At The Ohio State University, a convergence of minds from academia, government, and community organizations met recently to mull over the fruits and future of their collaboration. In the spotlight was the school's contribution to community enhancement via its land-grant mission. The community gathered at the so-called Community Partnership Breakfast, as reported by Ohio State News.
Vice Provost Jason Reece emphasized the importance of their allies, stating through Ohio State News, "We can’t do this work without you, and your presence is critical to us." He praised the mutual efforts in reaching out to the Ohio State community to better central Ohio and beyond. Illustrative of this narrative were the programs that cater to varied regional needs. For instance, Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is developing an Appalachian and Rural Center for Health, aiming to foster local medical services in such communities. Lori Criss, the center’s director of community engagement, revealed how the initiative intends to keep healthcare workers local and buttress community-driven endeavors.
Education and entrepreneurship also entered the conversation, with initiatives targeting immigrants who aspire to trade and commerce in their new home. Assistant Professor Andrea Contigiani from Fisher College of Business and Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services have together rolled out a program that teaches immigrants how to start businesses. Farah Desai, a student participant and daughter of immigrant parents, shared her angle on the program's aim to dismantle barriers to entrepreneurship.
Meanwhile, the College of Social Work isn't sitting idle, as it partners with the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging to develop housing programs for older adults. Marisa Sheldon, the director of the Age-Friendly Innovation Center and according to Ohio State News, is driven by the mission to support seniors in their ambition to age with dignity. They're crafting new best practices backed by research to enable these objectives. Holly Dabelko-Schoeny, a professor and director of research at the Center, underscored the practical edge of their work, "The partnership has enabled us to do research that matters as we think about disseminating our work."
Presentations from graduate students demonstrated the broad spectrum of community-oriented scholarship. Skills were crossed, and ideas exchanged, showing that Ohio State’s investment in collaboration is a multi-lane road leading toward diverse advancements for Ohio’s communities.
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