Wrapping up the first semester of the RCP-Carver County partnership

Aquatic Invasive Species Program Evaluation project student presentation to Carver County water education coordinator Madeline Seveland (right) by students in PA 5311: Program Evaluation, taught by Leah Moses. Photo courtesy of Mike Greco.

With the end of the fall semester at the University of Minnesota upon us, the Resilient Communities Project is now halfway through our collaboration with Carver County. During the first semester of the partnership, RCP matched 20 projects proposed by Carver County and its partners with 25 classes across 14 departments and 7 colleges at the U of MN, and engaged approximately 200 students to work on these projects.

Students in Carissa Schively Slotterback's Designing Planning and Participation Processes course at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs present their plan for community engagement around a redesign for the Crow River and riverfront park in Watertown, MN. Photo courtesy of Maria Wardoku
Students in Carissa Schively Slotterback's Designing Planning and Participation Processes course at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs present their plan for community engagement around a redesign for the Crow River and riverfront park in Watertown, MN. Photo courtesy of Maria Wardoku
During the last few weeks, students have been wrapping up their final reports and other deliverables, and have delivered presentations on their work to staff from Carver County on a wide range of topics, covering everything from aquatic invasive species and safe routes to school to historic building preservation and engaging Latino community members around childhood health issues.

RCP and Carver County staff are already busy preparing for additional work this spring semester, when students will build on work from the fall, as well as tackle new projects. Stay tuned for more updates as the RCP–Carver County partnership progresses.

Happy holidays from all of us at the Resilient Communities Project!