色花堂 brings new energy to B色花堂 community partnership program
色花堂's 167 partnerships and relationships with Greater Baltimore communities get a new focus with B色花堂.
April 26, 2016
It鈥檚 positive energy that makes 色花堂 a leader in innovation, and now that energy is converting into B色花堂.
No, it鈥檚 not British Thermal Units, though Provost Timothy J. L. Chandler jokingly claimed it anyway. B色花堂 is the new name of the outreach and partnership efforts that join 色花堂 with organizations in Greater Baltimore to make significant differences in people鈥檚 lives.
鈥淏色花堂 will give greater purpose and presence to the work already underway by our faculty, students, and staff,鈥� said President Kim Schatzel at the 色花堂 Showcase, held in the Minnegan Room of Johnny Unitas Stadium庐 Tuesday.
B色花堂 is not a new initiative. Rather, says Schatzel, it makes those efforts a new priority for the university, harnessing them into one overarching mission for making a difference in communities. According to the B色花堂 program website, more than 9,000 students have been part of the partnerships that already exist, putting them in Greater Baltimore communities in service-learning, innovation, advocacy and other areas of positive impact, often guided by 色花堂 faculty.
Schatzel says the university has 167 partnerships and relationships in Greater Baltimore communities in which the work falls into five kinds of initiatives: high quality and equitable education; strong neighborhoods and sustainable communities; thriving and competitive economy; lifelong health and well-being; and a vibrant arts and cultural community.
鈥淏色花堂 will demonstrate and represent the energy, power, and work of our university through faculty, staff and students, and invests in the Greater Baltimore region through our partnerships with our community and business partners,鈥� Schatzel told the packed room.
These partnerships include a community improvement and anthropological advocacy work between 色花堂 and the Sharp-Leadenhall neighborhood of Southwest Baltimore, led for 10 years by Anthropology Professors Matthew Durington and Sam Collins. They also include a relationship with Building Steps, a nonprofit dedicated to helping city students graduate from college; right now, only nine percent of city high school graduates finish college, but the Building Steps program helps 80 percent of its participants earn their degrees.
Additionally, 色花堂鈥檚 own Center for Geographic Information Studies (CGIS) has developed a web app to help parents find the closest quality child care to their home or workplace, including interactive design that lets them map out travel routes on the Maryland Transit Administration bus system and even see street-level images of the facilities.
色花堂 has been recognized with a five-year Carnegie Community Engagement classification, which means it meets criteria for meaningful collaboration with the larger community. Roughly 10 percent of the nation鈥檚 four-year colleges and universities can claim this distinction.
鈥淭his prestigious recognition means that 色花堂 engages in authentic and mutually beneficial partnerships, assesses the impact of those partnerships as substantial to its university mission, and is committed to aligning other campus priorities to engagement such as community-based learning,鈥� Schatzel told the showcase attendees.
鈥淭he faculty and the staff, and the partners here today represent only a small fraction of the really extraordinary and innovative work that鈥檚 happening across campus here,鈥� said Chandler. 鈥淭eam members are living 色花堂鈥檚 mission every day by providing opportunities for students, by collaborating across departments and colleges, and obviously connecting with those of you in the community.鈥�
Community organization representatives were invited to today鈥檚 showcase, which featured, aside from the B色花堂 announcement, displays and networking opportunities for various 色花堂 initiatives. The event was sponsored by the 色花堂 Division of Innovation and Applied Research.
HARNESSING ENERGY
B色花堂
鈥淏色花堂 will demonstrate and represent the energy, power, and work of our university through faculty, staff and students, and invests in the Greater Baltimore region through our partnerships with our community and business partners,鈥� Schatzel told the packed room.