| RECENT EXAMPLES OF CAPSTONE WORKSHOPS
"Linking students with community clients" (in order by instructor name)
Economic Development Capstone Workshop. Ragui Assaad
2004
- Barbara West, Superintendent of Voyageurs National
Park. Economic and Demographic Trends related to Voyageurs National
Park: 1970-2000.
Anne Carroll
Spring 2005
Strategic Planning and Visioning Capstone Workshop. City of Shakopee
, MN. Communitywide strategic visioning initiative
Spring 2006
Engaging the Public in Revitalization: Worked with the
Hamline-Midway District Council to engage the community in economic
revitalization efforts along north Snelling Avenue, with a particular
focus
on underrepresentated communities including youth, people of color, new
immigrants, and small businesses. Identified and analyzed stakeholders;
gathered input about the future of the Avenue via focus groups, in-person
surveys and interviews, community input sessions, and so on, and helped
the
District Council craft a vision for the Avenue.
Spring 2007
Redevelopment Opportunity of the Century: St Paul's Ford Plant Site:Working
with the St. Paul office of Planning and Economic Development and community
stakeholders to actively contribute to addressing the complex issues
at the very beginning of a long-term effort to redevelop this prime
135-acre site. These include land use and environmental; economic
development, financing, and ownership; infrastructure; and community
and process.
Community Exploration of St Paul Cultural District: For many months,
the proposed Central Corridor light rail project on University Avenue
has defined many of the public discussions in residential neighborhoods
surrounding the east end of University Avenue in St. Paul. But these
are about a lot more than just the Central Corridor light rail project.
These neighborhoods are well known for an extraordinarily rich racial,
ethnic, and cultural fabric undergirding nearly everything that happens
there -- but few of these efforts are connected with each other across
lines of race, culture, and language. Capstone students will work through
a coalition of three district councils to connect directly with community
members to identify and analyze these disparate efforts, then explore
ways they could be more complementary or collaborative to improve the
chances of success for both individual efforts and the community as
a whole.
Organizational Values and Ethical Practice in Public Affairs
Capstone Workshop (PA 8081). Gary DeCramer
Spring 2003
- Partnership for Education of Children in Afghanistan –Appreciative
Inquiry and PECA’s Values
- Campfire USA –Values Alignment Study
- Local 789 Meat Cutters’Union -- Evaluation of Temporary
Worker Proposal
Spring 2004
- The Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment (U of
M) –Study of Organizational Values Alignment
Political Advocacy in the Public Interest Capstone Workshop
(PA 8081). Gary DeCramer
Fall 2003
- Bremer Foundation –Evaluation of Advocacy Strategies by
Grant Recipients
- American Refugee Committee –Advocacy Plan
- Minnesota Department of Education –School Choice Advocacy
Strategies
- Minnesota Environmental Partnership –Mercury Reduction Legislation
Fall 2004
- North Star Chapter Sierra Club –Mercury Reduction Local
Ordinances
- Minnesota Historical Society -- Historic Preservation Tax
- Association of Metropolitan School Districts –Full Day Kindergarten
- Minnesota Women’s Foundation -- GirlsBEST Project
Synthesis Workshop (PA 8002). Gary DeCramer
Summer 2003
- City of Lakes Land Trust –Evaluation of Land Trust Models
- Central City Neighborhood Partnership –Barriers to Prosecution
of Nuisance Violations
- Centro Campesino –Coop Housing for Migrant Workers
- American Refugee Committee -- Platform for Advocacy
- Minnesota Department of Health –Design for Emergency Preparedness
Summer 2004
- Minnesota Department of Human Services –Recommendations
for Early Childhood Programs for Non-white populations
- JobsNow –Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic
Development –Return on Investment
- City of Minneapolis –Sustainability Plan –Four Parts
- Spectrum Moving –Resources Inc. Minneapolis –Models
for Employment Training of Homeless Mentally Ill
- Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy –Strategies
for Local Zoning Ordinances
- Zona Latina –Promising Models for Organizational Formation
- Ready 4K –Evaluation of Early Childhood Efforts in Minnesota
Summer 2005
- Association of Metropolitan School Districts (Three separate client
project topics: Adequacy Litigation; Cost of Living Index; Review
of School Choice Literature )
- North Minneapolis Meals on Wheels –Organizational Reform
- Charities Review Council –Evaluation of New Process of Review
- Dakota County Courts–Family Drug Court Effectiveness
- Minnesota Green Party -- Management of Volunteers
- Ramsey and Washington Counties’CAP –Blue Print to
End Poverty
- Hennepin County Health and Social Services-- County Website Evaluation
- Center For Democracy –Modeling the Spirit of Hull House
Social Justice and Immigration (PA 8081). Katherine Fennelly
Spring 2006
Analysis of an actual case affecting undocumented immigrants in Minnesota
from legal, civil rights, human rights and ethical perspectives. The
'client' for the seminar was Phillip Fishman, an immigration and civil
rights attorney in Minneapolis who was going to use the student investigations
as the basis for determining whether or not to file a lawsuit. Students
had an opportunity to sit in on immigration hearings and client conferences.
As a secondary objective, students will be asked to keep notes on criteria
for sound immigration policies as they did readings and research.
Metropolitan Design Workshop (LA 8741). Ann Forsyth
Spring 2004
- Cedar Riverside neighborhood groups. Expanding Horizons in
Cedar Riverside: Opportunities for Walking, Biking, Open Space,
and Community and Economic Development (American Planning
Association, Minnesota Chapter, Award for Outstanding Plan)
Labor Policy Capstone Workshop (PA 8081-1). Morrie Kleiner
Fall 2005
- Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Regulation of Mortgage Brokers:
The impact of occupational licensing on individuals in the professions,
state government licensing processes, consumers of these professional
services, and the labor market.
Land Use Planning Capstone Workshop (PA 8081-3). Barbara Lukermann
Spring 2004
- City of Golden Valley. Workshop addressed two significant redevelopment
issues and prepared concept plans and recommendations for 1) the
northside of I-394 between TH100 and TH 169 and 2) the "downtown" at
Winnetka and TH55 to the south side of the trunk highway.
Spring 2005
- District Council 2 (Northeast St. Paul) and District Council 15
( Highland Park) in St. Paul. Two student teams updated district
comprehensive plans as required by the City. District Councils are
made up of elected citizens members.
Economic and Community Development Capstone Workshop (PA 8583).
Lee W. Munnich, Jr. and Kris Nelson
Spring 2003 The University’s Role in Economic and
Community Development
- City of Minneapolis. The University in the City: An Agenda
for Community and Economic Development
- City of St. Paul. The Role of Higher Education in Economic
and Community Development
- Minnesota Rural Partners. Player and Partner: An Analysis
of the University of Minnesota’s Role in the Evolution of
Greater Minnesota
Spring 2004 Regional Equity in Community Development
- University United, Regional Equity: The Midway Industrial
District
- West Seventh Street / Fort Road Neighborhood of St. Paul. Commercial
Revitalization Plan for West Seventh Street
- I-35W Corridor Coalition. Planning for the Future: An Analysis
of Housing and Employment Trends Along the I-35W Corridor
Spring 2005 The Role of Downtown in a Regional Economy
- Duluth Greater Downtown Council. Housing in Old Downtown Duluth
- St. Cloud Downtown Council. Forming a BID in Downtown St.
Cloud, MN
- St. Paul Capital City Partnership. Retail-ing the Story of
Downtown St. Paul
- Minneapolis Transportation Management Organization. Transportation
and its Role in the Future of Downtown Minneapolis
Education Issues Capstone Workshop (PA 8081-5). Joe Nathan
Spring 2003
- Senator Steve Kelley, Chair Minnesota Senate Education Committee.
Research was on Lessons from other States of Virtual Schools & Virtual
School Legislation –ideas were used in a bill that the Legislature
adopted - cited in a story Senator Kelley wrote for Citizens League
Journal
- Twin Cities Academy . Survey of graduates and parents - trying
to determine if there was a strong desire for the school to expand
from middle to high school
Spring 2004
- Wallin Foundation. Survey of students receiving grants regarding
strengths and weaknesses of program
- High School for Recording Arts. Survey of graduates - strengths
and weaknesses of school
- Ready 4 K. Impact of Various Forms of Early Childhood Education
- cited in a favorable Star Tribune editorial
Spring 2005
- Four Directions School. Survey of students and faculty re strengths
and areas in which school may want to focus additional attention
- Wallin Foundation. Study of Financial Gap for Minnesota College
Students
Non-profit-Government Relationships Capstone Workshop (PA
8081-2). Jodi Sandfort
This workshop is run like a practicum seminar. Students do foundational
readings, meet weekly in course sessions, work closely with the professor
on the structure and implementation of client’s field-based projects.
Additionally, this workshop could as easily be listed as a ‘social
policy’ capstone as a ‘management’ capstone. Students
are drawn from both concentrations and all projects reflect content
from both fields.
Spring 2004
- Minnesota Council of nonprofits
- State contracting project
- Minnesota Participation Project
Spring 2005
- Northpoint Community Services
- Minneapolis Children's Advocacy Network
Spring 2006
- Minnesota’s Children’s Defense Fund commissioned
an analysis of the implementation of Medicaid funds at the local
level. Specifically, the students investigated the implementation
of the Medicaid child and teen check-up program through Minnesota’s
health plans and counties. Recommendations focused upon state policy
and management reform to improve effectiveness.
- Minnesota’s Office of Economic Opportunity within the
Department of Human Services asked that students do an analysis
of the potential consequences of cuts to the national Community
Service Block Grant on the 28 local community action agencies throughout
the state. These agencies were created in the mid-1960s to help
implement the federal government’s war on poverty and, in
many communities, continue to be the primary service provider for
low-income people. Recommendations focused upon policy and management
reforms that could improve the capacity of this network to thrive
in the current fiscal environment.
Spring 2007
There are three projects this year, to make the teams smaller and
enhance student learning:
- MACC Alliance for Connected Communities is a partnership of
21 community-based human service organizations that advocate for,
connect and serve individuals, families and communities in the Twin
Cities Metropolitan area. MACC is requesting an assessment of the
viability of introducing bonding legislation in 2008 that appropriates
$50 million for the construction of community centers throughout
the State of Minnesota.
- Lifetrack Resources, a human services
organization that receives contracts from Ramsey and Hennepin County
to provide employment services
for welfare recipients, has asked for analysis of their “participation
rates” in these contract. This capstone will explore the details
behind these contract participation rates and make recommendations
about how this nonprofit can more effectively work with their county
funders.
- Minnesota Council on Foundations is a membership associations
for private philanthropies that focuses on training, networking,
and research. This capstone will explore the possibility of MCF
broadening it role to facilitate advocacy among funders. The
Council seeks to remain issue-neutral, yet provide honed services
to its
members.
Managing Collaborations Capstone Workshop (PA 8183). Melissa
Stone
Spring 2003
- Community-based transportation: worked with State of MN Departments
of Human Services and Transportation to examine the perspective of
community-based transportation providers of the need for coordination/collaboration
to improve services to disadvantaged populations.
- Neighborhood Learning Community, St. Paul, West Side: conducted
a network diagnosis of the NLC to pinpoint unique strengths of its
partnership model and identify ways to improve the impact of its
work.
- Ramsey County Results Initiative Care Coordination: conducted a
research project for Division of Children’s Mental Health,
MN Dept of Human Services on the very complex nature of this “collaboration
of collaborations”to help determine what types of collaborative
models demonstrated positive outcomes in working with children and
families with mental health needs.
Spring 2004
- Community-based transportation: worked with State of MN Departments
of Human Services and Transportation to examine the perspective of
community-based transportation providers of the need for coordination/collaboration
to improve services to disadvantaged populations.
- Neighborhood Learning Community, St. Paul, West Side: conducted
a network diagnosis of the NLC to pinpoint unique strengths of its
partnership model and identify ways to improve the impact of its
work.
- Ramsey County Results Initiative Care Coordination: conducted a
research project for Division of Children’s Mental Health,
MN Dept of Human Services on the very complex nature of this “collaboration
of collaborations”to help determine what types of collaborative
models demonstrated positive outcomes in working with children and
families with mental health needs.
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