See what our staff have to say about working at RCP, being part of the University community, and more!
Mike Greco is Co-founder and Director of RCP
What made you decide to start the Resilient Communities Project?
RCP was an outgrowth of a previous program at CURA called University–Community Growth Options (U-CGO), which placed student researchers in city and county government agencies to assist with efforts to manage growth and reduce urban sprawl in the Twin Cities metro area. When the housing bubble and credit crisis hit in 2008-2009, pressure for growth declined rapidly, and the conversation both locally and nationally shifted to how to assist communities to become more sustainable and resilient in the face of unprecedented changes, stresses, and shocks—like the housing bubble collapse, climate change, overstretched and deteriorating infrastructrure, and a rapidly aging and diversifying population and workforce.
Around that time, Humphrey School planning professor (and RCP co-founder) Carissa Slotterback and I learned about a program at the University of Oregon that facilitated university collaborations with local government, and that offered a more efficient and cost-effective model for partnering with cities and counties by addressing their needs through course-based projects. With assistance from the University of Oregon, and support from CURA, the Institute on the Environment, and the U of MN’s Sustainability Faculty Network, we adapted the Oregon model to our local context in Minnesota and launched RCP in 2012 with a pilot partnership in the City of Minnetonka.
What is your role with RCP, and how does your work impact the University of Minnesota?
In my role as director, much of my day-to-day work is focused on cultivating relationships and partnerships with local governments in Minnesota. I meet with city and county staff, elected officials, and residents to understand the community's unique issues, assets, challenges, and opportunities, and how RCP can help. To connect this work to the University, I also spend a good deal of time meeting with faculty in departments all across campus to learn about course offerings and other opportunities to connect their students to projects in our partner communities, so we can facilitate future collaborations when a particular community need arises.
What do you enjoy most about your role with RCP?
Getting to work with a wide array of city and county staff, community organizations, and residents in each new community we partner with. I’m not a native of Minnesota, so it’s been a great opportunity to learn first-hand what makes each of these places unique and special to the people who call them home.
What do you like best about working at the U of MN?
The amazing array of knowledge and expertise represented by our students, faculty, and staff, and the passion and commitment they bring to their work. No matter what the issue, you can find someone at the U of MN who specializes in that area.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love gardening and hiking on the farm where my wife and I live. When I’m not outside, you may find me playing guitar, catching live music, or attending local theater. And just last year, I took up curling, and now play on a team with some family and friends.
What was your best vacation?
My wife and I recently embarked an 8-day Alaskan cruise that was unforgettable. Having never been on a cruise before, I was a little skeptical about the trip, but I have to say, gliding down a narrow and misty fjord in a 1000-foot ship as the early morning sun is rising over a glacier is truly spectacular!
Sarah Tschida is the Program Coordinator at RCP
What made you decide to work for RCP?
I was really excited to work in a university-community engagement role. With RCP, I have the opportunity to build on my previous work in experiential learning and faculty and student development and couple that with my passion for civic engagement and working with others at the local level to make our world a better place.
What is your role with RCP and how does your work impact the University Community?
I am the Program Coordinator and work to connect RCP community partners and University faculty, courses, and students. Once we match community projects with courses and students, I facilitate the collaboration. I also work to highlight the stories that make RCP such a unique program.
What do you enjoy most about your role with RCP?
I love getting to know people and hearing their vision for their community and their creative ideas for addressing challenges. I also enjoy the forward-thinking and interdisciplinary nature of the projects. It’s gratifying to see how community members, researchers, practitioners, policy makers, educators, and more can come together and contribute their experience and knowledge to solve a problem.
What do you like best about working at UMN?
I love getting to know people across the University and learning about their passions. I also appreciate working alongside the many dedicated and passionate people here working to make the University a more inclusive and accessible place for everyone. It’s also awesome to be able to take advantage of the many professional development events, symposiums, workshops, and lectures that take place here too.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love to be with my family and friends. I also like to volunteer, hang out in my front yard or my front porch, bike, garden, eat good food, play in the parks, and read newspapers and good books.
What was your best vacation?
I love any vacation that involves Lake Superior. I’ve been fortunate to travel to many places around the world and Gitchi-Gami is by far my favorite.
Ashleigh Walter is a Program Assistant at RCP and a graduate student at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs
What made you decide to work for RCP?
Before starting at RCP, I had worked loosely with CURA in previous experience and was impressed with its reputation for work in the community. RCP is the perfect combination of my background and interest in sustainability and local and regional government.
What is your role with RCP and how does your work impact the University Community?
I am the Graduate Assistant, meaning I work part-time while I complete my Masters. While most of the RCP project work is done by students through course-matching, this semester I am leading the work on two projects with past and current partners. I’m also working on a number of communications projects, making sure that the work we at RCP do is articulated to our university and community-partner networks.
What do you enjoy most about your role with RCP?
I love the outward-facing nature of the program. My role allows me to work with the very tangible problems faced by communities across Minnesota, and be a part of the process as solutions take shape over the partnership.
What do you like best about working at UMN?
Besides the immersive culture of events, speakers, and events, the University’s tuition benefit is a major incentive for students!
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Take walks/bike/rollerblade around my Minneapolis neighborhood, play violin in a string ensemble, catch up with friends/family.
What was your best vacation?
I grew up in Montana, but until a few years ago had never made the trip to Glacier National Park. A couple summers ago I spent a week there kayaking on Lake MacDonald, eating a lot of huckleberry ice cream, hiking to Iceburg Lake, etc.. It was terrific!