The CCNCCE is honored to recognize Spokane Falls Community College
as the 2007 recipient of the Service Learning Collaboration and Civic Engagement Award in the Category of:
Collaboration with Universities.
Spokane Falls Community College, Eastern Washington University, and the East Central Neighborhood (an older, low income, diverse neighborhood in
Spokane) applied for and received a HUD Community Outreach Partnership Center grant for neighborhood revitalization.
Through the collaboration of the 3 partners in this grant, a center was formed to address 3 critical issues:
- workforce development
- business development through job creation and retention, and
- neighborhood planning
Other businesses and organizations joined in this partnership as well, including the East Central Commuity Organization, the East Spokane Business Association,
the south Perry Business Association, the Small Business Development Center, Spokane Neighborhood Economic Development Association, African American,
Hispanic, Asian American, Native American Association, Spokane Neighborhood Action Program, Washington State University, the City of Spokane, and a
consortium of 90 social/human service providers and faith-based organizations.
Students from classes of both institutions were used to assess needs, problems, and potentials for revitalization within the neighborhood. This included analysis
of census and land use data, assessment of business and employment conditions, and development of a Neighborhood Plan using a stakeholder group of 80
neighborhood residents. These student projects are interdisciplinary, ranging from business marketing classes to English writing classes, and afford opportunities
for graduate and undergraduate students to work together to address these critical issues.
To address workforce development, students conducted workplace skills assessments (using surveys based on skills that employers identified as being required
for employment with their company) to determine if residents possessed skills necessary for employment. Training was then provided to residents who lacked
these skills and Competency Certificates awarded. Thirty-two residents were hired for jobs as a direct result of this program, which will expand resident income
by $1.2 million over five years.
To address business development, 1,400 businesses within the neighborhood were surveyed. Results of the survey indicated that many businesses did not hire
local residents. These businesses were contacted, at which time they were encouraged to hire local neighborhood residents and the Competency Certificate
was explained to them. Businesses also received assistance with business plan development, leadership training, and crime prevention through environmental
design. Two business associations were reactivated to provide training as well as support for grants to these businesses.
To develop a neighborhood plan, social work students created an inventory and classification of services provided by 90 community and faith-based service
organizations. This group of service providers, along with neighborhood stakeholders, guided the development of the neighborhood plan, using the planning
guidelines for the City of Spokane. This plan was adopted by the city council in Spring 2006. As a result, zoning changes will encourage business expansion,
the impact of an expanding freeway will be mitigated, and walkable streets which link from residential areas to parks, schools, services, and businesses will be
created.
400,000 student hours have been invested in this project, an estimated value of over $7 million using the rate of $18 per student hour. This project has resulted
in new job creation, new and expanding businesses, and a plan to guide future actions for revitalization and renewal.
Contact Person: Rhosetta Rhodes
Phone: 509-533-3140 Email:
rhosettar@spokanefalls.edu
2006 Awards
