HCD Fellowship Program Interim Report 2011-12

HCD FELLOWSHIP INTERIM REPORT

2011-2012

HCD Fellowship Interim Report 2011-

2012

http://hcdfellows.posterous.com 1

January 24, 2012

The progress made by our HCD fellows in the fall of 2011 has been impressive. The twelve graduate students from the Departments of Anthropology, City and Regional Planning, and Public Administration are making major strides in achieving the goals of the program to integrate theoretical, classroom-based learning and applied, practice-based learning. Each student began their experience with a learning contract that defined activities and responsibilities as well as competencies that they are seeking to develop. Their work for agencies such as United Housing Inc., the Vance Avenue Collaborative, and the City of Memphis Chief Administration Office, has resulted in stronger partnerships between the university and the community. Each year we seek to improve the HCD Fellows Program at the University of Memphis. During the fall, we began significant changes in how the program is carried out at the classroom level by developing a more dynamic website to promote fellows’ activities, an internal class blog and secure social media connections to encourage dialogue, and we have added a specific focus on teaching about the integration methods of Web 2.0 communications tools for community development. Please visit the SUAPP web site at www.memphis.edu/suapp. In the coming term, Spring 2012, the fellows will be expected to further hone their skills in 21st century documentation and collaboration online. Each fellow will be required to keep and share an online Field Journal, as well as participate in several assignments to assess and map their and their placement organizations’ technology capabilities. Toward the end of the term, they will produce a poster presentation on “New Use of Technology to Improve Community Outreach through your Internship Experience.” This information will be shared on the HCD Fellowship Website and the Urban Affairs Spotlight website. Building upon the successful program in place, we expect that the additional focus on technology will help to better prepare these future leaders for productive internship experiences and future careers.

Sincerely, Stan Hyland, PhD

Head, School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy University of Memphis


2012


PROGRAM INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW The Housing and Community Development (HCD) Research Fellowship was initiated several years ago by the senior administrators in the City of Memphis’ Department of Housing and Community Development and faculty in the newly formed School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy (SUAPP). The purpose of the program is to encourage professional students to engage in community based research, public policy, program development, project management, and program evaluation efforts in the field of economic and community development. Funded by the Department of Housing and Community Development, the program was initially established to enhance the outcomes of professional education in, public administration, city planning, social work, criminal justice studies and applied anthropology and to increase the number of graduates choosing to join community development organizations within the Memphis region upon graduation.

What is Community Development?

Our working definition of community development is any systematic effort to enhance the organizing, planning, development, and management capacity of community-based organization and public agencies seeking to improve the overall quality of life in poor and working-class neighborhoods within the City of Memphis.

Program Goals

Introduce students to the critical environmental, economic, and social problems confronting the region’s most economically challenged neighborhoods.

Expose students to innovative policies, programs, and practices that address the structural causes of uneven patterns of development, and persistent and concentrated poverty.

Facilitate service-learning, volunteerism, and applied research projects to promote innovative policy solutions to critical issues.

Use reflective strategies to improve professional practice and connect to emerging organizational challenges and policy issues.

Integrate theoretical, classroom-based learning and engaged, experiential learning through a weekly seminar.

List of Current & Former

Partner Agencies

Advance Memphis

Binghampton Community Development

Corporation City of Memphis Department of Housing and

Community Development

City of Memphis Chief Administrative Office Community Development Corporation

Council of Greater Memphis Cooper-Young CDC

Frayser CDC Goodwill Homes Community Services

Habitat for Humanity

Keep Tennessee Beautiful Lead Hazard Control Program

Memphis Center for Independent Living Memphis City Schools

Memphis Landmarks Commission Office of Planning and Development

Saint Patrick’s Learning Center Saint Peter’s Manor

School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy The Works, Inc.

United Housing, Inc. United Way of the Mid-South

University District University Neighborhood Development

Corporation Vance Avenue Collaborative


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Student Placement

Students are placed at nonprofit organizations, community development corporations, and public agencies (city, county, state, and federal) that are working on initiatives that fit into our working description of community development and, where possible, link to the priorities areas/neighborhoods of the Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development.

Fellowship Length

Students accepted into the program will participate in the program throughout the length of their professional degree program (typically two years) provided they

receive positive evaluations for their internship and related coursework performance. While a student may stay at a participating placement agency for more than one semester, the program encourages them to be engaged in a different mix of professional activities each semester to maximize the professional development outcomes of the program.

Student Compensation

All students will receive a tuition and fee waiver from the UofM Graduate School. In addition, they will receive an $800 a month stipend for the 20 hours of work each week. Students will also receive academic credit for the weekly seminar course.

Funding

The Housing and Community Development Research Fellowship is jointly funded by the City of Memphis Department of Housing and Community Development and the Graduate School at the University of Memphis.

Program Management

In collaboration with Stan Hyland, Head of the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy, the Chairs/Directors (or their representatives) of the graduate programs in public administration, city and regional planning, social work, criminal justice studies, and anthropology serve as the point of overall decision making on student recruitment and acceptance into the program, making placement with agencies, serving as liaisons with the Graduate School, and raising funds to expand the program. Individual faculty members are assigned direct mentoring and supervision of each student.

Advisory Board

Advisory Board Members meet twice a year to review and comment on the program’s overall structure, course syllabi, and to assist with unique placement requests, and include:

Emily Trenholm, Greater Memphis Community Development Council

Eric Robertson, Leveraging Investment For

Mari Albertson, City of Memphis Department of Housing and Community Development


2012


2011-12 PROGRAM SPECIFICS

Fall 2011 Semester Overview

Description and Objectives

The weekly seminars are intended to focus on student integration of theoretical, classroom-based learning and applied, practice-based learning. Focused topic areas and speakers are supplemented by weekly round table discussions, social media instruction, and information sharing. A program website, blog, and two closed online group discussion areas were created in Fall 2011 to further information exchange and technical skills building.

Coursework Objectives

Introduce students to the critical environmental, economic, and social problems confronting the region’s most economically challenged neighborhoods.

Expose students to innovative policies, programs, and practices that address the structural causes of uneven patterns of development, and persistent and concentrated poverty.

Facilitate service learning, volunteerism, and applied research projects to promote innovative policy solutions to critical issues confronting the region’s most distressed communities.

Use reflective strategies to improve professional practice and connect to emerging organizational challenges and policy issues.

Required Assignments

Program Orientation: Students are introduced to the fundamental theories, methods, practices, and issues related to experiential education; the use of learning plans as a lifelong learning tool; and the structure of the UofM’s HCD Fellowship Program.

Professional Fellowship: Each student will devote twenty hours each week (16 weeks per semester) to professional activities at participating agencies working under the supervision of accomplished urban affairs professionals.

Weekly Reflective Seminar: Participating students are required to enroll in a one credit Planning Internship Seminar (PLAN 7890) to learn what other students are doing in their work, compare and contrast creative problem solving ideas, and assist in integrating the learning outcomes.

2011-12

Neighborhood Priority Areas

SOUTH MEMPHIS

FRAYSER

BINGHAMPTON

2011-12 Fellows

Marissa (Genevie) Aaker

Andrea Barbour

Allison Eddins

Cecell Hite

Zachary Hunter

Aury Kangelos

Laura Meyer

Gabrielle Mondie

Gayle Ozanne

Alexandria Satterfield

Josh Shumaker

Lacy Ward


2012


2011-12 Partner

Agencies

Landmarks

Commission

City of Memphis

Vance Avenue

Collaborative

Adopt-A-Street

The Works CDC

Habitat for Humanity

Frayser CDC

Choice Neighborhood

Binghampton CDC

Advance Memphis

United Housing

Learning Contract: Students, agency supervisors, and faculty mentors will identify learning objectives, core knowledge and competencies, as well as placement activities and evaluation criteria for the agency placement experience. The contract will be negotiated each semester. The student, agency supervisor, and faculty mentor must approve the Learning Contract. The Contract will be used to monitor and evaluate student progress throughout the fellowship.

Field Journal/Blog: Students will submit the field journal to faculty mentors and agency supervisors prior to each site visit and as appropriate. Notations should be made several times a week with your observations, reflective thoughts, questions, and feelings about the placement learning experience. The Field Journal should capture:

What the fellow is doing

What the fellow is learning

How it connects to coursework

Questions and concerns

Critical Incident Reports: As part of the field journal, students must complete two critical incidents that frame transformative learning experiences throughout the agency placement experience. Each report should include:

Identification of the event

Relevant details

The people involved. Use job titles, not names.

Personal role

Incident analysis

Site Visits: The faculty advisor will visit each student twice during the semester, at the 3rd and 12th weeks of placement. During the visits, the faculty advisor will meet with the student and the agency supervisor to discuss any issues that are affecting the quality of the fellowship experience.

Public Issues Forums, Public Board meetings, and/or Professional Workshops: Each student must attend at least two of the above and write a reflective journal entry that includes details about the event, issue, participants, and potential for future engagement.

Reflective Essay: Students will write a 5-7 page reflective essay describing and evaluating the progress they have made towards achieving goals and objectives. During this essay, students also have the chance to evaluate the overall program and placement experience.

Student Evaluation: Each student will be evaluated by the agency supervisor and faculty mentor based on the fieldwork, journals, assignments, and reflective essays to determine the progress made during the fellowship based upon the learning contract.


2012


Student Responsibilities

Contact placement agency supervisor to arrange the work schedule

Research placement agency before first day of work

Participate in weekly seminar

Set weekly meeting time with agency supervisor

Submit weekly timesheets

Keep field journal

Facilitate site visits during 3rd and 12th weeks

Meet with faculty mentor as needed

Present project during spring semester

Aug 29 Orientation Lunch

Sept 5 No session: Labor Day

Sept 12 National Policy Issues and Research, Guest: Professor Ed Goetz –

Director of the Hubert Humphrey’s School of Public Policy, University of

Minnesota

Sept 19 The Engaged Metropolitan University.

Sept 26 Community Engagement Online: Utilizing Web 2.0 tools for community

development and organizing. Speaker: Gayla Schaefer, HCD Assistant

Oct 3 Theories of Neighborhood Revitalization and Memphis Nbrhd Activism

Oct10 Methods for Community Building, Participatory Action Research &

Engaged Scholarship

Oct 17-18 Fall Break

Oct 31 Professionalism and Ethics, Guest: Professor Joy Clay

Nov 7 Volunteer and Service Learning Opportunities

Nov 14 Division of Housing and Community Development Planning Initiatives

Nov 21 Internship Site Presentations

Nov 28 Internship Site Presentations

Dec 5 Evaluation of Learning Objectives


2012


www.memphis.edu/suapp

Research Fellow Reports

Fall 2011

In the following section, reports from each of the current 2011-12 HCD

Research Fellows are presented for review.

http://www.memphis.edu/suapp


2012


Marissa (Genevie) Aaker Graduate Program: Public Administration Expected Graduation: May, 2013 Education: B.S., Neuroscience, Baylor Univ. HCD Placement: United Housing, Inc. (UHI) Supervisors: Tim Bolding, Amy Schaftlein Rednour Faculty Mentor: Laura Harris

Goals:

As an HCD fellow, Aaker hopes to engage in scholarship, service learning, and community outreach. Her goal is to provide a holistic approach to literacy, health, lifelong learning, and to promote change by enhancing diversity initiatives. She is interested in improving organizations through strategic planning, public

relations, and volunteer management. Her accomplishments for Fall 2011 include becoming a NextGen Leader of the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance, receiving the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Diversity Scholarship, and becoming the VP of Fundraising Nonprofit Leaders Student Association (NLSA).

Semester Overview:

During the Fall 2011 term, Aaker learned through a diverse range of experiences at UHI. Aaker completed a NeighborWorks training textbook and supplemental course materials. This course included case study reviews and information on neighborhood stabilization and REO property development.

Her work also included assistance with a Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF) grant to obtain funding for Mobile Homebuyer Education Workshops. Furthering her interest in

nonprofit management, Aaker helped with the UHI newsletter and event marketing. She was able to hone her social media skills learned in the HCD course meetings to post information to blogs and utilize social media networks professionally.

In addition, Aaker worked to coordinate and organize the Wolf River Bluffs project. Phase one of this project includes the development of 34 Eco-Friendly, single-family homes, including two homes for Shelby

Residential and Vocational Services (SRVS) clients. Her future goals at UHI include completing an educational brochure for the Strengthening Communities Grant Project for the Scenic Hills Dam, evaluating the Homebuyer Education program, and completing a curriculum for a course offered by the Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence.

www.uhinc.org

“My experience at UHI helped me get to know and love the Memphis community.”

-Genevie Aaker

http://www.linkedin.com/in/mgaaker

http://www.linkedin.com/in/mgaaker

http://www.uhinc.org/


2012


Andrea Barbour

Graduate Program: City and Regional Planning Expected Graduation: May, 2012 Education: B.A., Sociology, Xavier University HCD Placement: Greater Memphis CDC Supervisors: Emily Trenholm Faculty Mentor: Charlie Santo

Goals:

As a returning HCD Fellow, Andrea Barbour would like to continue participating in service learning while gaining practical planning skills and experience. Barbour’s goal for her placement experience is to have a better understanding of the role of the Greater Memphis Community Development Council in addition to the individual CDCs. She looks forward to learning more about the strategy that Livable Memphis uses to enact change with various Memphis and Shelby County policies.

Semester Overview:

Barbour handles creating maps for the Community Development Council and its members. This semester she assisted with the planning of a community wide workshop to develop and advocate for issues regarding Livable Memphis and the Greater Memphis Community Development Council. She also provided outreach to other grassroots organizations to arrange presentations, discussions, study circles, etc., on issues related to urban development patterns, and their connection to neighborhood issues. Barbour was also tasked with researching policy issues related to urban planning and assisting with social media such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Her placement also provided the opportunity for her to aid in training and special events. In evaluation of her learning objectives, Barbour notes that she provided:

assistance with administrative duties such as mass emails, flyers, pamphlets, brochures, PowerPoint projects, etc.

assistance with the data gathering of policy information for the “Complete Streets Initiative.”

creation of compare and contrast of comparable non-profit organizations to Livable Memphis.

assistance with the creation of the Twitter account for Greater Memphis Community Development Council.

attendance at “Pizza with the Planner” events at the library, movie night with TAPA, and a community development policy meeting.

www.livablememphis.org

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/andrea-barbour/2b/494/297

http://www.livablememphis.org/

http://www.livablememphis.org/


2012


Allison Eddins

Graduate Program: City and Regional Planning Expected Graduation: May, 2012 Education: B.B.A. Fin. & Real Est., U. of Memphis HCD Placement: Frayser CDC Supervisor: Steve Lockwood Faculty Mentor: Kenneth Reardon

Goals:

Eddins goals for her experience reflect her desire to gain practical real world experience. She hopes to learn how to best utilize programs and policies that the city already has in place to further the efforts of community development and enrichment, to use a holistic approach when dealing with poverty and housing issues, and, to improve Frayser CDC’s community outreach by working with other community development corporations to further the goals of community enhancement.

Semester Overview:

Eddins first semester as an intern for the Frayser

Community Development Corporation offered her many

opportunities for personal and professional growth. She came to realize that although each

project was different, they were all the same. “They were all a part of the big picture. They

were small steps that had to be taken in order to fulfill the overall mission.”

During the term, she completed the following three large projects: 1) the Neighborhood

Stabilization Program to assist in locating and purchasing homes for rental development

within the target area; 2) New Homestead to catalogue all homes in Frayser that are subject

to tax foreclosure and assist in designing program to identify and monitor families to be

placed in tax foreclosed homes; and, 3) assistance with redevelopment of four commercial

spaces. She was also involved with two smaller projects involving a mobile home park in

Frayser that flooded last May and researching user occupancy permits for predatory lenders.

Plans for the spring semester include two big projects. She will be working with the NSP

neighborhood and assisting in the redevelopment and marketing of the store fronts.

Eddins reflections on the experience include a very profound personal realization about the

heartbreaks behind the current housing crisis and the need for sensitivity and strategic

planning.

www.fraysercdc.org

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/allison-eddins/37/a82/4b0

http://www.fraysercdc.org/

http://www.fraysercdc.org/


2012


Cecell Hite

Graduate Program: Public Administration Expected graduation: May, 2013 Education: B.A., Psychology, Univ. of TN HCD Placement: Binghampton Devel. Corp. Supervisors: Robert Montague Faculty Mentor: Leigh Hersey

Goals:

Hite’s goal as an HCD fellow is to synthesize his educational and practical experiences to enhance his chosen career working as an analyst or manager for a government agency. His learning contract objectives were to learn how to tailor programs to fit the needs of stake holders while maintaining objectives; analyze quantitative and qualitative data and compare it to previously collected data through different forms of media; how to implement programs and the procedures taken to ensure success; and, the creation and daily operations of a nonprofit. He was very interested in learning how non-profits are run, the grant writing process and tools for his future career goals.

Semester Overview:

Hite handles property acquisitions and assists with development of a new CDC. This semester he accomplished many of his goals and now knows how to extract information from large data sets such as the census and how the work climate and the relationships between staff work at nonprofit organizations.

His work with the census material was especially beneficial to building his professional toolkit. Hite notes that in a community like a Binghamton that is in desperate need of revitalization, information about environmental shifts in the community is necessary to help in any revitalization efforts. The project provided practical research experience.

Hite was also able to help with the development of new CDC for the Mitchell Heights, Highland Heights, and Nutbush area by creating a database for problem and asset properties in the community. The project has sharpened his organization and communication skills.

www.bdcmemphis.org

http://www.linkedin.com/in/cecell

http://www.bdcmemphis.org/


2012


Zachary Hunter Graduate Program: City and Regional Planning Expected Graduation: May, 2013 Education: B.A., Arch. Studies, Univ. of Ark. HCD Placement: Landmarks Commission Supervisors: Mary Jane Baker Faculty Mentor: David Westendorf Goals:

Hunter’s goals for his placement at the Landmarks Commission include understanding what kind of impact historic preservation can have on a city and how to incorporate that knowledge into an effective plan; gaining familiarity with the interaction between the planner and the various organizations/community members that are involved in the process of city development; and synthesizing his design oriented background with the political side of planning to become a well-rounded and capable city planner.

Semester Overview:

At the Landmarks Commission, Hunter has assisted with:

making amendments to the UDC (Unified Development Code).

on-going mapping projects.

presenting Memphis Register applications to the Committee for approval.

completing Gayoso Peabody/Cotton Row revised Design Guidelines.

submitting a National Register nomination for City of Memphis properties

Hunter feels that the first leg of his Internship at the Memphis Landmarks Commission has been a great beginning to his learning experience at the University of Memphi by learning that historic preservation does not only save the history and character of a place, but also provides the city with economic opportunity.

Hunter has used his background in architecture to articulate the value of buildings to area culture and history. In his responsibilities to inform owners that their property was being placed on the Memphis Register. he learned that most see the designation as an economic burden and infringement on property rights. He has developed the viewpoint that it is important to change perceptions to embrace the idea that preservation can be a tool to stabilize and improve property values while preserving the integrity of historic resources and culture. Working with OPD has also provided him with a better understanding of the planning and policy process, increasing his understanding of planners role in government and interaction with the public.

www.memphislandmarks.com

http://www.memphislandmarks.com/

http://www.memphislandmarks.com/


2012


Aury Kangelos Graduate Program: City and Regional Planning Expected Graduation: May, 2012 Education: B.S., Poli. Sci., Univ. of TN at Martin HCD Placement: Vance Avenue Collaborative Supervisors: Father Tim Sullivan Faculty Mentor: Kenneth Reardon

Goals:

In the second year working with the same project, Kangelos goal for his placement experience were to continue to have a productive and valuable learning experience relevant to his future career aspirations. He chose to remain in his previous placement agency because he felt that being involved in a federal planning program aimed at being as grassroots and participatory as possible would be a useful and enlightening experience.

Semester Review:

Kangelos reports that the fall 2011 term was another rewarding experience, although one of the most strenuous and nerve-wracking experiences he has had in graduate school. At the end of his spring 2011 semester, the City of Memphis applied for and was awarded a Housing and Community Development’s federal Choice Neighborhood Grant for the Vance Avenue study area and would be receiving money to start a strategic participatory plan.

Two asdditional graduate assistants were brought on to the Vance Avenue team, because of the much larger responsibility that comes with a federal grant program, and Kangelos’ responsibilities were down-sized to organization of community meetings and facilitation between the Collaborative and other institutions. He also played a role in collecting data for interpretation by the Collaborative so that it could be put into reports and delivered to the Memphis Housing Authority, Housing and Community Development, and eventually Housing and Urban Development. He reports that the group was able to successfully host four community meetings at different institutions, facilitate 60 to 90 residents and community leaders at each meeting and gather their opinions. Kangelos was also closely involved in a special project with the aim of combating the issues of food access that the Vance Avenue community where he directly helped begin the process of establishing a mobile produce market in Memphis -- a much bigger task than organizers initially estimated. The group has been in contact with Fresh Moves in Chicago, pioneers of the idea, and bench-marked with them on expenses and initial operating costs. Successes included acquisition of a public transportation bus from MATA on a long-term lease for $1 a year, securing of Archer Malmo for pro-bono naming and branding and LRK Architecture for retrofit and design assistance, establishment of a steering committee, creation of a budget and funding proposal, and significant media coverage. His evaluation of the experience includes a call for capacity building by the organization to carry out the numerous and diverse projects with which they have become involved.

www.vancecn.org

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/aury-kangelos/43/58a/309

http://www.vancecn.org/



2012


Laura Meyer Graduate Program: Applied Medical Anthropology Expected Graduation: May, 2012 Education: B.A., Anthropology, Univ. of Memphis HCD Placement: Adopt-A-Street Program Supervisors: Andrew Trippel Faculty Mentor: Stan Hyland

Goals:

Meyer’s goals for her placement as Coordinator for the Adopt-A-Street program for the second year included organization of events and beautification efforts. She hopes to acquire more experience with engaged scholarship and participatory action research, and increased knowledge of community and volunteer organization.

Semester Overview:

During the course of this semester, Meyer managed the program for the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy and successfully organized a Kick Off event which resulted in five of six student organizations completing their two required clean-ups. Noting that the beautification efforts again proved difficult to organize, she feels she successfully met her learning contract obligations to manage documentation and record-keeping. The data she has collected provides needed evaluation to improve efforts. As a trained anthropologist, she has kept a detailed journal on the ambitious project, reported on selected meetings and clean-ups, documented with photography, and completed design of a website.

Her recommendations for the program include: 1) Reorganization of the program calendar layout so that the first month is reserved for beautification projects and the second two months are dedicated to clean-ups; 2) Making the Kick Off and Wrap-Up events mandatory set dates with Wrap Up prizes; and 3) Having all participating student organizations design, or accept a stock designed, yard sign which they can then disseminate to residents in their adopted zones to guarantee resident contact. Meyer also plans to recommend that the University of Memphis Student Affairs office be offered the opportunity to collaborate with the Adopt-a-Street team on events such as organizing either a historical talk with Jimmy Ogle or a Fraternity day. She feels that the involvement of the Student Affairs office will strengthen the program’s capacity to reach more student groups, especially the Greek organizations. Meyer believes that the Adopt-a-Street program will eventually develop into a sustainable, institutionalized program within the university and Student Affairs.

The experience has improved Meyer’s ability to network and act as a program advocate. She has built connections with local organizations, in particular Memphis City Beautiful which loaned all clean-up tools/supplies. She advanced her knowledge of communications and record-keeping technologies and believes that the website development and content curation skills she has developed will increase her professional toolkit and future career marketability as well as the experience with organization, facilitation, record keeping, and evaluation.

http://adopt-a-street.posterous.com

http://adopt-a-street.posterous.com/





2012


Gabrielle Mondie

Graduate Program: Public Administration Expected Graduation: May, 2013 Education: B.A., Political Sci, Univ. of TN HCD Placement: Advance Memphis Supervisor: Steve Nash Faculty Mentor: Charles Menifield

Goals:

Mondie wants her placement to provide experience relatable to her coursework and her desired future career as an analyst. . She hopes the experience her placement has provided in program analysis will prove useful in her career plans. She believes that active involvement is vital to community improvement and hopes that the placement will open the door for a more collaborative approach to community engagement.

Semester Overview:

In order to evaluate the programs at her field placement, Mondie began by developing a definition of success for each of the Advance Memphis programs: Jobs for Life, Phase II, Individual Development Account, Financial Freedom, GED, Mercy Loans, Employment Support, Staffing, and Volunteer and Donor Education. She then determined the outputs and outcomes for each of the programs and developed a system of measurements for each. In 2012, Mondie plans on contacting participants to further evaluate the success of the programs. She believes that successful programs are essential to advancing economic development in the area.

Mondie has succesfully drawn connections between her practical fellowship experience and her coursework in Research Methods and Contemporary Perspectives in Public Administration. Critically, she has identified the importance of performance measurements and nonprofit manpower and funding challenges to implement effective evaluation programs. She feels confident that her work documenting program effectiveness for the organization will be useful for grant applications and capacity building moving forward.

Mondie notes that while she was not able to complete her goals of learning to navigate computer programs that aid in compiling data or developing a budget for a growing nonprofit organization, her progress has been marked. She now reports a greater understanding of the importance of helping individuals to develop in order for her placement program to have long-lasting effects and developed skills for planning outcomes of evaluation and metrics for framework. Her goals for Spring 2012 are to complete the objective of working with various computer programs to aid in compiling data by utilizing Excel and VistaShare. She is also hoping to work with the financial coordinator to learn more about the budgeting process.

www.advancememphis.org

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/gabrielle-mondie/46/a91/287

http://www.advancememphis.org/


2012


Gayle Ozanne Graduate Program: Applied Medical Anthropology Expected Graduation: May, 2013 Education: B.A., Anthropology, Univ. of CT HCD Placement: The Works CDC Supervisor: Curtis Thomas Faculty Mentor: Kathryn Hicks

Goals:

Ozanne’s interests lie in food consumption and diseases, food security, health disparities, and nutrition. She hopes to engage in participatory action research to assist in the implementation of policy that addresses the needs of the community.

Semester Overview:

Ozanne’s activities included: 1) Participation in the South Memphis Farmers’ Market (SMFM) by planning activities and assistance at the market; 2) Participation in ongoing SMFM research, including instrument design, data collection, analysis, and dissemination; 3) Developing a business plan for the new SMFM permanent structure; and 4) Revising, reformatting, and facilitating community review of the Neighborhood Service Directory.

Ozanne assisted with weekly setup and disassembly at the market and regular data collection. Collection methods included tracking number of customers and their means of transportation, inventory of produce sold at the market, mapping exercises, taking field notes about market activities, and other techniques as needed. She also had the opportunity to participate in the design and data collection of the end of market survey for the 2011 season by developing questions, assisting in the pretest, survey distribution (including assisting any customers requesting help with completion), and proper documentation and distribution of survey incentives. Since the end of the market season Ozanne has been performing Best Practice research for the new South Memphis Farmers’ Market structure, which will include an education kitchen and produce store. Research areas have included: farmers’ market successes and failures, education kitchen activities and design, incubator kitchen practices, workforce development plans, potential funding sources, grocery store development and management techniques, and other appropriate information. Creation of the business plan will continue into next semester, followed by implementation of the finished product.

Ozanne also finished the South Memphis neighborhood service directory by verifying data, adding information and relevant businesses and institutions. It is scheduled for publication shortly.

www.theworkscdc.org

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/gayle-ozanne/16/130/463

http://www.theworkscdc.org/


2012


Alexandria Satterfield Graduate Program: Urban Anthropology Graduation: May 2012 Education: B.A. Anthropology, Spanish HCD Placement: Habitat for Humanity Supervisor: Christin Reeder Faculty Mentors: Keri Brondo and Katherine Lambert Pennington

Goals:

Satterfield hopes her HCD participation will help her to learn more about interdisciplinary study and the benefits of collaboration. Her personal long-term goals are to work in

sustainable infrastructure development and the ecotourism industry. Her goals this semester were to understand the role of anthropology/ anthropologists in community development projects and within non-profit organizations, including but not limited to, non-profit ethics, professionalism, use of social science research methods, and presentation (both written and visual) in order to measure impact and inform change, employ the anthropological methods of Asset Based Community Development to support the creation of Homeowners’ Associations, and to understand the importance of evaluation, evidence-based practice, and research in the programmatic practice of community development organizations.

Semester Review:

Satterfield’s activities included: 1) Developing a Flow Chart to create a visual representation of her goals over the course of the internship; 2) Interviewing Habitat for Humanity homeowners and then analyzing the data; 3) Researching various neighborhood anchors in communities where Habitat homeowners reside; 4) Compiling a directory for an affirmative marketing campaign and then sending letters to the 120 organizations on the list; and 5) Notifying homeowners when there was an event in their neighborhood.

The research on neighborhood anchors and the homeowner interviews will be used in the spring to organize clusters of homeowners and develop a homeowners association in one of the Habitat neighborhoods. Satterfield will be using the literature from the Neighborhood Development and Social Entrepreneurship class to guide the community organizing aspect of the project, and will use skills taught in the Methods in Anthropology class to continue interviewing homeowners and organizing focus groups to gather data and prepare results summaries which will be presented to the agency.

http://memphishabitat.com

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/alex-satterfield/34/304/706

http://memphishabitat.com/

http://memphishabitat.com/


2012


Josh Shumaker Graduate Program: Public Administration Expected Graduation: May, 2012 Education: B.A., History, Wofford College HCD Placement: City of Memphis, Chief Admin Office Supervisor: Maura Black Sullivan Faculty Mentor: David Cox

Goals:

Shumaker’s goals of becoming a Congressional staffer are well served by his HCD placement at the Chief Administrative Office with the City of Memphis. He looks to learn about local government management and how to enhance the city's reputation by providing support to expanding and improving agency relations. Shumaker hopes to reinforce HCD goals and contribute to the program's relevancy and progress.

Semester Overview:

Shumaker has been especially focused on providing better efficiency in government services and progressing the Mayor's initiatives regarding city image and quality of life. Shumaker contributed to a variety of such projects and researched proposals for the Main Street Mall upgrades and 311 program.

The majority of his efforts were spent developing a proposal for division consolidation and revision primarily for the Division of Public Services and Neighborhoods and the Division of Community Enhancement. Shumaker assisted in arranging a presentation to show Mayor Wharton several options. In the process, he researched the position summary report for the city and division organizational charts. Although budget and personnel numbers were not added to the final presentation due to the complexity, the position numbers were helpful to understanding the potential shift of personnel and budgets.

Shumaker’s role in the Main Street Mall project involved research into the proposals made by the Main Street Mall committee. He primarily used online resources to research other cities

and their respective adjustments to downtown pedestrian malls.

For the 311 program, a program to assist citizens with non-emergency help, Shumaker reviewed information related to the cities that have implemented 311 in an effort to reduce crime and improve neighborhoods. Since one of the mayor’s two initiatives in the Bloomberg development grant is to reduce handgun

violence, Shumaker expects this project to continue in Spring 2012.

www.cityofmemphis.org

“A network of partners in fighting crucial problems of our city should

start and end with passionate young persons who maintain the vision of

change,” – Josh Shumaker

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/josh-shumaker/18/566/868

http://www.cityofmemphis.org/


2012


Lacy Ward

Graduate Program: City and Regional Planning Expected Graduation: May, 2012 Education: B.A., Urb. Studies, Rhodes College HCD Placement: Vance Choice Neighborhood Supervisor: Felicia Harris Faculty Mentor: Kenneth Reardon

Goals:

Ward hopes her placement with the Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant program will help develop her professional skills and career marketability by providing practical experience. Her career goals include pursuing her Juris Doctorate and working in land use law or oil and gas law.

Semester Overview:

Ward’s HCD fellowship with the Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant administered by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) involved working one at the University of Memphis and one day at the City of Memphis Division of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The purpose of the Choice Neighborhood Grant is to ensure that redevelopment of public housing is done in a way that corresponds with what residents desire. Currently the city is working with a Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant, which provides funds for the planning portion of the project. The City of Memphis received $250,000 from HUD. They city also receive match dollars of $250,000 match funds from a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The goal for this project is to receive a Choice Neighborhood Implementation grant, which could be worth up to forty million dollars.

Ward sees her placement as interesting and critical to her development because the involvement in a new grant program involves a learning curve for all involved thus providing valuable lessons in teamwork since the grant requires several different teams to work together in order to be successful. The three teams are the Housing Committee, the People Committee, and the Housing group, to which the University of Memphis belongs.

Her duties at the university have included: administrative duties and assisting the HCD team, outreach to residents in depth interviews with both small business owners and faith based organization leaders, and participation in strategy sessions. Utilizing her communications skills, she also created a Twitter account @Vance_CN used to create another medium of connection to stakeholders.

At the HCD office she had different duties. She attended numerous meetings, taking notes or minutes to report to the HCD staff or just to keep the general record. Ward also assisted with research and summarizing documents. Her biggest project was training the MHA/HCD staff on use of GoogleDocs for the Choice Neighborhood grant.

www.vancecn.org

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/lacy-e-ward/38/176/953




2012


www.memphis.edu/suapp

Report Prepared by Gayla Schaefer

M.P.A. Candidate, 2012

G.A., School of Urban Affairs & Public Policy


http://www.linkedin/com/in/gpschaefer
