacts to present at a Housing Group meeting. Stephanie distributed copies of the draft COPC brochure for review and revisions. Several suggestions for changes were offered. This led to a discussion of the new COPC graphics that Tracy had earlier circulated for review. There was a consensus on the version of the graphics preferred by the partners. This led to further discussion on distribution and PR on the COPC, especially internally in the University. Carolyn Carson and Ken Thompson then broached the subject of how do we get the word out on COPC. There needs to be a concerted effort to target faculty. Tracy suggested that a small group of partners work together to "get the word out." Some suggestions were working with the Campaign Chronicle, University Senate leadership, and University Senate Committees. Tracy then told the partners about he and John Wilds presentation to the University Senate Commonwealth Relations Committee. Tracy also noted that the Community Relations Committee would be reporting to the Senate on follow-up from last Spring's Plenary. Kay Atman gave an update on the Breachmenders Ministries youth programs and how well the program is working with the hire of Karla Stallworth. They have held a seminar for the BMI staff on conflict resolution and this past weekend held a math tutorial with two parents showing up. Kay then described Peggy Dimperio's model program called "Three Mile Plus." She described this as a program where families make "reservations" to get out within about a three mile radius of Oakland. They are provided bus passes meal tickets, etc. Kay thinks that this is not only a good program for Oakland, but can be made into a model. Tracy suggested presenting to HUD since youth and families would be one of the focuses this coming year. Jean Ferketish stressed using the Campaign Chronicle to get word out on COPC, and she felt that the School of Education - Breachmenders Ministries' youth programs would make a very strong article. Sabina encouraged University partners to consider developing best practices or other articles or case studies of their efforts for potential distribution and for posting to the website. Stephanie Jennings then gave an update on her volunteer work with the elderly in Oak Hill. She has been able to recruit two more volunteers to help the elderly residents with daily tasks that they may need assistance with. She also is working with Project Tutor to get help for students in Oak Hill. Work at the food pantry is proceeding well with the hire of a local resident to manage the distribution. Reporting issues were raised in Oak Hill projects, and this led the university partners to discuss the concept of empowerment and what is staff versus volunteer/resident responsibilities in such situations. Ken Thompson announced there will be a reception on November 9th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Bedford Hope Center at 2305 Bedford Avenue. The purpose is to introduce the two new doctors that will be working at the Matilda Theiss Center - Drs. South-Paul and Conti. Please RSVP to 383-1961 if you are interested in attending. Kelly Burns reported that both the Hazelwood Initiatives' HI-HOPES and Oakland's HOP (Healthy Oakland People) have received official state designation as Community Health Partnerships. Kelly noted that the Hazelwood Community Health Outreach Office held a community open house this month, and she distributed brochures on the Hazelwood initiative. COPC partners next focused on Institutionalization Issues. Tracy asked Jean to discuss the Community Outreach Database, and Jean reported on meetings with Provost, Dean of Medicine, and UCSUR Director on development of a common database on community outreach. She noted some funding has been provided to begin the development of what will hope to be a web-based inventory of community outreach efforts in the University. Jean also noted the need to focus on future funding development for the COPC, and this was related to the earlier discussion of community partner funding needs. She also noted the development of an ad-hoc group to discuss institutionalization of COPC, service learning, and other community outreach efforts. Sabina discussed the idea to sponsor a forum with the Institute of Politics and the Legislative Office for Research Liaison (LORL) group on a statewide issue of university-community partnership. Tracy noted discussion he and John have had with Denny McManus at the IOP regarding a summer institute with LORL. This might be a good follow-up from the COPC National Conference. Tracy also noted that the Senate Community Relations Committee would be reviewing a draft report from the Spring Plenary on Civic Engagement and Service in the University's Mission. It is hoped this report will go to Faculty Assembly and the Senate Council later this fall (November or December). The next meeting will be a full partners meeting on the 27th of November. There will also be a full partners meeting/holiday gathering on December 18th. Locations of both meetings will follow.