Rhodes Hollywood-Springdale Partnership
In January 2005, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development allowed Rhodes to expand an already strong tradition of community involvement. Rhodes received a $399,978 grant to establish and operate a Community Outreach Partnership Center in the area northeast of the campus. Only twelve other institutions nationwide received the grant.
Today, Rhodes and a number of other community partners work together as part of the Rhodes Hollywood Springdale Partnership to improve conditions in a number of fields:
- • housing development
• crime prevention
• health education
• student success
The Partnership works specifically in the community bounded by Jackson Avenue on the south, Hollywood Street on the east, Chelsea Avenue on the north and Springdale/Tunica streets on the west. Past projects have included the following:
- • neighborhood cleanups and code enforcement activities
• youth enrichment opportunities
• environmental education and recreational activities for students
• establishing a neighborhood council of community residents
• administering health surveys to residents
• partnering with the Health Loop to identify health needs and demolish abandoned houses that are public health risks
• partnering with railroads to clean the area adjacent to tracks
The project provides an ideal laboratory for urban studies students who say their work in the neighborhood “gives names and faces to the cases we read about in our textbooks.” Students have designed and administered literacy projects and chartered a nonprofit organization to provide education, training and job preparation skills for area residents.
