Originally published in the ABC News/Sun Post, November 16, 2015
The University of Minnesota's Resilient Communities Project has selected Brooklyn Park as its partner community for the 2016–2017 academic year.
The partnership will bring the expertise of the university and hundreds of graduate and professional students to sustainability-related projects chosen by the city and its partners, including the Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth, local high schools, North Hennepin Community College, youth athletic organizations, Hennepin County, and the Three Rivers Park District.
"I am thrilled our city was selected for this wonderful opportunity," said Mayor Jeff Lunde. "Brooklyn Park is a dynamic city full of opportunities, undiscovered resources and thriving residents. Being selected as a partner will help make us a unique community that is ready to be on the cutting edge when it comes to municipal government practices."
RCP organizes partnerships between the University of Minnesota and Minnesota communities. Each academic year, RCP chooses a city or county partner through a competitive process, helps identify potential projects based on community-identified sustainability issues and needs, and matches those project needs with University of Minnesota courses and individual graduate and professional students.
Next spring, staff from RCP and Brooklyn Park will begin defining the work and matching projects with courses that will be offered at the University in fall 2016 and spring 2017. RCP Director Mike Greco will administer the partnership on behalf of the University, and city of Brooklyn Park Community Development Director Kim Berggren will coordinate on the city's behalf.