Community Engagement Awards
CEMHD Associates Win the President's Award for Exemplary Public Engagement, April 25, 2017
Healthy Historic Walking Path
UAlbany principal: Assistant Professor Maeve Kane, History Department
Partners: Orville Abrahams, Director of Community Development, Capital District YMCA
In 2014, the Capital District YMCA received funding from the Sam’s Club Community Grant program of the Walmart Foundation to enact policy, systems and environmental change intended to support health equity in Albany neighborhoods primarily inhabited by African American and Latino residents.
The Y convened a meeting of diverse community stakeholders to discuss options for implementing the grant. The group recommended developing a walking trail that would encourage residents to become more physically active/, raise awareness about the African American history of the city’s neighborhoods/ and better connect downtown residents to civic institutions, like museums and libraries, located right in their own backyards. Orville Abrahams, Director of Community Development for the Capital District Y, turned to the University at Albany’s Department of History for assistance with research and writing. In spring 2015, UAlbany Assistant Professor Maeve Kane offered two service-learning courses in partnership with the Y’s Healthy Historic Walking Paths project. Dr. Kane’s students developed a series of self-guided walking tours through a number of Albany neighborhoods -- including the South End -- and produced a website and mobile app. In its first year, albanywalksforhealth.com logged over 10,000 visitors.Teachers from several Albany schools and afterschool programs are also using the website and its budget-friendly self-guided tours to integrate more local history into their instruction.
The Healthy Historic Walking Paths project is just the first step. In the coming academic year, the Department of History will be offering two additional service learning courses that further explore Albany’s rich African American history. When colleagues describe Lani Jones they use words like capacity builder, trusted, multifaceted, collaborative, stalwart, deeply committed, and exceptional partner. An associate professor in the School of Social Welfare, Lani is known for her high-impact research, her clinical practice, and her service in support of at-risk members of the community. She has served as principle investigator or co-PI on numerous grants that have explored critical social issues including violence, substance abuse, youth opportunity and minority health disparities.She is a nationally-recognized speaker on mental health interventions in underserved populations, and has served on numerous national, state and local health, human service and social service boards to promote social justice for women and their families.Lani has become a champion for school-age children and young adults and a valued partner to the City School District of Albany, establishing outreach and mentoring services, and developing a student scholar athlete program at Albany High.For several years, she has served as the principal investigator for the Liberty Partnerships Rising Stars program at UAlbany, an initiative designed to improve academic outcomes among low income adolescents who are at risk for dropping out. She has also collaborated with the City of Albany’s Commissioner of Work Force Development on the Liberty-Light summer enrichment project, a program that brought over 1,000 youth employment students to campus for personal, career, and workforce development over a four-week period. Lani’s exemplary public engagement efforts are providing much-needed opportunities for students to receive mentoring, tutoring and college-readiness preparation that will inspire, encourage and guide them as they grow emotionally, socially and intellectually.
President's Award for Exemplary Public Engagement, April 25, 2017
UAlbany principal: Associate Professor Lani Jones, School of Social Welfare
Partners: School of Social Welfare faculty and staff; University at Albany Office of Diversity and Inclusion; City School District of Albany; City of Albany Youth and Workforce Services, New York State Liberty Partnership Program; the Honorable Dorcey Applyrs; and Nathaalie Carey, Deputy Commissioner for Administration and Chief Financial Officer, New York State Department of Labor
When colleagues describe Lani Jones they use words like capacity builder, trusted, multifaceted, collaborative, stalwart, deeply committed, and exceptional partner. An associate professor in the School of Social Welfare, Lani is known for her high-impact research, her clinical practice, and her service in support of at-risk members of the community. She has served as principle investigator or co-PI on numerous grants that have explored critical social issues including violence, substance abuse, youth opportunity and minority health disparities. She is a nationally-recognized speaker on mental health interventions in underserved populations, and has served on numerous national, state and local health, human service and social service boards to promote social justice for women and their families. Lani has become a champion for school-age children and young adults and a valued partner to the City School District of Albany, establishing outreach and mentoring services, and developing a student scholar athlete program at Albany High. For several years, she has served as the principal investigator for the Liberty Partnerships Rising Stars program at UAlbany, an initiative designed to improve academic outcomes among low income adolescents who are at risk for dropping out. She has also collaborated with the City of Albany’s Commissioner of Work Force Development on the Liberty-Light summer enrichment project, a program that brought over 1,000 youth employment students to campus for personal, career, and workforce development over a four-week period. Lani’s exemplary public engagement efforts are providing much-needed opportunities for students to receive mentoring, tutoring and college-readiness preparation that will inspire, encourage and guide them as they grow emotionally, socially and intellectually.
