06-24-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Cate Bruns I am a second-year PhD student in Communication Studies. I hold an MA in Environmental Communication and Advocacy from James Madison University in Virginia, where I became interested in water issues. Now, my research centers on on media coverage of water crises and insecurities, such as bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef, the ongoing Flint water crisis, and the Lake Erie Bill of Rights. Like many UMN students this summer, I found myself with a lot of time on my hands and a desire to put my skills to work in a local community. The City of Little Canada's project initially caught my eye due to its environmental component, but I quickly saw an initiative where I could finally apply the public participation and community facilitation knowledge I picked up during my master's. Gunnar Carlson I'm a Master’s of Public Administration student. Last year I started working with the Met Council as a research assistant on a project concerning minority youths' attitudes towards and use of the regional parks. Our research consisted of partnering with five community-based youth organizations and then going to different regional parks with them. We used these field experiences to gather qualitative data. We're still finalizing the final results paper but the preliminary findings and recommendations have been produced. I found myself extremely excited by the process of turning research into policy and planning recommendations so this project seemed like a great way to continue to learn and explore that space. Vipasha Bansal I'll be starting the second year of my Linguistics MA this Fall. I also have BAs in both German and Film Production from UT Austin. My research right now revolves around Hmong, which I was drawn to as although it is widely spoken in the Twin Cities, there is only a little bit of research on the language so far! Although this RCP project is very different to my usual research, I really like the fact that it was a real-world project with an impact on the community. I’m also really excited to meet and work with people from different programs. Kyle Franta I am a third-year Master's Student in Landscape Architecture. I have a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from South Dakota State University, where I often worked with Rural communities who needed assistance with planning and design. My on-going minor in ecological restoration at UMN has broadened my knowledge of ecological systems and the unwavering impact that humanity has burdened these systems with. My interest in mending fractured ecosystems paired with my farming background has driven my most recent studio project to critically look at the current industrial agricultural model and to design ways that our food systems can be sustainable for both the planet and the people who work within these systems. RCP was intriguing to me because it remained steadfast that community engagement needs to continue during these challenging times, even if not in its usual form. This will undoubtedly be a challenge for us all, but I am motivated to take on these challenges and to collaboratively create a plan that serves the people of Little Canada. I am looking forward to meeting you all. PROGRAM FEE The University of Minnesota has each community who participates as an RCP recipient is asked to provide a fee in the amount of $5,000. This item is also within the budget. ATTACHMENTS RCP Project Brief