Community-Based Networks

The Office of University Outreach and Engagement participates in a number of community-based networks across the state, each representing a social impact focus area, such as economic development, children and families, and social equity. Each network listed here has its own structure, governance, and criteria for participation. If you are interested in finding out more about one of these networks, including potential opportunities for participation, please use the contact information provided. The network contact, as well as the contact of an affiliated participant from University Outreach and Engagement (UOE), has been provided.

EDA University Center for Regional Economic Innovation (REI)

The REI Center at the MSU Center for Community and Economic Development is building a new economic development ecosystem, leveraging higher education assets to support the co-creation, co-application, and dissemination of innovative economic development strategies that promise to yield high-growth entrepreneurship, job creation, and economic innovation throughout the state of Michigan.

UOE Contact: Rex LaMore Director, EDA Center for Regional Economic Innovation, MSU Center for Community and Economic Development

Power of We Consortium (Lansing)

The Power of We Consortium (PWC) draws on the collective social capital and diversity of over 250 human services, nonprofit, governmental, faith-based, and business sector stakeholders in the greater Lansing area to promote systems reform and achieve positive results for their communities.

Contact: Joni Risner
Coordinator, Power of We Consortium

Big Brothers Big Sisters Michigan Capital Region

Big Brothers Big Sisters matches at-risk children with adult mentors and works to advance the interests of area children and families, with dozens of campus and community partners.

Contact: Rich Howard Executive Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters Michigan Capital Region

UOE Contact: Renee Brown Director, Center for Community Engaged Learning

Ingham Great Start Coalition

Ingham Great Start is a coalition of human service agencies, families and other partners working together to ensure every child from birth to eight in Ingham County has access to a universal, comprehensive and collaborative system of community-based early childhood programs, services and supports.

Contact: Michelle Nicholson Coordinator, Great Start Coalition

UOE Contact: Rex LaMore Director, Center for Community and Economic Development

Healthy Flint Research Coordinating Center

The Healthy Flint Research Coordinating Center (HFRCC) is a partnership between Flint community-based organizations, Michigan State University, University of Michigan-Flint, and University of Michigan to help address the public health challenges in Flint, including a focus on the economic, environmental, behavioral, and physical health of Flint residents.

The HFRCC will serve as a central coordinating center for research where individual researchers and community organizations can connect and partner through the center to achieve their goals.

MSU Contact: Debra Furr-Holden
C.S. Mott Endowed Professor of Public Health; Associate Dean for Public Health Integration; Director of the Flint Center for Health Equity Solutions
College of Human Medicine

UOE Contact: Robert Brown
Associate Director, Center for Community and Economic Development

Neighborhoods Without Borders (Flint)

Facilitated by a core team from MSU's Office of University Outreach and Engagement and a network of Flint-based community and grassroots organizations, Neighborhoods Without Borders has brought people from all sectors together in a grassroots and community effort to significantly improve the overall quality of life in Flint neighborhoods and to dismantle systemic racism.

Also See:

UOE Contact: Robert Brown

Associate Director, Center for Community and Economic Development

North Central Education/Extension and Research Activity 216 (NCERA 216)

NCERA 216 is an interstate initiative that encourages and fosters multidisciplinary research, education, and outreach efforts on Latinos and immigrants in the region. It seeks to establish and maintain regional linkages among researchers and outreach specialists, promote community development, and develop plans to identify and obtain funding for single- and multi-state projects relating to Latinos and immigrants. Learn more information about NCERA 216.

Contact: Chuck Hibberd
Administrative Advisor, NCERA 216

UOE Contact: Francisco Villarruel
Interim Director, Julian Samora Research Institute

Tribal Early Childhood Research Center (TRC)

The TRC is composed of a broad network of independent community partners and researchers working collaboratively to address research, practice, and policy issues relevant for the healthy development of young American Indian/Alaska Native children.

Also see: Wiba Anung (Early Star) Partnership, American Indian/Alaska Native Head Start Research Center; Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan.

Contact: Ann Cameron
Director, Inter-Tribal Council Head Start

UOE Contact: Jessica Barnes-Najor
Associate Director, Community Evaluation and Research Collaborative

Urban Learning and Leadership Collaborative (Detroit)

A collaboration of several universities and community organizations in Detroit, focused on fostering new activity in the 100 blocks that make up the Hope Village area in Detroit. They partner with many university and community organizations.

UOE Contact: Jena Baker-Calloway
Director, Michigan State University Detroit Center

Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP)

DAPCEP is a nonprofit organization that integrates the talents and resources of parents, community groups, area schools, industry, colleges, and universities to provide historically underrepresented youth with innovative educational programming in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine.

Contact: Michelle Reaves
Executive Director, DAPCEP