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A Partnership Between Academia, Community
and County Government
On Tuesday, February 26, 2008 Martin Adams, Independent Consultant for NorthPoint Health
and Wellness Center, presented a seminar entitled "Sharing Expertise Between County Government,
Academia & Community." The focus of this lecture was to discuss the emerging University
Northside Partnership in North Minneapolis, and how the collaboration is working to improve
the health and socio-economic disparities within this urban community.
Adams spoke about the genesis of the partnership -- how Hennepin County Administration
sought to involve the University of Minnesota in a strategic collaboration whereby both organizations
could benefit from a joint effort in "community-based research, sharing of academic and practitioner
experience and providing students with valuable real-world experience." Another partner involved
is the NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center, a key community organization affiliated with Hennepin
County.
Current collaboration within this new partnership is happening around the planning of a new human
services building on the NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center campus. The university/county/community
partnership seeks to achieve better health and socio-economic services for clients within the local
underserved community of North Minneapolis. The University was initially planning to build a new
facility for a U of M Family Center in North Minneapolis, but through this partnership, the decision
was made to consolidate its center with NorthPoint.
Adams mentioned that successful partnership develops slowly, and significant time is required to move
from a relationship building stage to a program building stage. Current efforts of the partnership
include seeking new funding and working groups as well as developing additional partnerships within
the region. Future goals of the collaboration include creating an Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement
Center, which would include the U of M Family Center, a center for early education and development,
and a center for innovation in economic development.
This lecture was part of the GCI Seminar Series, which invites experts, practitioners, and academics
to speak on current issues and innovative research.
Download a podcast of this presentation.
View the presentation slides.
View tips on successful university - community
partnerships.
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