kris nelson community based research annual report for ...community based research annual report for september 2014-january 2016. 1. People and Places ... kris nelson community based

Connecting the University of Minnesota with the Community

The Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) connects the resources of the University of Minnesota with the interests and needs of urban communities and the region for the benefit of all. CURA is founded on the belief that partnerships between the university and the community are mutually beneficial. Central to our work is building and supporting an environment that links the skills and wisdom present within every community with the specialized knowledge and academic discipline of a vital urban university.

Our center is home to a diverse array of community programs that together provide a rich and unique blend of leadership, resources, and technical skills available to local communities at no cost. Through our research, community focused programs, and collaborative partnerships, CURA’s community programs create innovative solutions that promote equity and opportunity in communities throughout the Twin Cities region and beyond.

Kris Nelson Community Based Research Program

The Nelson Program connects the community to the University of Minnesota through community-driven applied research. It is a unique opportunity for community organizations to engage with the University to co-create research approaches. The research and technical needs of organizations are matched with student research assistants to carry out community-defined and guided projects.

By producing knowledge in partnership with community, the Nelson program is:

• Informing policy change• Developing programs• Creating new perspectives• Making models for others to use• Changing narratives• Listening to people’s stories and building

evaluation capacity

For more information: www.cura.umn.edu/Nelson-Program

or contact Jeff Corn: [email protected], 612-625-0744.

kris nelson community based research annual report for september 2014-january 2016

1. People and Places Builds the leadership and power of low income communities, communities of color, immigrant communities, seniors, people with disabilities, youth, renters, or other historically excluded communities. Addresses a local community issue, need or opportunity.

impact areas

kris nelson community based research program impact areas

2. Organizations Supports the capacity of community-based, neighborhood, or other place-based organizations to more effectively and equitably engage and involve the diversity of their community into the leadership of their organization or activities.

3. Collaborations Builds strong networks and relationships within and/or among diverse cultural or geographic communities.

4. Systems Expands the influence of community members on systems, practices, initiatives, and policies that lead to greater racial, social, and economic equity.

summary of the year

Total of 49 semesters of projects with 39 organizations (Some projects took more than 1 semester)

types of organizations

8 Culturally Based Organizations

7 Neighborhood Groups

8 Social Service Organizations

3 Community Development Corporations

4 Arts Organizations

6 Advocacy Organizations

2 Education Groups

1 Coalition

issue themes

Economic Development 6

Health 5

Housing 5

Arts 4

Local Foods 4

Evaluation 3

Immigrants 3

Neighborhood Planning 3

Crime and Safety 2

History 2

Education 1

Environment 1

geography of the project

Metrowide12 projects

St. Paul9 projects

Suburban1 project

Minneapolis17 projects

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long term partnershipsThe following highlights represent a sampling of long-term research partnerships in which the Nelson program has been engaged.

JEWISH COMMUNITY ACTION

“Responsible Banking”Students: Seunghoon Oh, Yufeng Lai, and Won Fy Lee

impact areas:

After successfully organizing to help ensure the passage of the City of Minneapolis Responsible Banking Ordinance in 2013, Jewish Community Action (JCA) continued their organizing efforts to make sure the core principles of the ordinance were applied to banks working with the City of Minneapolis. JCA and CURA began to develop the framework for a “Rank the Banks” scorecard that would take public data made available through the responsible banking ordinance to hold banks accountable to their performance within low-income neighborhoods and communities of color in the city. This grew into a new, larger research

project led by Dr. Samuel Myers of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, supported by CURA and the Minneapolis Foundation. That report was released and presented to the Minneapolis City Council in the summer of 2015, and will also be presented to the St. Paul City Council in the winter of 2016. JCA is currently working with a myriad of community partners to further ground-truth the data with communities and develop organizing and policy strategies to advance responsible banking principles.

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The Responsible Banking Report was presented to the Minneapolis City Council in the summer of 2015.

CURA provided invaluable support through student researchers and technical assistance to

help advance our work on responsible banking and to complete a study of bank lending for small businesses and homeowners in the Twin Cities. It has been great working with CURA and with the students. This project would not have gotten off the ground without early CURA support that included connecting us to resources and helping us launch a major research study with Dr. Samuel Myers.

– Vic Rosenthal, Executive Director JCA

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NORTHSIDE COMMUNITY RESPONSE TEAM

“African American Homeownership Survey”Students: Alyssa Chiumento and Andrew Tran

impact areas:

In the spring of 2014, the Northside Community Response Team (NCRT) partnered with CURA to conduct a community-engaged survey of African American residents of North Minneapolis. The survey was implemented via one-on-one interviews led by trained community members. CURA helped develop the survey instrument and conducted trainings with community residents who were part of the survey administration team. Between August and December of 2014 896 surveys were collected. The findings help provide a better understanding of what is preventing North Minneapolis households from achieving better housing for themselves and their families. The research also created a better understanding of specific barriers to accessing housing resources from the various programs and helped determine how to better connect people to the resources they need.

CURA’s guidance and support on the North Minneapolis African American Housing Opportunity study provided

the academic credibility to a very important and needed community survey. CURA recognized, as had the North Minneapolis African American community, that many well-intended programs and initiatives were failing to reach a large part of the community. The development, implementation, and resulting report from this survey created a new foundation from which future investments and policies will be made in North Minneapolis.

– Jeff Washburne, Executive Director City of Lakes Community Land Trust

CITY OF LAKES COMMUNITY LAND TRUST

“Biennial Homeowner Report – 2012, 2014, and 2016”Students: Aaron Keniski, Alyssa Chiumento, and Jonathan Cowgill

impact areas:

Since 2012, CURA has supported the City of Lakes Community Land Trust (CLCLT) on their Biennial Homeowner Survey. With support from student researchers, CURA helped CLCLT provide a comprehensive gauge of how owning a home through the Land Trust has impacted homeowners’ lives. The tool also records certain homeowner information to track the long-term trends of CLCLT homeowners and the organization’s impact over time. The survey offers the CLCLT feedback to help improve its future services and provides potential funders with insight from homeowners of the benefits of the CLCLT.

CURA’s involvement in the development

and implementation of our Biennial Homeowner Report has been transfor-mational both to the orga-nization and the affordable homeownership industry. No longer is it enough to measure unit costs and de-velopment activity, but we need to measure if and how families lives are changing with long-term, stable, af-fordable, homeownership in our communities. CURA students have taken a sim-ple idea and made it into a credible tool that needs to be the future baseline for all affordable housing developments.

– Jeff Washburne, Executive Director CLCLT

A recent homeowner through the CLCLT.

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kris nelson community based research program projects The following is a complete list of Nelson projects undertaken between September 2014 and January 2016.

AFRICAN IMMIGRANT SERVICES

“ African Community Asset Research Project”

impact areas:

This project gathered data and information from available sources on resources and assets in the northwest Twin Cities suburbs and created several asset maps. The maps serve as a basis for further data collection and a starting point for building assets and capacities to address disparities.

ALLIANCE HOUSING INC. MINNEAPOLIS

“ Documenting and Improving Alliance Housing’s Landscaping Assets”

impact areas:

Born out of the vision of St. Stephens’ Catholic Church community in 1991, Alliance Housing Inc.’s provides housing stability for very low income individuals and families. This project catalogued Alliance’s landscaping assets at its 22 properties in Minneapolis. The research was used by Alliance to prioritize and plan for the landscaping at each of their properties.

ANCESTRY BOOKS

“ North Lit: A Pedagogical and Best Practices Research Study”

impact areas:

With Ancestry Books being the only bookstore in North Minneapolis, this research inquiry documented best practices among national literary arts organizations/businesses that work primarily in and among communities of color and Indigenous communities. The work assisted Ancestry Books to develop programming that better serves North Minneapolis, and especially those often disengaged from the literary arts, with quality classes and other opportunities.

AURORA/ST. ANTHONY NDC

“ Frogtown Rondo Action Network”

impact areas:

This project undertook to change policy regarding the cost of participating in programs and activities at St. Paul recreation centers though identification of successful strategies in other communities and analysis of St. Paul park data. The report and data are being used to advocate for and promote more inclusive fees for residents.

BLACK WOMEN’S BUSINESS ALLIANCE (BWBA)

“ Exploring the Economic Status of Black Women in Minnesota: An Overview”

impact areas:

This project analyzed key economic factors impacting Black women’s lives in Minnesota by looking at state and

local data, national status reports, and census data. The research is being used by BWBA to advocate for members’ economic needs in the area of policy, programs, and advocacy.

BUILD WEALTH MN

“ Family Stabilization Plan Evaluation”

impact areas:

The primary focus for Build Wealth MN is a two-year intensive financial literacy education program titled the “Family Stabilization Plan.” This project built the organization’s evaluation capacity by designing, testing, and implementing several tools to measure the impact of the program. The results showed areas for program improvement, highlighted the deep impact the program has had on clients lives, and serve as a best practice model for similar programs.

CASA DE ESPERANZA

“ The Intersection of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence: A Needs Assessment”

impact areas:

This project sought to develop a better understanding of the intersection of human trafficking and domestic violence. Through an extensive literature review and key informant interviews, information was gathered and gaps in knowledge identified, both nationally and in Minnesota. This research improved the organization’s knowledge and understanding of how abuse and human trafficking can be dealt with in a community-focused way, and forms a basis for continued community-driven research.

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AMERICAN INDIAN FAMILY CENTER

“ Exploring the Medicine Wheel as a Framework for American Indian Organizational Development”

Student: Lann Briel Report link: z.umn.edu/11p7

impact areas:

The American Indian Family Center (AIFC) provides programs and services enriched with American Indian values and culture to American Indian individuals and families residing in St. Paul. While the Medicine Wheel is at the core of all AIFC services, the organization wanted to explore how it could be used as a framework to ensure that evaluation in the organization is also culturally appropriate. Lann Briel, an arts and cultural leadership student, started with a community needs assessment to determine and outline the cultural context in which Indigenous values are explicitly represented through the concept of the Medicine Wheel, and how they are or are not incorporated into current programming at the AIFC. The results are being used to enhance cultural responsiveness and improve internal evaluation systems.

Read the full Q&A with Lann Briel at z.umn.edu/14hv.

The ultimate goal of this assessment is to be in a position to share the work being done now and in the future within a framework that can be appreciated and understood by the

American Indian community as well as policy makers, community and business leaders interested in supporting American Indian individuals and families. The result will be more resources and services provided to those needing them in a culturally-responsive manner.

– Kristin Kinney, AIFC Executive Director

The American Indian Medicine Wheel was used as the basis for a community needs assessment for the AIFC.

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CLEVELAND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION (CNA)

“ Cleveland Neighborhood Tenant Organizing Project”

impact areas:

CNA has struggled with meaningfully engaging renters to participate in the organization. Through listening sessions and surveys this project collected information on opinions and needs of tenants. The research built connections and relationships to neighborhood renters and is informing the CNA board and staff of ways to engage a previously under-represented group of residents.

CORCORAN NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION

“ Cultivate Corcoran: A Grassroots Strategy for Full Storefronts”

impact areas:

Corcoran Neighborhood is developing strategies to cultivate a commercial real estate environment that is fully-occupied, stable, and responsive to residents’ needs, this project gathered a variety of information through existing datasets and a resident and business survey. The research is supporting the larger initiative that aims to develop and cultivate ongoing roles for residents to drive a more responsive and mutually-beneficial retail environment.

We really appreciated CURA’s sponsorship of this research project on evaluation. The process created a very usable toolkit that district councils will use to continue this work and incorporate

into our existing workplans. The toolkit can also serve as a framework for district councils to collaboratively develop evaluation systems.

– Lisa Theis, District 2 Community Council Community Organizer

DISTRICT 2 COMMUNITY COUNCIL

“ Adapting the Community Capitals Framework (CCF) to Identify the Impact of St. Paul’s District Councils”

Student: Carly Lykes-Frostman Report Link: z.umn.edu/11p8

impact areas:

The District 2 Community Council is the second largest of the seventeen St. Paul community councils, serving the northeast corner of the city. All district councils in St. Paul, with District 2 in the lead, sought assistance from CURA in identifying and measuring the impact of their various activities and programs. Carly Lykes-Frostman, a public policy student, worked with district council stakeholders to look for common values and activities and identified the Community Capitals Framework as a structure to map out program outcomes and indicators. The research resulted in an evaluation resource guide for use by district councils.

This tool will help all the St. Paul district councils evaluate their work.

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DREAM OF WILD HEALTH

“ Keepers of Seed Reclaiming Health Through Food”

impact areas:

Dream of Wild Health works to create and restore an indigenous relationship with the land and to offer access to healthy foods and lifestyles for everyone in the Native community. This project developed food recipes and products using heritage seeds. The research was distributed at a community feast for use by community members to increase both healthy food intake and indigenous food knowledge and also informed the creation of a recipe book.

FROGTOWN GREEN

“ Lots of Possibilities: A Report on Greenspace Uses in Frogtown”

impact areas:

Frogtown Green is a resident-led advocacy group that protects and maintains neighborhood green spaces and also promotes sustainable, healthy, and creative development within St. Paul District Council 7. This project reported on alternative and sustainable greenspace uses of vacant land in Frogtown. The work informed community planning and prioritization of future greenspace uses.

Green Card Voices reminds us that we each have a story that defines our humanity. Analyzing GCV’s first-person, present-day

immigrant stories valorizes their new contributions and thus begins to change the dominant narrative about immigrants in Minnesota. This guide will present the stories and culture of immigrants to students across the state and profoundly change interactions in the classroom around the issue of immigration.

– Tea Rozman Clark, GCV Executive Director

GREEN CARD VOICES

“Green Card Voices: Curriculum Development”Student: Veronica QuillienTeaching Guide: www.greencardvoices.com/programs

impact areas:

Green Card Voices (GCV) is a nonprofit organization that records stories of first-generation immigrants and later shares them in the form of educational online resources in order to create public awareness about the positive impact of immigrants. GCV is filling the need for an easy-to-use teaching guide about immigrants in Minnesota schools. Veronica Quillien, a curriculum and instruction student, created curricula to help teachers use the online library of GCV video stories. The final teaching guide, developed in partnership with a teacher, meets state standards and is available online for use in the classroom.

CURA’s support helped create GCV’s teaching guide, which is available at www.greencardvoices.com/store.

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HOPE COMMUNITY, INC.

“ Listening for Food Justice in Phillips Community”

impact areas:

Through historical research and interviews with residents, this project engaged community members about their experiences with healthy food and how it shapes their sense of health, culture, community, and justice. This research informed Hope Community about problems and successes within the Phillips community in regards to healthy food, its availability, and its impact.

HOPEWELL MUSIC COLLABORATIVE

“ Hopewell Music Collaborative Case Study”

impact areas:

Hopewell’s mission is to give the underserved youth of North Minneapolis the gift of music education by providing instruments and affordable instruction. This project researched music programs, analyzed program data, and developed the Hopewell Music Collaborative into a case study. The research served as a basis for fundraising and to improve the work and programming at Hopewell.

INTERMEDIA ARTS

“ Equity Impacts of Artist/City Collaborations”

impact areas:

Intermedia Arts acts as a catalyst that builds understanding among people through art and inspires artists to make changes in their lives and communities.

This project looked at the impact of artist and governmental collaborations and the conditions that contribute to success. The research drew comparisons between international and national programs with Minneapolis-based examples and defined a set of best practices that will have long-term sustainable impact.

JUXTAPOSITION ARTS

“ Field Guide to the City of Minneapolis Department of Community Planning & Economic Development: Understanding Community Engagement through Land Use Policy and Development”

impact areas:

The aim of this project was to assess if the City of Minneapolis Department of Community Planning & Economic Development policies and procedures are equitable for city residents. The research is being used by the Firehouse Collective to advocate for changes to city policies and practices.

KITTY ANDERSEN YOUTH SCIENCE CENTER

“ (Re) Envisioning the Civic: Youth Making Meaning within a Civic Technology Project”

impact areas:

At a time where digital literacy is increasing and civic engagement is decreasing, this project evaluated and documented the Teen Tech Crew (TTC) member’s experience in two civic technology programs. The research enabled TTC members deepen their sense of trust and respect for their

own community, helped them learn more about the complexity of their community’s issues, and developed a greater sense of agency as civic actors and STEM leaders in their own communities.

LOGAN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

“ Conservation District Feasibility Study”

impact areas:

This work researched the feasibility and potential impact of creating a conservation district within the Logan Park Neighborhood by looking at historic data on housing and possible analysis on results from communities where similar districts have been created. The research is informing the neighborhood about whether to pursue a conservation district and its inclusion into their small area plan.

METROPOLITAN CONSORTIUM OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPERS

“ Policy and Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing Development in Twin Cities Suburban Communities”

impact areas:

Poverty rates are increasing in suburban communities, but there are policy and regulatory barriers that make it difficult for affordable housing developers to develop and preserve affordable housing. This project reviewed affordable housing related policies and regulations. The research informed affordable housing developers and advocates about potential policy changes, especially in light of many cities updating their comprehensive plans in 2018.

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The impact study did so many things to forward the mission of MYA. I personally did not know

the actual impact that I was having in this community and on our youth and families until this study was completed. I truly appreciate CURA for giving our agency Monique Linder. She stepped in and did an awesome job. She immediately dug right into the work and developed this strategy for us and gave me the professional words to use when I am in meetings.

– Dora Jones, MYA Executive Director

Monique Linder (bottom left) with student volunteers.

An infographic summing up MYA’s impact study.

MENTORING YOUNG ADULTS

“Identifying and Documenting MYA Participant and Community Impact”Student: Monique LinderReport link: z.umn.edu/11p4

impact areas:

Mentoring Young Adults (MYA), based in St. Paul, helps develop and empower young adults with a vision for their lives by focusing on leadership, employment, housing, education, and entrepreneurial skills development. The MYA staff has seen a rapid growth in the number of clients they are helping, so establishing impact evaluation procedures is a challenge. Monique Linder, a Carlson School of Management student, worked with them to build the organization’s evaluative capacity. Starting with five years of paper client records, Monique created data tracking and recoding systems, produced a logic model, recorded staff and client stories, and positioned the evaluation within a wider context.

Monique Linder worked with MYA on a website redesign and branding.

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MINNEAPOLIS URBAN LEAGUE

“ Defining Personal Financial Assets in the African American Community”

impact areas:

This project identified and defined financial assets in the African American community and looked at systems and resources that impact wealth creation. This research helped the Urban League find ways to improve their financial and wealth creation services.

MINNESOTA COALITION FOR BATTERED WOMEN (MCBW)

“Engaging Women Who Stay”

impact areas:

This project’s goal was, through a literature review and interviews, to engage battered women and their children in generating ideas for victim-centered services to victims who do not want to or will not leave an abusive relationship or are in close contact with their current or former abuser. The project findings and recommendations are informing MCBW’s vision for future work in domestic violence.

CURA’s research assistant provided a thorough examination of how incubators and co-working

accelerates small businesses across the country and provided a local lens to its viability within our community. By connecting with stakeholders within our community, the report findings have helped us develop a relevant program that has the potential to invigorate entrepreneurial activity in the community.

– Marcus Owens, NEON Executive Director

NORTHSIDE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY NETWORK

“NEON Incubator/Co-working space”Student: Lawrence KarongoReport Link: z.umn.edu/12s1

impact areas:

The Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) seeks to address imbalances in racial and economic equity among lower-income entrepreneurs of color seeking to develop small businesses. NEON is creating a business incubator and co-working space for community members and entrepreneurs in North Minneapolis on West Broadway Avenue. Lawrence Karongo, a public policy student, engaged professionals and entrepreneurs with interviews and a survey to find out more about their needs and interest in a co-working space. He also analyzed demographic and economic trends to provide context and conducted a nation-wide search for successful incubator and co-working space models. The research is directly informing the creation of the incubator by helping to guide decisions about the organizational structure and to secure the necessary funding for the space.

NEON’s Incubator/Co-working space on West Broadway Avenue.

For more information about NEON’s Co-working space visit www.neon-mn.org.

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MODEL CITIES

“ Minnesota’s Early Civil Rights History for Community Building”

impact areas:

This project conducted archival research and looked at local African American newspapers to establish the rich local history of African American railroad workers in St. Paul with a strong emphasis on details surrounding the local Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters movement in St. Paul. The research is directly informing a website and the creation of a permanent historical exhibit in the Model Cities redevelopment on University Avenue.

NAMI MINNESOTA

“ Rate Increases for Community Mental Health: Fact or Fiction”

impact areas:

This project examined whether rate increases granted by the legislature over ten years actually materialized into higher rates for community mental health programs and professionals. This research showed that rates had not kept up with inflation and was used as evidence to support a need for accessible mental health programs within communities.

PHYLLIS WHEATLEY COMMUNITY CENTER (PWCC)

“ Learning to Change: Voices of Women Victims of Violence and their Journey to Health and Well-Being”

impact areas:

PWCC partners with the judicial system to provide interventions for men and women experiencing domestic violence, street crime, mental illness, addictions, and homelessness. This project captured the lived experience of women program participants’ transformation towards stability, health, and well-being, informed by a case study approach. The research was used to improve PWCC’s programming, build a case for funding, and present the Stronger Together Program as a successful case study.

POWDERHORN PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION (PPNA)

“ Renters’ Rights in the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood: Assessing Renters’ Knowledge Resource Access, Impediments, and Advocacy”

impact areas:

This project sought to illuminate issues and challenges for Latina tenants in a four block area of the neighborhood. Through interviews and listening sessions a number of issues, including concerns about safe and healthy housing, were identified. The research is being used to shape PPNA’s collaborative renter engagement work and to develop strategies that meet the needs of tenants.

PROJECT SWEETIE PIE

“ Greenhouse and Urban Farm and Green Technology Model Campus”

impact areas:

Project Sweetie Pie is a grassroots nonprofit, as well as a movement uniting hundreds of organizations and neighbors to develop urban farming and food production. This project began planning for the development of an all-year production greenhouse and related programs and facilities in North Minneapolis. The collaborative planning process and the knowledge developed through the research serve as a base of information to use in advocacy efforts for the creation of the greenhouse.

RAINBOW HEALTH INITIATIVE

“Clinic Issues in Caring for LBTQ Pregnant Youth”

impact areas:

This project researched the specific needs of LBTQ youth who are seeking healthcare related to a pregnancy through a literature review and key informant interviews. The research is being used to inform advocacy for best practices for health care providers serving LBTQ youth seeking pregnancy-related care.

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RONDO AVENUE INC.

“ An Analysis of the Primary and Secondary Sources Relating to the Routing of Interstate 94 Through the African American Rondo Community from 1945-1970”

impact areas:

Rondo Avenue Inc. is dedicated to preserving, conserving, and accurately interpreting the contributions of African Americans to the City of St. Paul. This project began historical research to form a digital collection of documents that discuss the impact and repercussions of the construction of I-94 on St. Paul’s black community of Rondo. The research informed and curated a website recording the history of the community and information kiosks at the Rondo Commemorative Plaza.

SE COMO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION (SECIA)

“ TCE Vapor Mapping and Research”

impact areas:

This project researched industrial pollution with a focus on Trichloroethylene vapor intrusion and implemented an educational program for those affected by TCE vapor. The award-winning work serves as a model for other neighborhoods and successfully educated SECIA residents.

SEIU HEALTHCARE MN

“ Invisible No More: Shining a Light on the Looming Workforce Crisis in Minnesota’s Home Care Sector”

impact areas:

In 2013, after Personal Care Assistants (PCA) won the right to organize for the first time under Minnesota labor law, the newly unionized group of over 20,000 PCAs was set to negotiate a contract with the state, but due to a dearth of information about homecare workers, needed reliable data to justify their concerns and issue positions. The information gathered through a survey of nearly 1,000 home care workers, was used by SEIU as an advocacy and education tool throughout the negotiation process.

TRUARTSPEAKS

“ Practice + Purpose = Pedagogy”

impact areas:

This project sought to understand the function of hip hop education in the academy, on the block, and in the average K-12 classroom along with its purpose, benefits, best practices, and leading scholars/practitioners. The research developed a guide that has become part of the curriculum for professional development among artists on the organization roster and benefits youth in the community by educating the organization and its affiliates to have a greater understanding of the impact of hip hop and their work.

UNION PARK DISTRICT COUNCIL

“ Identifying Opportunities and Challenges for the Development of an African Market Serving Saint Paul’s Somali Community”

impact areas:

For many years, the Somali community has identified a need for an African market near Skyline Tower in St. Paul. Through interviews and focus groups Somali business owners and Skyline residents were engaged about entrepreneurship and issues relevant to starting an African Market. The research informed the Union Park District Council on the feasibility of starting a market.

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The research has put a focus and

incentive on harvesting produce that is ready and being consistent about it! It has been a pleasant surprise to see how much we are producing and even better to think about what we are capable of producing, even in our smallest gardens. This base line data will be critical in determining how to increase our vegetative and social yield, show the impact of the Alliance to stakeholders, and in our grant writing efforts.

– Megan Phinney, UFGA

URBAN FARM GARDEN ALLIANCE

“Tools for Measuring the Yield of Community Farms and Gardens”Student: Rachel GrewellSummary report link: z.umn.edu/11p3

impact areas:

Started in spring 2014, the Urban Farm and Garden Alliance (UFGA) includes leaders from six different community gardens who share ideas and resources, and co-host education sessions on various garden topics. The goal is to educate, create, and engage the neighborhood with a new model for growing healthy food. Measuring yield is crucial to the Alliance’s work because it allows them to measure their success and better plan for the future. Yield is a central measure of agriculture, but thus far has proven very difficult to measure for urban farmers. Rachel Grewell, a sociology student, worked with the Alliance to develop practical ways for volunteers to measure the yield of their gardens both in terms of vegetative yield (the food they grow) and social yield (the relationships and skills people are building).

The Urban Farm Garden Alliance team.

Read more about Rachel Grewell’s work with UFGA at z.umn.edu/14ko.

The UFGA even engaged children to help measure vegetative yield.

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