FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and the Near West Collaborative have agreed to a formal partnership to promote economic development and address quality-of-life plan priorities for Haughville, Hawthorne, Stringtown and We Care.
The memorandum of understanding was recently signed by IUPUI, Hawthorne Community Center and the Near West Collaborative.
Under the partnership, access will be provided to a wide variety of resources at IUPUI that will assist seven priority areas identified as important to the immediate and long-term vitality of the Near Westside neighborhoods: housing, public safety, beautification, economic development, education, health and civic/youth engagement.
IUPUI is home to a number of schools, centers and programs with extensive expertise in nonprofits, community engagement, education, health care, economic development and quality-of-life issues.
The Near Westside envisions itself as a clean, tree-lined, front-porch community with affordable family homes. Residents see the neighborhood as the ideal safe, urban area where people live, work and raise a family in close proximity to downtown.
The partnership builds on a more-than-decade-long relationship between the Center for Service and Learning at IUPUI and the Near Westside community. The relationship has resulted in a number of achievements, including:
- New relationships with the IU School of Medicine and the Near Westside for annual health fairs and a leadership role with the Indy Food Fund to leverage resources for community food projects.
- More than 100 consultations and meetings with community partners and engaged university faculty, staff and students.
- IUPUI faculty helping implement elements of the quality-of-life plan.
- Scholarships that help promote and teach college readiness for elementary through high school students.
- Development of Near West identity and branding including the logo, billboards and more.
- Development of an urban gardening program.
The Center for Service and Learning will serve as the facilitator for accessing programs and resources on the IUPUI campus. The partnership will initially draw upon the resources in the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, School of Nursing, School of Dentistry, School of Education, School of Social Work, Office of External Affairs, Community Learning Network, and the Center for Service and Learning.