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REPORT
ON THE FIRST TWO YEARS
June 30,
2000 – September 1, 2002
During
the first two years, hundreds of campus programs, internships, service
learning opportunities, and community-based research created opportunities
to connect University students and faculty to children and youth in
Minnesota. The University of Promise initiative provided coordination
and depth to existing efforts, encouraged new work, and helped cement
partnerships with schools, community-based organizations, business
and foundation leaders, policy makers, and all who care about children
and youth.
GOALS
Goal #1 -- Deepen the understanding of what Minnesota children and youth
need to succeed through better research, evaluation and teaching.
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Published
and widely disseminated two special issues of The Center publication
that featured current research on youth development and the policies
and programs that are most likely to impact youth (Summer 2001 and
Summer 2002).
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Presented
Bridging Research and Practice: Evidence that Youth Development Programs
Make A Difference, a conference for researchers, practitioners and
advocates on how families, communities, and organizations can support
the development of young people. The program featured nationally recognized
experts in youth development, included a public reception, and attracted
several hundred participants (April 18, 2001).
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Conducted,
with Search Institute, a reflective review of the state, community,
and urban efforts that have been inspired by America’s Promise
in its first three years and the factors that seem to matter most
in their success.
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Co-sponsored
the Minnesota Alliance with Youth and Minneapolis Promise for Youth
Summer 2001 Institute that reflected upon our understanding of what
has been accomplished in Minnesota so far; shared these and other
lessons learned with people from around the state, region, and nation;
and helped prepare communities to act with youth on providing these
resources in effective ways (June 30, 2001).
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Co-sponsored
public lectures and events across the campus that highlighted research,
policy, and programs related to positive, community-based youth development:
UM School of Public Health’s, Public Health Roundtable on Adolescent
Health (Nov 3, 2000); UM School of Social Work’s Child Abuse
Prevention Studies’ Developing a Collective Voice for Children
(Feb 16, 2001); UM Work, Community and Family Education’s Growing
with Families: Education for Parents of School-Aged Children (June
8-9, 2001); UM Pediatrics and Adolescent Health’s Families and
Schools Together: Empowering Youth, Transforming Our Communities (July
6, 2001); Career and Community Learning Center’s Community-University
dinner and dialogue on children, youth and family resources (April,
2002) ; and Konopka Institute for Best Practices in Adolescent Health’s
Community Living Rooms: Community Supports for Youth (May 2, 2002).
Goal #2 --
Communicate and teach about the needs of youth to improve programs and
public policies.
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Expanded
the University’s involvement with the Five Days of Promise at
the 2000, 2001 and 2002 Minnesota State Fairs by highlighting the
promises as part of the University’s presence at the Fair.
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Conducted
a University-wide “Conversation with Youth” on December
10, 2001, which brought together the University Promise Fellows with
students, faculty and program leaders. This conversation was part
of 4-H’s national conversation series on how communities can
engage youth in civic leadership and national and
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In July
2002, will launch a University web-site organized around the five
promises that will help parents, youth, schools, and communities tap
into best practices and will highlight specific University programs
that bring these to life.
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Assisted
county governments and Extension Committees throughout the state to
become "counties of promise" working in partnership with
the Association of MN Counties and the MN Alliance with Youth (on-going).
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Hosted
two site visits for program and communications staff from Washington
DC based America’s Promise (February 19-20, 2001and May 1, 2002).
University of Minnesota was featured in the 2001 annual report for
America’s Promise and
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Served
as a consultant on two national reference guides produced by America’s
Promise: Becoming a College or University of Promise, Summer 2001,
and Toolkit for Land Grant Universities, Summer 2002.
Goal #3 -- Strengthen and expand outreach efforts that directly touch
the lives of children and families.
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Created
a University-based “promise fellows corps” that supports
the quality and growth of specific University initiatives and programs
already in operation and facilitates the creation of new efforts in
departments across the campus and with strategic community partners.
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Promoted
the University’s Literacy Consortium and AmericaReads as an
anchor project for the University of Promise. It visibly demonstrates
the power of the University to mobilize youth, students, alumni, and
citizens around issues that matter to youth—school success,
workforce preparation, and community service.
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Planned
and implemented a permanent Youth Resource Center serving students,
faculty and community professionals on the second floor of the McNamara
Alumni Center.
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